Laramie entered the championship bout riding a wave of momentum, boasting three consecutive victories and a stellar 4-1 overall record within the RIZIN Fighting Federation. Over the course of his tenure with the Japanese organization, the 27-year-old had firmly established himself as one of Canada’s most promising and dangerous combat sports prospects, hitting what many analysts consider to be the physical and technical prime of his athletic career.
Fighting lineage also runs deep in the Laramie household; Tony is the brother of former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) competitor TJ Laramie. Before breaking onto the international scene in Asia, Tony carved out a dominant reputation on the regional circuit in his home country, capturing gold titles under the banners of Ontario-based promotions PFC and BTC. However, challenging for a major world title under the bright lights of RIZIN represented a vastly bigger stage and the most significant opportunity of his professional journey thus far.
Standing across the canvas from the challenger was the reigning champion, Makoto Takahashi. Just a year younger than Laramie, Takahashi entered the bout with more than double the professional cage experience of the Canadian challenger. Takahashi was eager to make a statement and successfully defend his flyweight belt for the very first time since capturing the divisional championship this past June in a stellar campaign.
Where to Watch RIZIN Fighting Federation
Sunday, November 8, 2026, saw RIZIN 55 take place at the LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY in Funabashi, Japan. Fans across the globe tuned in as the event streamed live via RIZIN.TV, capturing all the dramatic shifts in momentum, knockouts, and technical battles that unfolded throughout the afternoon and evening. The action officially got underway at 12:00 AM ET, translating to a 9:00 PM PT start time on the evening of November 7 for North American viewers.
RIZIN 55 Results
The action-packed fight card featured a diverse lineup of international athletes and homegrown Japanese stars competing across various weight classes, culminating in a series of unforgettable performances.
In the main event spotlight, Makoto Takahashi defended the RIZIN flyweight championship against challenger Tony Laramie in a high-stakes battle that tested the tactical discipline and conditioning of both elite fighters.
The main card delivered intense combat from the opening bell. Naoki Inoue faced off against Yrysbek Tilenov in a high-paced clash that kept the audience on the edge of their seats. Veteran contender Ryuya Fukuda squared off against Soo Chul Kim in an international showdown showcasing high-level striking and grappling exchanges. Jinnosuke Kashimura locked horns with Shinobu Ota in a compelling featherweight or bantamweight test, while Kaleo Meheula met Kazuki Aimoto in an explosive encounter.
Further up the main card, seasoned standout Juntaro Ushiku took on Li Kaiwen in a classic striker-versus-grappler dynamic. Lightweight action featured Kyung Pyo Kim battling Nurkhan Zhumagazy, while Mac Papalii squared off against Yukinori Akazawa in the heavier weight divisions. Hiroaki Suzuki collided with Sei Min Kim, and Taichi Nakajima met Tsukasa Mizoguchi in a technical masterclass of regional and international experience. Tatsuya Saika and Daigo Kuramoto also threw down in a pivotal matchup designed to shake up the divisional rankings.
Early main card action featured explosive finishes that ignited the crowd at the LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY. Takumi Hamada secured a spectacular victory, defeating Sho Sekihara by knockout via slam at the 4:56 mark of the third and final round, showing incredible strength and awareness just seconds before the final horn. In another hard-fought contest, Rikiya Matsuzawa earned a hard-earned victory over Rio Kimura by unanimous decision, with all three ringside judges scoring the bout identically at 30-27 in favor of Matsuzawa across the three rounds.
The preliminary card set the tone for the evening with rapid finishes and relentless action. Yajuro Yamasaki wasted little time imposing his will, defeating Jake Wilkins by technical knockout due to ground-and-pound strikes at 4:58 of the opening round, securing the stoppage right before the end of the first frame. Saw Thwee Waw Thaunt put on a well-rounded display to defeat Shunya Inoue by unanimous decision after three competitive rounds. Meanwhile, Masachika Takahashi needed just a fraction of a round to secure a devastating victory, finishing Naohiro Matsumoto by TKO via a barrage of punches, knees, and soccer kicks at the lightning-fast time of 0:25 of the very first round.
