In a dominant display of grappling excellence at RIZIN’s New Year’s Eve spectacular, Roberto Satoshi Souza successfully defended his lightweight championship against Vugar Karamov at the iconic Saitama Super Arena.
The Brazilian champion needed just one round to secure his 17th career finish, executing a masterful triangle choke that forced Karamov to submit with only 15 seconds remaining in the opening frame.
Souza, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, continues to prove why he’s one of the most feared grapplers in the lightweight division. The victory extends his impressive unbeaten streak to three consecutive wins under the RIZIN banner, while maintaining an extraordinary 94% finish rate.
The defending champion’s resume now stands at an impressive 18-3 in his professional mixed martial arts career. His submission prowess is evident in his statistics, with 11 victories coming by way of submission and an additional six by knockout.
Karamov, a seasoned veteran with 20 wins to his name and former featherweight champion, found himself unable to counter Souza’s superior ground game. The challenger’s strategy to engage on the mat proved costly against the submission specialist.
This latest victory further cements Souza’s status as one of RIZIN’s most talented champions, demonstrating once again why opponents think twice before following him to the canvas. The Brazilian continues to dominate the lightweight division with his exceptional grappling skills and championship mindset.
Go to the ground with Roberto Satoshi Souza at your own peril. He retains his lightweight title with yet another submission win, this time of former featherweight champ Vugar Karamov. #RIZIN_Decade (Footage courtesy of RIZIN FF/RIZIN.tv) pic.twitter.com/nkueB3RtPu
— Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) December 31, 2024
