RIZIN issues statement apologizing for RIZIN 14 main event ‘confusion’

It came and it went just like that.

Three days after RIZIN announced their big New Year’s Eve show headliner for RZIN 14 between undefeated star prodigy kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa and all-time boxing great Floyd Mayweather, Mayweather would call the fight off.

Now a week removed from the madness that the fight announcement brought, RIZIN has released a statement (via MMASucka) addressing the matter.

“At a press conference held on November 5, 2018, we at RIZIN announced that the RIZIN 14 fight card at the Saitama Super Arena on December 31, 2018, would be headlined by Floyd Mayweather vs. Tenshin Nasukawa. However, shortly after this announcement, Mr. Mayweather himself made an announcement through social media. This message seemed to be insisting that the match had been canceled, and we sincerely apologize for this confusion.

RIZIN Chairman, Nobuyuki Sakakibara, is currently holding discussions towards carrying out the match based on the original contract between our promotion and Mr. Mayweather. This based on the basic agreement we initially did have with Mr. Mayweather. We hope to have a clearer announcement next week.

In truth, we would like to make a clearer announcement now. Unfortunately, as of writing, we are not in the position to report our current negotiating situation to you all. Thus, this statement will concern out ongoing developments. Sadly, we are afraid to inform you all that we will be needing more time. Again, we sincerely apologize for the confusion and concern this has been causing.”

Every year since their creation, RIZIN has held their biggest events on New Year’s Eve so this year was and is expected to be no different.

After already putting on two massive events in RIZIN 11 and RIZIN 13 earlier this year, the bar is obviously set very high to close out 2018.

With no bouts yet to be announced, it will only be a matter of time before we start hearing who is fighting and if RIZIN can salvage this fantasy fight between Tenshin and Mayweather in some fashion.

All we know as of right now is that star atomweight Rena Kubota has been confirmed to be competing on the card. Pride FC legend Wanderlei Silva has also expressed interest in fighting.

on 11/10/2018