Making his first appearance outside South Korea, ROAD FC veteran Jae Hoon Lee pushed late replacement Hinotori to the limit before a dramatic third-round ground battle ended in a TKO defeat at RIZIN Landmark 15 in Hiroshima.
Jae Hoon Lee’s long-awaited international debut came to a heartbreaking end on Saturday after the South Korean flyweight was stopped by Japan’s Hinotori (Kyohei Takagi) in the third round at RIZIN Landmark 15 in Hiroshima. The official stoppage came at 4:25 of Round 3 via TKO due to punches.
The bout looked very different just days before fight night.
Lee was originally scheduled to face Japanese striking standout Tatsuki Shinotsuka in a 57kg flyweight contest. However, Shinotsuka was forced to withdraw after being diagnosed with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy, leaving RIZIN searching for a replacement on short notice.
That replacement came in the form of Hinotori, whose willingness to step in at the last minute earned respect before the opening bell had even rung.
Lee Starts Fast in the Final Round
After two competitive rounds, Lee entered the third round with renewed urgency.
The South Korean immediately began pressing the action, engaging in several aggressive exchanges while landing clean shots that caught Hinotori. It appeared Lee was looking to separate himself on the scorecards, using his speed and combinations to keep the Japanese veteran on the defensive.
Midway through the round, however, the momentum shifted.
Hinotori changed levels and secured a takedown, bringing the fight to the canvas.
Even from his back, Lee remained dangerous.
He quickly threatened with a triangle choke before transitioning into an armbar attempt, forcing Hinotori to defend intelligently. The Japanese fighter stayed composed through both submission attacks, escaped the danger, and methodically worked his way into mount.
From there, the fight took a dramatic turn.
Hinotori Survives Submission Threats Before Late Finish
Once in full mount, Hinotori unleashed a relentless barrage of ground-and-pound punches.
Lee attempted to escape by turning and exposing his back, but the position only allowed Hinotori to continue his assault. With Lee trapped beneath him and absorbing unanswered strikes from back mount, the referee stepped in at 4:25 of the third round, awarding Hinotori the TKO victory.
For a fighter who accepted the bout on short notice, Hinotori delivered an impressive performance, showing composure under submission pressure before capitalizing once the fight reached his strongest position.
Valuable Experience for the Young Korean Prospect
Although the result is disappointing, the defeat should not overshadow the significance of Lee’s appearance.
The bout marked Jae Hoon Lee’s first international fight outside of South Korea after beginning his professional career competing under the ROAD FC banner. Making the jump from Korea’s domestic scene to one of Asia’s premier MMA organizations is a major step in any fighter’s development.
At just the beginning of his international journey, Lee showed flashes of why RIZIN was interested in bringing him to Japan. His willingness to exchange on the feet, attack aggressively in the final round, and immediately threaten submissions after being taken down demonstrated the skill set that has made him one of Korea’s promising young flyweights.
The loss will undoubtedly provide valuable lessons as he continues to develop against higher-level international competition.
For many Korean prospects, setbacks during their first overseas appearances become important learning experiences rather than career-defining moments. Lee still has plenty of time to make adjustments, gain experience, and return stronger.
If his performance in Hiroshima proved anything, it’s that he possesses both the offensive creativity and resilience to remain a fighter worth watching as his career continues to evolve.
RIZIN Landmark 15 Results
RIZIN Landmark 15 took place on July 18 at Hiroshima Green Arena in Hiroshima, Japan, featuring Danny Sabatello challenging Jinnosuke Kashimura for the RIZIN Bantamweight Championship. Lee vs. Hinotori was one of the featured bouts on the card. The full fight results are as follows:
Main Card
- Danny Sabatello def. Jinnosuke Kashimura — Unanimous Decision (RIZIN Bantamweight Championship)
- Seika Izawa def. Yu Jin Shin — Submission (Armbar), Round 1
- Jae Hoon Lee vs. Hinotori (Kyohei Takagi) — Hinotori won via TKO (Punches), Round 3, 4:25
- Shinobu Ota def. Jose Torres — Unanimous Decision
- Hiroya def. Rukiya Anpo — Split Decision
- Tofiq Musayev def. Luiz Gustavo — TKO (Doctor Stoppage)
- Yuki Ito def. John Dodson — Unanimous Decision
- Ryuya Fukuda def. Erson Yamamoto — Submission (Rear-Naked Choke), Round 2
- Kouzi def. Genji Umeno — Kickboxing Decision
- Yutaro Asahi def. Daichi Tomizawa — TKO (Punches), Round 2
- Taisei Nishitani def. Sho Patrick Usami — Unanimous Decision
- Kota Miura def. Yushin Okami — Split Decision
- Yuki Motoya def. Naoki Inoue — Unanimous Decision
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About The Author
New Hinotori fan. Jae Hoon Lee beats Shinotsuka.