Laramie becomes first non-Japanese flyweight champion in Rizin history with bloody split decision

Tony Laramie etched his name into Rizin Fighting Federation history on Sunday in Chiba, Japan, defeating flyweight champion Makoto Takahashi by split decision at Rizin 55 to become the first non-Japanese fighter to claim the promotion’s flyweight title. Two judges scored the main event 29-28 for Laramie, while the third had it 29-28 for Takahashi.

The fight was as brutal as the scorecards were close. Laramie (14-3, 5-1 Rizin) was dropped by a right uppercut inside the opening 30 seconds, but he recovered to take Takahashi’s back and threaten with two rear-naked choke attempts. Takahashi (23-6-1, 1 NC; 9-5 Rizin) freed himself and responded with knees and stomps to Laramie’s face as the challenger hunted for an armbar.

The second round saw Takahashi take Laramie’s back after a prolonged battle for position, but Laramie shook him off. A late elbow from Takahashi opened a cut above Laramie’s left eye heading into the final round.

Blood poured onto the canvas in the third after a standing elbow opened a second cut along Laramie’s hairline, forcing a ringside doctor’s examination. Laramie pleaded to continue and was permitted to do so, holding Takahashi down for the remaining two-plus minutes and landing right hands to seal the decision.

If his cuts heal in time, Laramie could make his first title defence on New Year’s Eve in a rematch against Yuki Ito, who defeated him in March 2025.

In the co-main event, Kyrgyz prospect Yrysbek Tilenov (9-1, 2-0 Rizin) earned a New Year’s Eve bantamweight title shot with a unanimous decision over former champion Naoki Inoue (21-6, 10-4 Rizin). Tilenov used side kicks to control distance before taking Inoue’s back repeatedly, and a four-punch combination floored Inoue as the first round expired.

Former title challenger Ryuya Fukuda (27-10-1, 5-2 Rizin) survived a late scare to earn a unanimous decision over Road FC champion Soo Chul Kim (24-10-1, 1 NC; 3-4 Rizin) at bantamweight. Fukuda dominated with cleaner boxing throughout but was rocked by one of Kim’s spinning elbows in the final round, stumbling into the ropes before regaining his composure and seeing out the fight. All three judges scored it for Fukuda.