Luis Gustavo won the RIZIN lightweight championship by knocking out Ilhom Nazimov in the first round at RIZIN 53. This was the main event result among numerous bouts on the card. Other notable results included Ren Hiramoto vs Koji Tanaka ending in a draw under special stand-up rules with no weight limit, and Ryo Takagi defeating Kaiven Lee by first-round knockout. The card featured both MMA and kickboxing matches. Several fighters secured submission victories, including Shinobu Ota with an arm triangle in round two and Daiki Tsubota with a triangle in round one.
Luis Gustavo claimed the RIZIN lightweight championship with a first-round knockout of Ilhom Nazimov in the main event of RIZIN 53 on May 11, 2026.
The finish gave Gustavo the promotion's lightweight title and marked one of the marquee moments on a card that mixed MMA and kickboxing bouts throughout the night.
Why it matters
- Gustavo's first-round stoppage delivers a statement victory as the new RIZIN lightweight champion
- The card's co-main attraction between Ren Hiramoto and Koji Tanaka ended in a draw under special stand-up rules with no weight limit, leaving that rivalry unsettled
- Ryo Takagi added a first-round knockout win over Kaiven Lee, keeping himself in contention in his division
- Submission specialists Shinobu Ota and Daiki Tsubota also impressed, Ota finishing with an arm triangle in round two and Tsubota securing a triangle choke in round one, underscoring the depth of finishing talent on the roster
