Kleber Koike emerges victorious in RIZIN 47 bout against Juan Archuleta, poised to become the next featherweight champion

Former RIZIN champions Kleber Koike and Juan Archuleta are set to face off in a highly anticipated three-round fight in Tokyo this Sunday at 12 a.m. ET, with title implications on the line.

Koike, who previously held the RIZIN featherweight title, is confident in his abilities and believes it is only a matter of time until he claims the championship once again. However, he acknowledges that RIZIN owner Nobuyuki Sakakibara has mentioned other contenders such as Mikuru Asakura and Ren Hiramoto in the title conversation.

In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Koike expressed his belief that he and Archuleta are superior fighters compared to Asakura and Hiramoto, but understands the business aspect of promoting fighters who have a strong following. Despite acknowledging Suzuki’s success as the current champion, Koike is confident that the winner of his upcoming fight with Archuleta will ultimately become the future champion of Japan.

Both Koike and Archuleta lost their titles in 2023 due to weight misses for their respective title defenses. While Koike submitted Suzuki in their fight, the victory was overturned to a no-contest due to the weight miss. Koike also holds a victory over Kai Asakura from June 2021.

Koike is critical of his potential opponents Asakura and Hiramoto, stating that they are not championship material and are protected by RIZIN. He believes that Archuleta is a tough and experienced fighter who will provide him with a challenge and elevate his status in the division.

With both fighters eager to prove themselves and reclaim their former glory, the upcoming showdown between Koike and Archuleta promises to be a thrilling battle with significant implications for the RIZIN featherweight division. Fans can expect an intense and competitive fight as these former champions look to stake their claim as the top contender for the title.