Luis Gustavo became the new RIZIN lightweight champion by knocking out Ilkhom Nazimov in the first round at RIZIN 53. The event featured multiple finishes across its card. Other notable results included Ryo Takagi scoring a first-round knockout over Kaiven Lee, and Shinobu Ota submitting Yuto Hokamura with an arm triangle in the second round. The main card also saw Ryan Cafaro defeat Koyomi Matsushima by guillotine in the third round, while Daiki Tsubota submitted Genji Umeno with a triangle in the first round. Several kickboxing bouts were also featured on the card, with fighters competing under special rules. The special rules bout between Ren Hiramoto and Koji Tanaka ended in a draw.
Luis Gustavo claimed the RIZIN lightweight title on May 11 at RIZIN 53, stopping Ilkhom Nazimov by knockout in the opening round to become the promotion's new 155-pound champion.
Gustavo's finishing performance headlined a card packed with stoppages from top to bottom. Ryo Takagi added to the highlight reel with a first-round knockout of Kaiven Lee, and Shinobu Ota submitted Yuto Hokamura via arm triangle in the second round. Ryan Cafaro picked up a notable win over Koyomi Matsushima by guillotine choke in the third round, while Daiki Tsubota needed just one round to submit Genji Umeno with a triangle choke. Several kickboxing bouts contested under special rules also appeared on the card, including a main-card clash between Ren Hiramoto and Koji Tanaka that ended in a draw.
Matsushima, one of the more recognizable names on the card, suffered his sixth professional loss and now sits at 13-6. The 33-year-old Japanese fighter out of Gaio Gym competes as an orthodox fighter standing five-foot-seven with a 66-inch reach. He averages 2.7 significant strikes per minute at a 47 percent accuracy rate, and his ground game leans heavily on takedowns, averaging nine attempts per fifteen minutes. The guillotine finish by Cafaro in the third round ended what had been a competitive outing before the submission closed the door.
Why it matters
- Gustavo's first-round finish signals a new era at RIZIN lightweight, with a champion crowned under the promotion's own banner.
- The depth of finishes across RIZIN 53 reinforces the card as one of the more action-heavy events on the 2026 calendar.
- Matsushima's loss to Cafaro raises questions about where the veteran Japanese contender fits in the updated lightweight picture.
