Seika Izawa Taps Maria Laura Alves Fontoura, Advances to Grand Prix Semis at Rizin 37

Seika Izawa @starflower2525 submits Laura Fontoura in the very first round!!!! #RIZIN37 #RIZINFF #ライジン #JMMA #WMMA #スーパーアトム級ワールドGP pic.twitter.com/rH8wl8DLfS

— Armaan (@armaanyounis) July 31, 2022

Only four remain in the Rizin Fighting Federation atomweight grand prix after Sunday’s action at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.  

In the Rizin 37 headliner, current super atomweight titleholder and Deep Jewels 115-pound champion Seika Izawa overcame Maria Laura Alves Fontoura in a non-title fight which served as one of the quarterfinals in the tournament. Initially, it appeared that Izawa was in trouble as she was caught in a triangle choke maneuver by Fontoura, but the Japanese fighter kept her composure and escaped the sticky situation. Following a scramble, Izawa ended on top of her adversary and immediately hunted for a guillotine choke. Izawa worked to tighten the submission attempt, eventually forcing Fontoura to tap at the 3:47 mark of Round 1. Afterwards, a visibly emotional Izawa celebrated the second submission victory of her of career and her place in the super atomweight grand prix semifinals.

@kk331ayaka hurts @jagatt to the body in round

[#RIZIN37]#RIZIN #RIZINFF #MMA [pic.twitter.com/FppHxRFXl7](http://pic.twitter.com/FppHxRFXl7)

— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) July 31, 2022

Well-timed takedowns and relentless ground-and-pound action were Ayaka Hamasaki’s key to overcoming Ultimate Fighting Championship alum Jessica Aguilar in the co-headliner. The 40-year-old Hamasaki came close to finishing the contest after landing a body kick that had Aguilar visibly hurt in the opening frame. The Japanese followed up with a barrage of punches, but Aguilar weathered the storm. Hamasaki scored another double-leg takedown in the second frame, but the action returned to the feet immediately, and Aguilar succeeded in keeping her opponent at bay. To secure her victory, Hamasaki moved the action to the canvas early in the third period and controlled her foe until the fight went the distance. All judges rewarded Hamasaki with a decision and a spot in the semifinals.

@SB_RENA wins a UD over Anastasia Sketkivska ✍

[#RIZIN37]#RIZIN #RIZINFF #MMA [pic.twitter.com/yJiiJ8NF5i](http://pic.twitter.com/yJiiJ8NF5i)

— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) July 31, 2022

In the other tournament battles, Si Woo Park (8-4, 2-0 Rizin) did enough to take home a unanimous decision over former Rizin atomweight grand prix winner Kanna Asakura (19-7, 10-6 Rizin), while Rena Kubota (13-4, 12-3 Rizin) upended Anastasiya Svetkivska (2-1, 0-1 Rizin) on all scorecards.

@TSUYOSHIKAMIYA3's KO in slow-motion

[#RIZIN37]#RIZIN #RIZINFF #MMA [pic.twitter.com/5jX3mScnmE](http://pic.twitter.com/5jX3mScnmE)

— RIZIN FF English (@rizin_English) July 31, 2022

Elsewhere, Former Deep 155-pound champion Koji Takeda (14-3, 4-3 Rizin) emerged victorious via decision after a back-and-forth battle with UFC vet Johnny Case (27-9-1, 3-3 Rizin); Tsuyoshi Kamiyama (5-1, 5-1 Rizin) faceplanted Hideki Sekine (12-6, 2-2 Rizin) with a punch 53 seconds into their heavyweight affair; Yuki Motoya (31-9, 1NC; 8-5, 1NC Rizin) outgrappled Shinobu Ota (2-2, 2-2 Rizin) to score a unanimous decision victory at bantamweight; Yoshiki Nakahara (16-5, 1-0 Rizin) defeated Tetsuya Seki (14-9-1, 2-2 Rizin) via unanimous decision in a 150-pound catchweight bout; in a 176-pound catchweight, Daichi Abe (11-5, 2-1 Rizin) destroyed Marcos Yoshio Souza (9-3, 1-2 Rizin) thanks to a hook followed by a nasty soccer kick, ending the fight at the 3:02 mark of Round 2; 145-pounder Vugar Karamov (17-4, 3-1 Rizin) outpointed Sora Yamamoto (12-5, 3-2 Rizin) on all scorecards; in a 127-pound catchweight kickboxing clash, Ryusei smashed Kaishi thanks to a knee followed by a barrage of punches in the third period; Hiroki Kasahara outclassed Yusaku Ishizuki en route to a unanimous decision victory in their 127-pound catchweight kickboxing clash; Yushi Sakura (2-1, 2-1 Rizin) submitted Takeru Sudo (0-1, 0-1 Rizin) via rear-naked choke 43 seconds into the second frame of their 137-pound, custom-rule catchweight pairing.