At the recent RISE FireBall event, top-ranked kickboxer Kazuki Osaki secured a dominant victory by stopping current WBC Muay Thai champion Corey Nicholson in the fifth round, capturing the inaugural RISE -53kg World title.
Although Osaki`s performance was strong, Corey Nicholson marks another less challenging opponent Osaki has faced since his win over Jin Mandokoro nearly a year ago. Meanwhile, Ryu Hanaoka and Ryujin Nasukawa are potential contenders awaiting a title shot. Following his fight, Osaki mentioned his interest in pursuing new opportunities in ONE Championship, similar to his younger brother`s move last year.
Koki Osaki Dominates Former RISE Champion Monguchi
Kazuki`s brother, Koki Osaki, also delivered a powerful performance against former RISE champion and top-ranked 55 kg fighter Keisuke Monguchi. In one of his career-best outings, Osaki finished Monguchi in the second round with a flurry of punches, a combination reminiscent of Gokhan Saki, solidifying his position as the top -55kg fighter in RISE, and arguably worldwide.
With many Japanese fighters leaving K-1, the Osaki brothers now have a wider pool of potential opponents, including fighters like Toma Kuroda and Ryuki Matsuda, as well as numerous 57kg competitors in ONE Championship.
Mei Miyamoto Upsets RISE Queen Kobayashi in Controversial Decision
Following a tough loss to Tessa de Kom at 52 kg, Arina Kobayashi aimed to bounce back against the undefeated 5-0 Mei Miyamoto. Their bout turned into an unusual six-round thriller.
Although the champion, Kobayashi, seemed to have the edge for most of the fight, an unexpected sixth round was added after the initial five. The decision then controversially went to the challenger, Mei Miyamoto, who claimed the RISE -49 kg title in what has been hailed as potentially the best women`s kickboxing match of the year. A rematch between Miyamoto and Kobayashi appears likely, and the winner could potentially challenge -46 kg champion and pound-for-pound #2, Koyuki Miyazaki.
Murray Blackwood 
Gareth Pendleton