Ougikubo Replaces Asakura, Faces Archuleta for Bantamweight Title at Super Rizin 2

Super Rizin 2 has a new matchup for promotion’s vacant bantamweight championship.

Hiromasa Ougikubo will replace the injured Kai Asakura and square off against Juan Archuleta for the 135-pound belt on July 30 at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The promotion announced the new bout after Asakura recently revealed he would have to withdraw from the event.

A former Bellator bantamweight king, Archuleta has won his last three outings — two of which occurred under the Rizin banner. “The Spaniard” last appeared at Rizin 42, where he outpointed Naoki Inoue on May 6. He also owns victories over Soo Chul Kim and Enrique Barzola during his current streak.

Ougikubo, meanwhile, is coming off back-to-back defeats against Kyoji Horguchi and Soo Chul Kim in 2022. Prior to that, the 36-year-old Paraestra Matsudo representative won five consecutive bouts under the Rizin banner, including a decision against Asakura, the man he replaced.