ABEMA Kakutou Channel

At a glance

• Launched on July 31, 2016 as ABEMA's 26th channel
• Operated by CyberAgent with TV Asahi
• Most content is free, with archives reserved for Premium subscribers

Overview

ABEMA Kakutou Channel, written "ABEMA 格闘チャンネル" in Japanese, is the combat sports channel of the Japanese streaming service ABEMA. Kakutou means "fighting." It launched on July 31, 2016 as the service's 26th channel. ABEMA is run by CyberAgent and jointly operated with TV network TV Asahi.

This listing points to the Abema_Fight account on X, which shares the channel's schedule, announcements and clips. It is the easiest way to keep track of what the channel airs, in Japanese, without using the app. It shows you at a glance which promotions are on the channel that week.

What you'll find

The channel carries events from RIZIN, K-1 and Shooto, along with boxing and pro wrestling. Most of the content is free. Archives, which let you rewatch an event after it airs, are reserved for ABEMA Premium subscribers. That model lets you watch events live without paying and subscribe only if you want to go back to past shows.

The channel also produces Kakutou Dairi Sensou, a show built in partnership with ONE Championship. MMAPLANET has covered the partnership, which ties the channel to one of Asia's major promotions. On X, the Abema_Fight account posts airtimes, results and video clips as events unfold.

Why follow

ABEMA Kakutou Channel gives you live access to a large share of Japanese combat sports, often for free. RIZIN, K-1 and Shooto cover Japanese MMA and kickboxing, which makes it a wide window onto the local scene. The X account lets you follow the schedule and spot upcoming events, even if you don't watch live.

The ONE Championship partnership and Kakutou Dairi Sensou show that the channel produces its own formats too. If you don't speak Japanese, the video clips posted on X are still easy to follow, since the fights need no commentary. Check whether the stream is available where you live before you count on it. The clips on X remain the most reliable way to follow the channel from outside Japan.

MMA Official's take

ABEMA Kakutou Channel is for fans of RIZIN, K-1 and Japanese combat sports in general who want events and highlights straight from the source. Start with the Abema_Fight account on X for the schedule and clips, then look for an episode of Kakutou Dairi Sensou to see the channel's in-house format.

If you follow RIZIN, keep an eye on the account on fight nights for clips posted during the broadcast. That is often the quickest way to see a finish from Japan without waiting for a highlight package.