RIZIN will hold a Japan Heavyweight Grand Prix in 2026. The all-Japanese tournament will run through the second half of the year. Three fighters are confirmed and a fourth will be named later.
Format and schedule
The semifinals will take place at RIZIN 54 in August. The two winners from that night will meet in a final in November. The Grand Prix winner will earn a title shot at Alexander Soldatkin on New Year’s Eve. That night will feature the inaugural RIZIN Heavyweight Championship.
Before the tournament starts, RIZIN Landmark 14 on June 6 in Sendai will feature a qualifying bout. Takakenshin, the twin brother of confirmed entrant Tsuyoshi Sudario, will face Ryo Sakai. That fight could set up both brothers entering the Grand Prix later on.
Confirmed fighters
Mikio Ueda is one of the three confirmed names. He has past fights inside RIZIN and shares history with Sudario, which adds an extra rivalry to the bracket.
Tsuyoshi Sudario returns after competing in the 2025 Grand Prix. The former sumo wrestler remains a strong contender and now has another path to a heavyweight title run.
King Edokpolo is the obvious wildcard. The unbeaten, 6-foot-8 prospect is still early in his MMA career. He has been training under Plinio Cruz, who is also known for coaching former UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. Edokpolo brings big size and fast-developing skills into the tournament.
| Fighter | Recent Result / Status |
|---|---|
| King Edokpolo | Unbeaten prospect; 6-foot-8; training under Plinio Cruz |
| Tsuyoshi Sudario | Competed in the 2025 Grand Prix; former sumo wrestler |
| Mikio Ueda | Has past fights with Sudario inside RIZIN |
Road to the title and context
The tournament keeps the focus on Japanese heavyweights. With only one slot left to fill, the bracket could add another veteran or a rising prospect.
Edokpolo’s size and coaching connection make him a fighter to watch, but experience in RIZIN can matter most in a short Grand Prix. Sudario’s sumo base and past Grand Prix run give him a clear game plan for heavyweight fights. Ueda and Sudario’s past meeting brings an immediate storyline when the semis arrive in August.
Fans should watch the June 6 Landmark 14 card in Sendai for the Takakenshin vs Ryo Sakai qualifier. The results there could shape the final field for the August semifinals and the November final, and eventually determine who gets the shot at Soldatkin and the first RIZIN Heavyweight Championship on New Year’s Eve.
