Luis Gustavo captured the RIZIN lightweight championship by knocking out Ilkhom Nazimov in the first round at RIZIN 53. The event featured multiple finishes, including Ryo Takagi's first-round knockout of Kaiven Lee and Shinobu Ota's second-round arm triangle victory over Yuto Hokamura. In the co-main event, Ren Hiramoto and Koji Tanaka fought to a draw under special stand-up rules with no weight limit. Other notable results included Keito Oyama defeating Katie Perez by unanimous decision, and Ryan Cafaro submitting Koyomi Matsushima with a guillotine in the third round. The card featured a mix of MMA and kickboxing bouts across multiple weight classes.
Luis Gustavo seized the RIZIN lightweight title with a first-round knockout of Ilkhom Nazimov at RIZIN 53 on May 11, 2026, claiming the promotion's top prize at 155 pounds in emphatic fashion.
The event delivered a card full of finishes across multiple weight classes and rule sets. In the co-main event, Ren Hiramoto and Koji Tanaka competed under special stand-up rules with no weight limit, the bout ending in a draw. Ryo Takagi added to the night's highlight reel with a first-round knockout of Kaiven Lee, while Shinobu Ota submitted Yuto Hokamura with an arm triangle in the second round.
Ryan Cafaro also earned a notable victory, submitting Koyomi Matsushima with a guillotine choke in the third round. Matsushima, the 33-year-old Japanese fighter out of Gaio Gym, entered the bout carrying a 13-6-0 professional record. Standing five-foot-seven with a 66-inch reach, the orthodox fighter has shown above-average takedown activity throughout his career, averaging nine takedowns per 15 minutes. His striking output sits at 2.7 significant strikes landed per minute at 47 percent accuracy, and Cafaro's guillotine proved the deciding factor in a fight that went deep into the third frame.
Keito Oyama rounded out the notable results with a unanimous decision win over Katie Perez.
Why it matters
- Gustavo's first-round finish establishes him as the new face of the RIZIN lightweight division
- The depth of finishes across the card reinforces RIZIN 53 as one of the promotion's more action-heavy events of the year
- Cafaro's submission of Matsushima ends a competitive third round and positions the American as a legitimate contender at lightweight
