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 Saitama Super Arena. It was the final of the Atomweight tournament. RENA was the favorite but lately Kanna has improved and she's only 20 years old. For two years, I have said that RENA needs to quit Shoot Boxing and concentrate on MMA full time. Up until this fight, she hadn't faced anyone who could compete with her. Kanna is improving mainly because she isn't training with her dad anymore. You'll notice they showed him in the audience. He used to be in her corner. There's not much to the fight as they were feeling each other out. Kanna started going for takedowns. They bounced off the ropes and Kanna landed on top and then took RENA's back. RENA was unable to defend and she was asleep in moments. If she is able to defend, RENA probably gets through round one. That's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. An opportunity to finish landed in Kanna's lap and she took advantage of it. Plenty of fighters would have messed that up. So she deserves a lot of credit. I'm not sure where RIZIN wants to go with Kanna. She doesn't have RENA's star power but she could be a better fighter. The Japanese promoter habit of bringing in anonymous gaijin fighters doesn't do the Japanese fighters any favors. The other question is what will RENA do? She has the talent to be a good fighter. But is she willing to make sacrifices to get to that place? Stay tuned and we'll find out. Enjoy the video!