Mixed martial arts organization ROAD FC is gearing up for its big event in 2024 with a showdown with Japan’s largest organization, Raijin, in Korea.
On April 13, ROAD FC will host GUNNE ROAD FC 068 at Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul, South Korea. And on April 29, the team will host RIZIN 46 at Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan, for the ROAD FC vs. RIZINFF Korea-Japan match.
ROAD FC’s inaugural event in 2024 will be announced by its champions. Light Heavyweight Champion Tae In Kim (30, ROAD FC Tae In Gym) will headline the main event of ROAD FC 068 in Kune, Japan, as he takes on “Korean Killer” Taisei Sekino (23, FREE) for the heavyweight title.
“Youngest Lightweight Champion” Park Si Won (22, Dia MMA) returns to action after a one-year, four-month absence when he faces “Japanese Gracchan Champion” Hayashi “Rice” Yota (31, Paraestra Higashiosaka) in the co-main event.
There will also be fights to determine seeding for the ROAD FC Global Tournament. Fighters who win at ROAD FC 068 in Gwynne will be seeded into the quarterfinals of the global tournament, which will be held at the Wonju MMA Sports Festival. This year, the tournament will be held in two weight classes: bantamweight and lightweight.
On April 29, after the Road FC Number Series, the team will face off against Japan’s largest MMA organization, RIZIN FF, in a Korea-Japan matchup. Raijin 46 will be represented by “Asia’s Strongest” Kim Soo-cheol (32, Road FC Wonju), “Jeju Chan” Yang Ji-yong (28, Jeju Team The King), and “Rapper Fighter” Lee Jung-hyun (22, TEAM AOM), who will face off against the Japanese fighters.
The Road FC vs. Raijin FF lineup was announced on the Raijin 46 press conference live stream on the 12th. Kim Soo-cheol will face Taichi Nakajima (36), Yang Ji-yong (38) will face Kazuma Kuramoto (38), and Lee Jung-hyun (24) will face Makoto Shinryu (24).
Lords FC also featured Kim Soo-cheol, Yang Ji-yong, and Lee Jung-hyun on its official YouTube live stream to explain the match and interact with fans.
Taichi Nakajima is a former Japanese PANCRASE bantamweight champion with a record of 17 wins, 12 losses, and 1 draw. A veteran of 30 fights, Kim is considered the top dog in Asia, but his opponent is also a seasoned fighter, so it will be a tough matchup.
ROAD FC bantamweight sensation Yang Ji-yong will face Kazuma Kuramoto. The Japanese fighter, who debuted in 2017 and has amassed a 10-4 record, is a talented fighter with both striking and ground game. He has won seven straight fights since his debut, and has won the All Japan Greco-Wrestling Championships and national championships.
Lastly, Makoto Shinryu is the DEEP Flyweight Champion of Japan and the CAGE FURY FC Flyweight Champion of the United States. With a record of 16 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw, he fought for the flyweight title at RIZIN 45 against Japan’s top MMA star Kyoji Horiguchi.
Although he lost to Kyoji Horiguchi, he was on a 10-fight winning streak before that. He also fought for the title in Bellator in the United States. His experience makes him a tricky opponent for Lee, who will be traveling to Japan for the first time.
Meanwhile, tickets for the April 13 event at Kune ROAD FC 068 can be purchased at Interpark Tickets.