Sora Kaneko, 16, and Christian Akira Matsuo, 18, will meet in the 2026 RIZIN Koshien final on New Year's Eve for a DELiGHTWORKS development contract and a three million yen scholarship.
From 2 reports by 2 outlets
What we know
- RIZIN announced the Koshien final on Oct. 19, following the eight-fighter qualifier held in Tokyo on Oct. 17.
- The champion receives a development affiliation contract with DELiGHTWORKS, the right to appear in RIZIN and a three million yen scholarship.
- Qualifying used two three-minute rounds at 63 kg and prohibited elbows to the face.
Reported, not confirmed
-
The scholarship is not an unrestricted purse; it reimburses qualifying combat-sports expenses retrospectively.
MiddleEasy
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The final is expected to be contested at 63 kg, though the original April notice advertised up to 61 kg and warned the limit could change.
Pos-Luta
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Entrants had to be aged 15 to 18 and live in Japan; active professional MMA fighters were excluded.
MiddleEasy
The RIZIN Koshien 2026 final is set, and it pairs the youngest finalist with the more experienced grappler: Sora Kaneko, 16, against Christian Akira Matsuo, 18. Both won two fights in one day to get there, and the winner leaves with a path into professional MMA.
Kaneko, who trains at FIGHTER'S FLOW in Tokyo, was the faster of the two in the opening round. He finished Yamaguchi with an anaconda choke after 50 seconds, then took a unanimous decision over Abe. According to MiddleEasy, he stands 170 centimeters and had earlier progressed through the August stage with two rear-naked-choke submissions.
Matsuo, from Shizuoka and Carlos Toyota bjj, had the tougher route. He needed a split decision to beat Yoshida, then submitted Yokomizo with an armbar at 1:57 of round one. MiddleEasy lists him at 155 centimeters, a 15-centimeter height gap that will shape the range and clinch work. Both have clear submission records in this tournament, so the grappling exchanges look like the deciding factor.
The prize is practical rather than ceremonial. The champion gets a development affiliation contract with DELiGHTWORKS and the right to appear in RIZIN. The three million yen scholarship is not a cash purse: it reimburses qualifying combat-sports expenses after the fact.
The weight is not fully settled. Qualifying ran at 63 kg, and Pos-Luta reports the final at the same limit. MiddleEasy notes the original April notice advertised 61 kg and warned that the limit could change. The final's exact weight and rules have not been confirmed beyond that, and it is not a professional title fight. Watch for RIZIN's announcement of the venue and format for the year-end show.
Kaneko, who trains at FIGHTER'S FLOW in Tokyo, was the faster of the two in the opening round. He finished Yamaguchi with an anaconda choke after 50 seconds, then took a unanimous decision over Abe. According to MiddleEasy, he stands 170 centimeters and had earlier progressed through the August stage with two rear-naked-choke submissions.
Matsuo, from Shizuoka and Carlos Toyota bjj, had the tougher route. He needed a split decision to beat Yoshida, then submitted Yokomizo with an armbar at 1:57 of round one. MiddleEasy lists him at 155 centimeters, a 15-centimeter height gap that will shape the range and clinch work. Both have clear submission records in this tournament, so the grappling exchanges look like the deciding factor.
The prize is practical rather than ceremonial. The champion gets a development affiliation contract with DELiGHTWORKS and the right to appear in RIZIN. The three million yen scholarship is not a cash purse: it reimburses qualifying combat-sports expenses after the fact.
The weight is not fully settled. Qualifying ran at 63 kg, and Pos-Luta reports the final at the same limit. MiddleEasy notes the original April notice advertised 61 kg and warned that the limit could change. The final's exact weight and rules have not been confirmed beyond that, and it is not a professional title fight. Watch for RIZIN's announcement of the venue and format for the year-end show.
- Summary
- Sora Kaneko, 16, and Christian Akira Matsuo, 18, will meet in the 2026 RIZIN Koshien final on New Year's Eve for a DELiGHTWORKS development contract and a three million yen scholarship.
- Key points (one per line)
- Kaneko and Matsuo won the eight-fighter Koshien qualifier in Tokyo on Oct. 17 and meet in the final on New Year's Eve.
The winner gets a DELiGHTWORKS development contract, the right to appear in RIZIN and a three million yen scholarship.
The final is reported at 63 kg; the contest has not yet taken place.
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- MiddleEasy | https://middleeasy.com/mma-news/sora-kaneko-christian-akira-matsuo-rizin-koshien2026-final/
Pos-Luta | https://posluta.com/rizin-define-final-do-torneio-koshien-2026-entre-os-jovens-sora-kaneko-e-christian-akira-matsuo/
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