Rizin 12 to Include Yusuke Yachi, UFC Vet Hatsu Hioki, Invicta Matchmaker Kaitlin Young

Yusuke Yachi, Hatsu Hioki, Kaitlin Young will be among those competing at Rizin 12 on Aug. 12.

The Japanese promotion announced several matchups for the card during a recent press conference. Rizin 12 takes place in Nagoya, Japan and is headlined by a lightweight showdown between Yachi and Bruno Carvalho.

The 26-year-old Yachi has reeled off a six-bout winning streak that includes triumphs over the likes of Diego Nunes, Takanori Gomi and Daron Cruickshank. The 36-year-old Carvalho owns a 10-5 career record but hasn’t competed since October 2016.

Meanwhile, Hioki will square off against Mikuru Asakura in a featured featherweight duel. An eight-time UFC veteran, Hioki is coming off back-to-back losses under the Pancrase banner in 2017.

“I debated about returning to the ring, but this is a big event in my home town against a young up and coming opponent,” Hioki said. “At the end of the day, there was no reason for me to turn down the fight.”

Elsewhere, Young, who has served in a matchmaking capacity for Invicta FC in recent years, returns to fighting for the first time since November 2014 when she faces Reina Miura at 143 pounds. Young was winless in her final five appearances under the Invicta FC banner. The 21-year-old Miura owns a 9-1 career record that includes a trio of triumphs under the Rizin banner.