Joe Ferraro is a stalwart in Canadian mixed martial arts and for years has helmed the position of Rizin play-by-play commentator. Rizin 45 looms closer and continues the rich tradition of New Year's Eve events in combat sports in Japan.
Ferraro appeared on Bowks Talking Bouts to discuss: -Rizin Azerbaijan transpiring relatively recently and how important that first international card was for the company overall
-The Juan Archuleta vs Kai Asakura bantamweight title bout
-Kyoji Horiguchi vs Makoto Shinryu II being for flyweight gold and if the inauspicious nature of the first fight may inform the sequel
-Hiromasa Ougikubo versus John Dodson in all likelihood being a 125 pound title eliminator
-Kleber Koike embarking on his comeback path back to RFF featherweight gold against Yutaka Saito
-Seika Izawa being the present champion and combatant of the future as the established Miyuu Yamamoto has her MMA swan song
-The MMA debut of Tenshin's brother, Ryujin Nasukawa here
-Sensing from the fighters how important being on the NYE card is
-The NYE tradition of sumo wrestlers fighting and Sudario being that next generation of sumo practitioner in mixed martial arts
-The importance of a Japanese MMA federation and co-promoting with other organizations in the country
-Enson Inoue mentoring Sudario and Inoue saving Showdown Joe several times while overseas