At RIZIN 47, former champions Kleber Koike and Juan Archuleta are gearing up for a showdown in Tokyo with title implications. The fight is set to take place on Sunday at 12 a.m. ET, with Koike eyeing the featherweight belt currently held by Chihiro Suzuki.
While RIZIN owner Nobuyuki Sakakibara has mentioned Mikuru Asakura and Ren Hiramoto as potential contenders, Koike is confident that either he or Archuleta will emerge victorious and claim the title.
In 2023, both Koike and Archuleta lost their titles due to weight issues during their respective defenses. Koike managed to submit Suzuki in under three minutes with an armbar, but the win was later declared a no-contest. He also boasts a victory over Kai Asakura from June 2021.
Koike has expressed doubts about Ren Hiramoto’s MMA skills, suggesting that he and Archuleta outshine him. Despite acknowledging the popularity of fighters like Hiramoto and Asakura, Koike believes they do not have what it takes to be champions.
Confident in his abilities, Koike sees a win against Archuleta as a stepping stone to greater success in the sport.
