Daron Cruickshank stops Shinji Sasaki with soccer kick at Rizin 1

Daron Cruickshank returned to the win column in his Rizin Fighting Federation debut in Japan, and he did it in impressive fashion.

Three months after his last UFC fight, the taekwondo specialist made quick work of Shinji Sasaki at Rizin FF 1 at Nagoya’s Nippon Gaishi Hall, dropping his opponent with a right hand and finishing with a soccer kick. Cruickshank scored his first knockout victory since a May 2014 win over Erik Koch.

Daron Cruickshank (@Cruickshank155) KO's Shinji Sasaki at RIZIN.1. SOCCER KICK pic.twitter.com/nzlexOEasA

— caposa (@GrabakaHitman) 17 de abril de 2016

In the women’s division, Gabi Garcia added another win to her record, this time by using her grappling skills. Facing Anna Malyukova, who started the contest with a yellow card due to greasing, the multiple time jiu-jitsu world champion quickly took the fight to the ground, getting the mount and landing punches while working for submissions. In the second round, Garcia was got the mount and finished with an armbar.

Gabi Garcia armbars Anna Malyukova in R2 - RIZIN.1 pic.twitter.com/S3IvjNGjS5

— caposa (@GrabakaHitman) 17 de abril de 2016

Click here for Rizin 1’s full results.