Luis Gustavo wins RIZIN lightweight title with first-round knockout

RIZIN 53 crowned a new lightweight champion as Luis Gustavo knocked out Ilkhom Nazimov in the first round to capture the title. The event featured multiple finishes and a special rules standing-only bout between Ren Hiramoto and Koji Tanaka that ended in a draw with no weight limit. Other notable results included Ryo Takagi scoring a first-round knockout over Kaiven Lee, and Shinobu Ota submitting Yuto Hokamura with an armbar triangle in round two. The card featured a mix of MMA and kickboxing contests. Ryan Cafaro submitted Koyomi Matsushima with a guillotine in the third round, while several other fighters earned submission victories throughout the event.