Hiromasa Ougikubo is set to make a strong impression at Rizin Landmark 14 on June 6th as he defends his RFF flyweight championship in a rematch against Makoto Shinryu. Reflecting on this upcoming bout, Ougikubo noted the perceived evolution in his opponent since their initial encounter at Super Rizin 3 in July 2024, stating, “Shinryu is still very young, and itโs already been two years and I think young fighters can develop a lot in two years. Heโs been training at ATT, and Iโm sure the game of his level has risen for sure. But also for me in the past two years, Iโve also developed a lot of skills, and I think Iโve leveled up to. So I think weโre gonna show a much higher level fight than our first fight.”
The Rizin Landmark 14 card also features a potential title eliminator. Ougikubo, the reigning 125-pound Rizin Fighting Federation champion, shared his perspective on a potential bout between Tony Laramie and Yuki Motoya. He indicated that if Laramie emerges victorious and he successfully defends his title, a matchup against Laramie would be a logical next step. “So I think if Tony Laramie wins, if he beats Motoya, and obviously if I defeat Shinryu, I think it would make sense for me to defend my title against Tony Laramie. So I think thatโs a no brainer, but if Motoya wins and I defend my title, Iโm not sure if that fight will make sense. But obviously itโs going to be up to Rizin,” Ougikubo explained.
Concluding his thoughts, Ougikubo expressed his ambition for a definitive finish in his upcoming title defense: “I am going to knock him out in my first title defense. So please tune in and watch me finish this fight.”
Hiromasa Ougikubo Eyes Knockout in Rizin Landmark 14 Rematch and Logical Title Defense
Hiromasa Ougikubo is preparing for a prominent performance at Rizin Landmark 14 on June 6th, where he will defend his RFF flyweight championship against Makoto Shinryu in a rematch. Ougikubo highlighted the expected advancements in his opponent’s skills since their previous bout at Super Rizin 3 in July 2024. He believes both fighters have grown significantly over the past two years, anticipating a higher caliber of fight this time around.
Additionally, Ougikubo commented on a potential title eliminator bout on the same card between Tony Laramie and Yuki Motoya. As the current Rizin flyweight champion, Ougikubo views a potential title defense against Tony Laramie as a straightforward decision if Laramie wins his upcoming match and Ougikubo successfully defends his belt. However, he expressed uncertainty about the appeal of a Laramie-Motoya fight should Motoya be the victor, ultimately leaving such decisions to Rizin’s discretion.
Ougikubo concluded by stating his intention to secure a knockout victory in his title defense, urging fans to watch the fight to witness the decisive finish.
