Roberto Satoshi de Souza is still the RIZIN FF lightweight world champion after he put on a phenomenal display at RIZIN 49: Decade on December 31st, 2024. This marks the fourth time that Souza has managed to defend the title, one that he has held since 2021. It’s also the fifth time that he has finished his opponent in a title-fight and the 11th submission win of his career. Souza started out his combat sports career as an elite grappler and he has a pair of bronze medals at the IBJJF World Championship to prove it, so going to the ground with him is an incredibly risky idea.
Roberto Satoshi de Souza was facing a tough opponent at RIZIN 49: Decade though, as the promotion’s former featherweight world champion Vugar Karamov was stepping up in weight to challenge him. Karamov had an impressive 20-5 professional record before stepping into the ring with Satoshi and he had never been submitted, so not many people would have predicted this outcome. Satoshi demonstrated exactly why he’s one of the most feared grapplers in MMA though, as he trapped Karamov in a tight triangle choke almost as soon as the fight went to the ground and forced him to tap after less than two minutes of the very first round.
The footage of the finish was uploaded to the official X account of Cageside Press:
Go to the ground with Roberto Satoshi Souza at your own peril. He retains his lightweight title with yet another submission win, this time of former featherweight champ Vugar Karamov. #RIZIN_Decade (Footage courtesy of RIZIN FF/RIZIN.tv) pic.twitter.com/nkueB3RtPu
— Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) December 31, 2024
RIZIN 49: Decade Full Results
Kleber Koike Erbst defeats Chihiro Suzuki via Decision – Unanimous
Erbst wins the RIZIN Featherweight world championship
Kyoji Horiguchi defeats Nkazimulo Zulu via Decision – Unanimous
Horiguchi retains the RIZIN Flyweight world championship
Roberto Satoshi de Souza defeats Vugar Karamov via Submission – Triangle Choke
Satoshi de Souza retains the RIZIN Lightweight world championship
Seika Izawa defeats Lucia Apdelgarim via Submission – Triangle Armbar
Yuki Motoya defeats Kyoma Akimoto via Decision – Unanimous
Razhabali Shaidulloev defeats Yuta Kubo via TKO – Ground & Pound
Karshyga Dautbek defeats Ya-Man via Decision – Unanimous
Ryuya Fukuda defeats Ryusei Ashizawa via Knockout – Punch
Mikio Ueda defeats Tae In Kim via Knockout – Knee
Jose Torres defeats Makoto Shinryu via Decision – Split
Taisei Sakuraba defeats Yusuke Yachi via TKO – Punches
Koji Takeda defeats Suguru Nii via Technical Decision – Unanimous
King Edokpolo defeats Takakenshin via TKO – Knee & Punches
Genji Umeno defeats Taiga via Decision – Unanimous
Sanou Yokouchi defeats Kenshin Saito via Submission – Rear-naked Choke
Preliminary Card / RIZIN Bangaichi
Rukiya Anpo defeats Sina Karimian via Decision – Unanimous
Sho Patrick Usami defeats by Issa Hosokawa via TKO – Body Shots
Tatsuki Shinotsuka defeats Aoi Noda via TKO – Left Hook
Daichi Tomizawa defeats Kota Miura via Knockout – Knee
Taio Asahisa defeats Yura via Decision – Unanimous
Hyuma Yasui defeats Kurobarakun via Decision – Unanimous
Hiroto Gomyo defeats Koki Akada via Decision – Split
