Hideki “Shrek” Sekine, Who has already steeled himself, Says: “There’s Life in the Midst of Death. I Have No Choice But to Go for It.” Visser Ruann with a Confident Smile: “I’m Looking Forward to It.”
On October 18, the weigh-ins and press conference for the “10.19 JAPAN MARTIAL ARTS EXPO PROLOGUE” were held. The event is divided into four segments, featuring five matches in the second half, including a Quintet Rules one-match fight, TEAM SAKU vs. TEAM RIZIN under Quintet Rules, Ganryujima Rules, and a boxing match between Koji and Buakaw. All fighters participating in the main event took the stage.
In the Ganryujima Rules (3 rounds of 3 minutes, open-weight division), Hideki “Shrek” Sekine (RIZIN/Japan) will face Ruann Visser(Boxing/South Africa).
Sekine is a unique fighter with an unusual background as a professional wrestler, jiu-jitsu practitioner, and former police officer. He made his debut in Ganryujima in 2017 and currently holds a record of 4 wins and 1 loss. In 2020, he also appeared in RIZIN, where he has battled fiercely in both MMA and pro wrestling.
Visser is a giant standing 207 cm tall and weighing 130 kg, hails from South Africa. He has a boxing record of 15 wins and 3 losses. Trained by the renowned coach Steve Kalakoda, who raised the late Mike Bernardo, Visser is considered a secret weapon in the ring.
When the two fighters stood side by side, the crowd was astonished by the 30 cm height difference. Sekine, standing at 175 cm, looked up at the towering Visser. It’s hard to imagine what kind of match this will be. Sekine hopes to find an opening through clinching and groundwork, while Visser has powerful punches and a physique strengthened by his rugby experience. Tomorrow’s match will be one that fans won’t be able to take their eyes off for a moment.
Comments from Sekine and Visser at the Press Conference:
Sekine:
“Today, seeing him for the first time, these words came to mind: ‘There’s life in the midst of death.’ It’s an old saying, but it means facing death head-on and finding value in life there. In modern terms, ‘Have the courage to lose and go for the win.’ I have no choice but to give it my all.”
Visser:
“I’m looking forward to fighting a strong opponent tomorrow.”
Event Overview
Noto Peninsula Earthquake Charity Event
JAPAN MARTIAL ARTS EXPO PROLOGUE
Event Date: Saturday, October 19, 2024
Doors Open: 12:30 PM, Event Starts: 2:00 PM
Venue: Yokohama BUNTAI (2-7-1 Furocho, Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0032)
Organizer: Japan Martial Arts Consortium
Ticket Prices: Arena Reserved Seats ¥10,000 (excluding tax) / General Admission (Free Seating) ¥3,000 (excluding tax)
Tickets on Sale: From Tuesday, October 1, 2024, via ePlus and other ticketing services.
How to watch：
12:30-（JST) U-NEXT（Only in Japan・Free）
https://video.unext.jp/livedetail/LIV0000006877?rid=FS00040
14:00-（JST) TrillerTV（Worldwide exlculding Japan・PPV）
https://www.trillertv.com/watch/japan-martial-arts-expo-2024/2pfqy/
14:00-（JST) Fight Plus（Worldwide excluding Japan・PPV）
https://fightplus.eu/item.html?id=4949480
Official Website：https://jmaexpo.com/
For the latest updates, please check the official social media channels