RIZIN In Talks With Conor McGregor & Oscar De La Hoya For NYE Show

Last year, RIZIN FF made headlines all around the world, by booking Floyd Mayweather to compete at RIZIN 14, their New Year’s Eve show. In the main event, Mayweather faced Japan’s young kickboxing superstar Tenshin Nasukawa in a three round boxing exhibition, finishing him in the first round.

With this New Year’s Eve fast approaching, RIZIN president Nobuyuki Sakakibara has hinted as to what we can expect to see from the Japanese promotion, at this year’s end of year show.

Speaking at last weekend’s RIZIN 18 event, Sakakibara said he is planning something ‘really weird’ for RIZIN 21, their NYE show, ‘that’s not MMA, kickboxing or pro-wrestling but a new type of competition’.

Sakakibara also stated (as transcribed by BJPenn.com) that RIZIN 21 won’t involve Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao. But that he has been in talks with Conor McGregor and Oscar De La Hoya.

“It’s quite strange. It ’s a new innovation. I feel like creating a new competition that is different from mixed martial arts, kickboxing, and professional wrestling.

“Mayweather had a surprise appearance last year, but it is difficult to develop something new from there. Pacquiao is also an active title holder. It’s more of a stakeholder who contributes to mixed martial arts and innovation than the two [boxers], like Connor McGregor or Oscar De La Hoya.”

“We can do something together,” Sakakibara said of McGregor, referring to the former UFC two division champion as “the most famous mixed martial arts fighter in the world”.

Although McGregor is obviously under contract with the UFC, he may be able to compete in a non-striking competition, such as BJJ. Although this is still unlikely. It could just involve attending the event. As a boxer, De La Hoya won multiple world titles, in six weight classes. In 2002, he founded Golden Boy Promotions. In 2108, the 46 year old tried his luck in MMA promotions but the less said about that, probably the better.

What do you think Sakakibara has up his sleeve for RIZIN 21?


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