Vugar Karamov Stifles Shuya Kimura in Rizin 'Landmark Vol. 11' Headliner

🎉✨Fight Result✨🎉#RIZIN_LANDMARK11 in SAPPORO❄️

⚔️ Bout 15 ⚔️
RIZIN MMA Rules – 66.0kg

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🟥 #VugarKaramov / @vugar_karamov 🇦🇿【WIN】🏆
ーーー🆚ーーー
🟦 #ShuyaKimura / @shuya120610 🇯🇵【LOSE】

3R Decision (3-0)

[ #RIZIN_LANDMARK11 | Live on #RIZINtv ] pic.twitter.com/GVv6ReHBZB

— RIZIN.tv (@RIZINTV_) June 14, 2025

Former Rizin Fighting Federation featherweight champion Vugar Karamov proved that he is no steppingstone and held off the challenge of a highly-touted prospect on Saturday in the main event of Rizin "Landmark Vol. 11" in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Karamov earned a unanimous decision victory over 25-year-old Shuya Kimura, who had previously knocked out each of his five opponents within the first 76 seconds.

Early in the opening round, Karamov (21-6, 7-3 Rizin) hopped on the back of Kimura (5-1, 0-1 Rizin) and threatened with the first of several face cranks that he attempted throughout the fight. Kimura defended well and he reversed position into Karamov’s guard after Karamov dragged him down to the mat. Kimura stood over his opponent and landed some decent punches to Karamov’s face. A subsequent Karamov takedown led to nothing and the round came to an end in a clinch on the feet.

Karamov tried for another face crank in the second round and he kept his opponent tied up in clinches while kneeing Kimura’s thighs. It was more of the same in the final round and Kimura again had to fight off a tight face crank followed by multiple takedowns from the more experienced Karamov. Kimura’s defense was solid, but his offensive output was severely limited after the first round and that was a key factor for the judges. All three scored the fight in favor of Karamov for a well-deserved win.

🎉✨Fight Result✨🎉#RIZIN_LANDMARK11 in SAPPORO❄️

⚔️ Bout 14 ⚔️
RIZIN MMA Rules – 71.0kg

🟥 #YoshinoriHorie / @yossy05101 🇯🇵【WIN】🏆
ーーー🆚ーーー
🟦 #YamatoNishikawa / @OM1Ss1KfSjGSpYU 🇯🇵【LOSE】

1R 4:40 TKO

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— RIZIN.tv (@RIZINTV_) June 14, 2025

In the lightweight co-main event, Yoshinori Horie (14-5, 5-2 Rizin) spoiled the promotional debut of former Shooto champion Yamato Nishikawa (22-6-6, 0-1 Rizin) via a one-sided TKO stoppage in the first round.

Mere seconds into the fight, Horie took Nishikawa down, and he kept him pinned there for the next four minutes while staying busy with punches and short elbows from Nishikawa’s half-guard. As time ticked down, Horie mounted Nishikawa and he postured up with heavy elbows and punches that forced Nishikawa to cover up and prompted referee Minoru Toyonaga to wave off the fight at the 4:40 mark of Round 1. This was arguably Horie’s best performance since he debuted for Rizin more than four years ago.

🎉✨Fight Result✨🎉#RIZIN_LANDMARK11 in SAPPORO❄️

⚔️ Bout 13 ⚔️
RIZIN MMA Rules – 66.0kg

🟥 #IlkhomNozimov 🇺🇿【WIN】🏆
ーーー🆚ーーー
🟦 #SuguruNii / @niisuguru2 🇯🇵【LOSE】

1R 2:09 – KO

[ #RIZIN_LANDMARK11 | Live on #RIZINtv ] pic.twitter.com/ijqi2pCZ5g

— RIZIN.tv (@RIZINTV_) June 14, 2025

The remainder of the evening’s main card showcased more of Rizin’s featherweight division. Ilhom Nazimov (12-3, 3-0 Rizin) engaged in a competitive striking battle with Suguru Nii (18-12, 2-5 Rizin) early on before brutally knocking him out with a front kick to the jaw. Nii was holding his own in the boxing exchanges until Nazimov unleashed the kick that shut Nii’s lights off just 2:09 into the first round. The highlight-reel finish extended Nazimov’s Rizin winning streak to three and moved him closer to title contention.

🎉✨Fight Result✨🎉#RIZIN_LANDMARK11 in SAPPORO❄️

⚔️ Bout 12 ⚔️
RIZIN MMA Rules – 66.0kg

🟥 #SoraYamamoto / @sora_pod 🇯🇵【LOSE】
ーーー🆚ーーー
🟦 #HiroakiSuzuki / @kaibutsukun1206 🇯🇵【WIN】🏆

Decision (0-3) – 3R

[ #RIZIN_LANDMARK11 | Live on #RIZINtv ] pic.twitter.com/d8g0fjdSh8

— RIZIN.tv (@RIZINTV_) June 14, 2025

Hiroaki Suzuki (5-6, 5-6 Rizin) outstruck former Fighting Nexus titleholder Sora Yamamoto (12-9, 3-5 Rizin) and overcame Yamamoto’s late grappling to take a unanimous decision win in their featherweight tilt. Suzuki’s leg kicks and punches to Yamamoto’s body were very effective in the opening round. Yamamoto initiated more grappling exchanges in the second stanza, and he landed some nice downward elbows while pinning Suzuki against the base of the cage. The grappling tired Yamamoto out, however, and Suzuki took advantage by landing punches on the feet and from Yamamoto’s guard in the final frame. All three judges scored the fight for Suzuki, who halted his losing streak.

🎉✨Fight Result✨🎉#RIZIN_LANDMARK11 in SAPPORO❄️

⚔️ Bout 11 ⚔️
RIZIN MMA Rules – 66.0kg

🟥 #ViktorKolesnik 🇷🇺【WIN】🏆
ーーー🆚ーーー
🟦 #SASUKE / @09ninjaassassin 🇯🇵【LOSE】

1R 4:43 KO

[ #RIZIN_LANDMARK11 | Live on #RIZINtv ] pic.twitter.com/9r7trKcyTH

— RIZIN.tv (@RIZINTV_) June 14, 2025

Opening up the main card, Viktor Kolesnik (27-4-1, 4-0 Rizin) remained undefeated under the Rizin banner by stopping Shooto titleholder Keisuke Sasu (14-4-1, 0-1 Rizin) late in the first round of their featherweight bout. Kolesnik was already outstriking Sasu throughout the round when he landed a devastating left hook to the liver that dropped Sasu and ended the bout at the 4:43 mark. Kolesnik is now riding an impressive nine-fight winning streak that includes four triumphs for Rizin.

Earlier on the card, Alexander Soldatkin (15-4, 1 NC, 1-0 Rizin) took a unanimous decision victory over Prince Aounallah (20-13, 0-1 Rizin) in a heavyweight grand prix quarterfinal bout that started well and quickly fizzled out after the first five minutes; Joji Goto (17-8, 3-0 Rizin) won a well-deserved unanimous decision against Jinnosuke Kashimura (8-5, 0-1 Rizin) at bantamweight; kickboxer Sina Karimian (1-0, 1-0 Rizin) put forth one of the most disciplined performances of his combat sports career and won his heavyweight MMA debut via unanimous decision against Grachan champion Hidetaka Arato (11-2, 1-1 Rizin); Deep Jewels contender Machi Fukuda (8-2, 3-0) earned another key win by defeating strawweight Queen of Pancrase champion Haruka Hasegawa (5-6, 0-2 Rizin) via unanimous decision; Taichi Nakajima (18-13, 2-2 Rizin) finished Kosuke Terashima (17-22-5, 1-1 Rizin) with a left hook and follow-up punches just 1:17 into their bantamweight bout; Tatsuya Ando (15-4-1, 1-0 Rizin) handed fellow bantamweight Magerram Gasanzade (10-1, 1-1 Rizin) his first defeat via rear-naked choke at the 3:33 mark of Round 1; Kisugi Endo (17-15-5, 1-1 Rizin) easily defeated the much less experienced Bading Zhaxi (1-1, 0-1 Rizin) via unanimous decision at featherweight; Suguru Hayasaka (23-18-5, 2-0 Rizin) submitted Arashi Suzuki (2-4, 0-1 Rizin) with a nasty toe hold 3:41 into their 123-pound bout; bantamweight Yukito Morinaga (11-4, 1 NC, 1-0 Rizin) left Daiki Kobayashi (2-2, 0-1 Rizin) convulsing on the mat after arm-triangle choking him unconscious in just 53 seconds; and Takashi Noto (8-9, 1-0 Rizin) forced Yuki Narita (11-6-1, 0-1 Rizin) to submit to an armbar at the 4:50 mark of Round 2 in welterweight action.

In kickboxing bouts, Kuto Ueno took a unanimous decision win against an overweight Farphayap Grabs at 141 pounds; Yuya Uzawa prevailed via unanimous decision against Toshizou in a 121-pound contest; Kanata Ueno earned a unanimous decision victory over Kensei Yamakawa at bantamweight; and Shuto Hayashi won his strawweight bout with Kyohei Nishijima via unanimous decision.