One of the standout performances at RIZIN 54 came from King Edokpolo, who advanced to the Heavyweight Grand Prix final. Edopolo, who is 6'8" and undefeated, is coached by Alex Pereira's coach, Plinio Cruz. He secured his spot in the final by knocking out Mikio Ueda with a knee from the clinch in the second round. Both heavyweight tournament semifinals at RIZIN 54 ended in KOs, setting up an exciting final.
Sources (4)
We summarise the day's news in our own words. Full credit to the outlets below for the original reporting, click through to read their work.
- Islam Makhachev Still the Betting Favorite as Ian Machado Garry Gains Ground Before UFC 330 (LowKick MMA)
- RIZIN 54 results and highlights! Mix drops fourth in a row, Jolly gets stretchered in Tokyo (MMA Mania)
- Alex Pereira’s 6’8” training partner pays homage to ‘Poatan’ with KO to advance to Grand Prix final (Bloody Elbow)
- DWCS Results: Season 10, Week 1 (MMA Fighting)
Split from that day's roundup, so the sources listed are the full set behind the whole edition rather than this story alone.
This story ran in the August 11, 2026 edition of the daily show.