At Rizin 53, Luis Gustavo captured the lightweight championship by knocking out Ilhom Nazimov in the first round. In other notable results, Ryo Takagi defeated Kaiven Lee by first-round knockout, and Shinobu Ota submitted Yuto Hokamura with an armbar in round two. The co-main event between Ren Hiramoto and Koji Tanaka ended in a draw under special stand-up rules with no weight limit. The card also featured several submission victories: Ryan Cafaro submitted Koyomi Matsushima with a guillotine in round three, Daiki Tsubota triangled Genji Umeno in round one, and Ryoma Shishimoto armbarred Kenshin Kodam in round one. Additional bouts included kickboxing matches and several decision victories.
Luis Gustavo claimed the Rizin lightweight championship on May 11 at Rizin 53, stopping Ilhom Nazimov by knockout in the opening round to become the promotion's new titleholder.
The main event was one of several stoppages on a finish-heavy card. Ryo Takagi also delivered a first-round knockout, defeating Kaiven Lee in what stood as one of the night's sharper striking performances. Shinobu Ota earned a submission win over Yuto Hokamura, locking in an armbar in the second round to secure the finish.
The co-main event produced a rare result. Ren Hiramoto and Koji Tanaka fought to a draw under special stand-up rules with no weight limit, a format that added an unusual dynamic to the matchup and left neither fighter with a victory on the night.
Why it matters
- Gustavo's first-round finish cements new lightweight championship leadership in Rizin, reshaping the top of the division.
- The draw between Hiramoto and Tanaka under no-limit stand-up rules leaves their rivalry unresolved and could set up a rematch.
- The card's high finish rate, with multiple first-round stoppages, underlines the aggressive style that has defined recent Rizin events.
Elsewhere on the card, Ryan Cafaro submitted Koyomi Matsushima with a guillotine choke in round three. Daiki Tsubota needed only the first round to triangle Genji Umeno, and Ryoma Shishimoto earned an armbar finish over Kenshin Kodam inside the opening frame as well. The full card was rounded out by kickboxing contests and several bouts that went to the judges' scorecards.
