On September 19, 2015 during Bellator 142 Dynamite 1 event, it was announced that Nobuyuki Sakakibara had signed one of the most successful and famous Heavyweight Fighter in history, Former Pride Heavyweight Champion The Last Emperor Fedor Emelianenko to headline his new promotion’s New Year’s Eve Show in Tokyo.
The beginning
On October 8, 2015 The former President of Pride FC, Nobuyuki Sakakibara held a press conference to announce his return to MMA with Rizin Fighting Federation.
Sakakibara returned to mainstream MMA, along with Nobuhiko Takada and other former Pride FC employees.
Inaugural Event
In December 2015, Rizin Fighting Federation hosted the first Rizin World Grand-Prix , a two-part 100 kg tournament held to find the "world's best fighter". The tournament was held over the course of two events, with eight fighters competing in an opening round and the four winners returning two days later for the final round. The second round of the tournament was broadcast in the United States and featured American fighter Muhammed Lawal winning the tournament by defeating Brett McDermott, Teodoras Aukstuolis, and Jiri Prochazka in the two-day event.
Grand Prix 2016
On July 16, 2015 Nobuyuki Sakakibara announced at a press conference that Rizin Fighting Federation will host a 16-man openweight tournament September 25 in Tokyo.
Former PRIDE Grand Prix champion Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic and former PRIDE middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva to participate in the tournament .
Saitama, Japan
Peter Aerts
Amir Aliakbari
Shinya Aoki
Charles "Krazy Horse" Bennett
Fedor Emelianenko
Mirko Filipović
Gabrielle Garcia
Singh Jaideep
Baruto Kaito
Brett McDermott
Road FC
BAMMA
KSW
Lithuania Bushido Federation
Gladiator Championship Fighting
Full Metal Dojo (Amir Aliakbari)
