Big Bad Blog Video Theater-Kanna Asakura vs RENA

Here's the match video of Kanna Asakura vs RENA from yesterday's RIZIN show at the Saitama Super Arena. Of course this is a rematch from last year's tournament final when Kanna put RENA to sleep. We didn't get a finish in this match but Kanna won easily. Her big edge is her ground game and her quickness. RENA is mainly a striker but she's inadequate on the ground. Because of Kanna's quickness, I don't know if improved takedown defense would help RENA. Kanna executed takedowns at will and RENA couldn't do anything about it. I scored it 30-27 for Kanna and so did the judges. It looks like RIZIN is going to do Ayaka Hanasaki vs DEEP JEWELS Atomweight Champion Mina Kurobe and the winner fights Kanna. I see Ayaka winning and she would be a very tough opponent for Kanna. As for RENA, retirement wouldn't surprise me. She wants to take a break. She says she wants to be a normal person for a while. I don't think she likes MMA very much. And Shoot Boxing isn't a mainstream product even in Japan. Because of her sex appeal, she has mainstream potential in Japan as a personality on TV or movies. She could be a star but not as an MMA fighter. Maybe she'll retire and move back home to Osaka. We'll see. Kanna gave a great performance so be sure to check out the video.

Rena Kubota X Kanna Asakura - RIZIN 11 from John Zevita on Vimeo.