RIZIN Confessions: Ito vs. Gadzhammatov & RIZIN 54 Fight Stories
RIZIN CONFESSIONS #228 goes behind several of the biggest fights from RIZIN 54, combining fight highlights with interviews and backstage footage from the Tokyo card. Yuki Ito vs. Alibek Gadzhammatov leads the episode, alongside Jo Hiramoto vs. Ryoma Shishimoto and both heavyweight tournament bouts.
Yuki Ito comes back to stop Alibek Gadzhammatov
One of the episode’s central stories is Ito’s difficult night against Gadzhammatov. The Russian missed the contracted 57kg limit by 1.75kg, putting the fight under special rules before they even entered the ring.
Gadzhammatov started strongly and hurt Ito during the opening round, but the Japanese flyweight turned the momentum around in Round 2. Ito increased the pressure and eventually overwhelmed Gadzhammatov with punches for the TKO at 3:50.
CONFESSIONS adds the post-fight perspective around that comeback rather than simply replaying the finish, making Ito vs. Gadzhammatov one of several RIZIN 54 results explored in more depth.
Jo Hiramoto knocks out Ryoma Shishimoto
The episode also follows Jo Hiramoto and Ryoma Shishimoto after one of RIZIN 54’s quickest endings.
Shishimoto entered unbeaten, but Hiramoto needed only 1:36 to end the fight. A sharp counter combination dropped Shishimoto and produced a first-round knockout, giving Hiramoto a significant result in RIZIN’s lighter-weight picture.
With both the fight footage and interviews included, CONFESSIONS #228 gives more context to the finish and the contrasting emotions that followed it.
Tsuyoshi Sudario vs. Ryo Sakai in the heavyweight tournament
The 2026 RIZIN heavyweight tournament is another major thread running through the episode. Tsuyoshi Sudario faced Ryo Sakai with progression in the bracket at stake.
Sudario imposed his power in the opening round and finished Sakai at 4:26 with punches and a soccer kick. The win moved Sudario forward in the tournament and added another stoppage to a RIZIN 54 card filled with early endings.
King Edokpolo stops Mikio Ueda
The other heavyweight tournament fight featured King Edokpolo against Mikio Ueda. Their fight reached the second round before Edokpolo found the decisive opening.
A knee ended Ueda’s night just 47 seconds into Round 2, sending Edokpolo through alongside Sudario. CONFESSIONS follows both sides of the matchup, adding the fighters’ reactions to the tournament result rather than presenting it only as another highlight.
RIZIN 54 through the eyes of the fighters
That broader approach is what defines RIZIN CONFESSIONS #228. This is not simply a Yuki Ito feature. The episode moves through three separate RIZIN 54 storylines and eight fighters: Ito and Gadzhammatov, Hiramoto and Shishimoto, Sudario and Sakai, plus Edokpolo and Ueda.
For the complete card, see MMAtown’s RIZIN 54 results and highlights. Another RIZIN CONFESSIONS episode also focuses on Shoko Sato vs. Patchy Mix and another major storyline from the same event.
Super RIZIN 5 is next
After RIZIN 54, RIZIN FF moves on to Super RIZIN 5 on September 10 in Osaka. The card is headlined by Razhabali Shaydullaev vs. AJ McKee Jr., with Karshyga Dautbek vs. Ren Hiramoto, Mikuru Asakura vs. Shinya Aoki and Roberto Satoshi Souza vs. Shunta Nomura also featured.