Bantamweight Grand Prix Champion Kyoji Horiguchi was announced to take on fellow veteran Ian McCall in a much anticipated bout that failed to materialize during the New Years Event.
[5] Rounding off the marquee match-ups were the kickboxing phenomenon, Tenshin Nasukawa, taking on DEEP flyweight champion Yusaku Nakamura, and newly-crowned atomweight queen Kanna Asakura, who will face former King of the Cage atomweight champion Melissa Karagianis.
[6] This event also saw the return of the former Invicta atomweight champion Ayaka Hamasaki, as well as up-and-coming prospects Manel Kape and Kai Asakura.
After a 9-second knockout victory, Kyoji Horiguchi made a quick turnaround, in a long-awaited rematch against fellow Japanese champion Hiromasa Ogikubo.
Another rematch took place with Kanna Asakura taking on RENA, who she defeated in the final of the Atomweight Grand Prix.
Originally Mirko Cro Cop was scheduled for this event, however on May 21, 2018, while training for a bout in Bellator MMA against Roy Nelson, Crocop suffered multiple injuries to his left leg including an ACL tear, a partial MCL tear, and a LCL sprain.
However, Asakura was pulled from the event due to a knee injury and replaced by former Tenkaichi Champion Tadaaki Yamamoto Originally a fight was set between Rin Nakai and Shizuka Sugiyama.
Former Jungle Fight Lightweight Champion Bruno Carvalho was expected to headline this event against Yusuke Yachi, but was forced off the card due to an injury.
Manel Kape returned to the RIZIN ring for a 5th time, and faced DEEP Flyweight Champion Yusaku Nakamura.
Mirko Cro Cop returned after a 4-month injury lay-off against DEEP Megaton Champion, Roque Martinez.