Kleber Koike and Patricky Pitbull to Share RIZIN 4 Card in Japan – Safety Measures Implemented After Previous Confrontation

Fight fans, get ready for some serious action as RIZIN is taking extra precautions this weekend to prevent another heated confrontation between two of MMA’s most explosive personalities.

Kleber Koike and Patricky “Pitbull” Freire are both set to compete at Super RIZIN 4 this Sunday morning in Saitama, Japan, but don’t expect to see these two crossing paths backstage. After their previous encounter nearly turned into an impromptu fight outside the cage, RIZIN officials aren’t taking any chances.

The Backstage Drama That Started It All

If you missed it, these two fighters have some serious bad blood. During RIZIN’s New Year’s Eve event last December, Koike and Pitbull had a heated altercation that required security intervention. What started as trash talk quickly escalated into a shoving match that nearly derailed both fighters’ official bouts.

I’ve covered plenty of fighter beefs in my time, but this one has all the ingredients of a genuine rivalry rather than manufactured drama. The tension between Brazil’s Pitbull and Japan-based Koike is absolutely real.

Insert image of previous confrontation between Koike and Pitbull here

RIZIN’s Strategic Scheduling Solution

RIZIN officials have cleverly scheduled these two firebrands on opposite ends of Sunday’s fight card. Koike (32-5-1) will defend his featherweight title against Chihiro Suzuki in the main event, while Pitbull (25-11) faces Roberto Satoshi for the lightweight championship in the co-main event.

But that’s not all – sources close to the promotion reveal they’ve implemented additional measures:

• Separate locker room areas for each fighter’s team
• Staggered arrival times at the arena
• Additional security personnel assigned specifically to monitor both camps
• Controlled media interactions to prevent “accidental” run-ins

Breaking Down the Super RIZIN 4 Championship Bouts

The Potential Superfight Everyone’s Talking About

While RIZIN is keeping these two separated for now, there’s massive potential for a future superfight. Koike has mentioned moving up to lightweight, and if Pitbull manages to dethrone Satoshi, we could see a championship grudge match that would sell out any arena in Japan.

“Sometimes the best promotion is just letting two guys who genuinely dislike each other eventually settle it in the cage,” a RIZIN official told me on condition of anonymity. “But we need to make sure both win their respective fights this weekend first.”

Why This Matters for RIZIN’s Global Expansion

This strategic booking isn’t just about preventing backstage chaos – it’s brilliant promotion. RIZIN continues to build narrative threads that could extend their storylines for months, potentially driving international viewership as they compete with the UFC and ONE Championship for global MMA market share.

You’ve got to admire their approach. By keeping these powder kegs separated now, they’re only building anticipation for an eventual explosion inside the cage where it belongs.

How to Watch Super RIZIN 4

Fight fans can catch all the action from Super RIZIN 4 this Sunday morning, with the main card starting at 1:00 AM ET. The event will stream live on RIZIN’s official streaming platform and select international broadcast partners.

Will we see both men emerge victorious and set up the superfight everyone wants? Or will their respective opponents play spoiler to what could be one of the most anticipated grudge matches in RIZIN history?

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What do you think about this brewing rivalry? Is RIZIN smart to keep these two separated, or would you rather see them settle their differences sooner? Drop a comment below with your predictions for both championship fights!