Kai Asakura got here up brief in his try and win a UFC title in his debut, however may have opened the door for one more RIZIN champion to affix the North American firm in 2025.
RIZIN light-weight champion Roberto Satoshi, who faces Vugar Karamov within the remaining card of the 12 months on Dec. 31 in Saitama, Japan, as soon as instructed MMA Preventing he had “no want” to vary houses for the UFC as a result of “the popularity I’ve right here in RIZIN is out of the peculiar,” and “I’d hardly make within the UFC what I make in RIZIN.”
RIZIN president Nobuyuki Sakakibara was sitting cageside for Asakura’s problem towards Alexandre Pantoja for the flyweight gold at UFC 310, and it gave Satoshi the impression {that a} extra attention-grabbing and profitable deal may very well be labored on for his transition, given Sakakibara’s nearer ties to UFC CEO Dana White.
“I used to be very comfortable for Kai, though he misplaced,” Satoshi stated in an interview with MMA Preventing. “We’ve to respect him as a result of he’s made his title within the media in Japan, he’s highly regarded right here, and that’s why there was plenty of buzz right here. It was good for Japan, it was good for the UFC as effectively. I’m glad to see Dana White saying he desires to be even nearer, which may open the door for extra RIZIN fighters there.”
Asakura is a highly regarded MMA title in Japan, pulling higher numbers on his personal YouTube channel than UFC star Alex Pereira, however Satoshi doesn’t have the identical persona. He’s the kind of fighter that prefers to do the speaking inside rings and cages, and has accomplished it pretty effectively in his most up-to-date bouts with back-to-back knockouts over Luiz Gustavo and Keita Nakamura.
The jiu-jitsu ace seems to be to defend his 155-pound for the fourth time on Dec. 31, and reveled his situation to think about becoming a member of the UFC.
“The one means I’d have the need to go to the UFC is that if it’s like Kai went,” Satoshi stated. “It doesn’t have to be in a title struggle, which I believe is difficult, particularly within the light-weight division with a protracted line ready for [Islam] Makhachev, but when there’s a chance to struggle somebody ranked, I’d be very . Now, if I’ve to go there and struggle another person to then begin climbing the rankings, then I’m not .
“I’m already 35, so it’s laborious to start out that journey from zero. But when I can minimize the road a bit of bit and at the very least struggle somebody ranked, then I’m in. I’m comfortable right here at RIZIN, I’m well-paid, I’m the champion, and followers acknowledge me in Japan, however, prefer it or not, trying by way of [size] of the UFC, to have the chance of preventing somebody ranked there can be one other nice chapter in my profession as a fighter.”
Satoshi was victorious in 10 of his 11 RIZIN bouts with 9 stoppages to his credit score, together with a first-round armbar over Johnny Case to avenge his single loss. Satoshi was crushed twice in Japan when going through Bellator stars A.J. McKee Jr. and Patricky Pitbull, the latter being a last-minute catchweight.
Satoshi stated he hasn’t studied Islam Makhachev’s fights as he would if paired up towards him, however sees the UFC king having cardio and energy as his largest weapons, greater than precise method.
The Brazilian expertise, who has even fought to a draw towards a a lot heavier Gordon Ryan in jiu-jitsu at Quintet 3 again in 2019, has historical past with former 155-pound champion Charles Oliveira courting again to their days as younger jiu-jitsu blue-belts in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
“He was courageous,” Satoshi laughed. “He was from a lighter weight class however moved up simply to struggle me, so we all the time ended up preventing one another twice in each event as a result of we’d additionally meet within the absolute. Folks make enjoyable once I say this, however I’ve by no means misplaced to him in jiu-jitsu. I believe we fought six or seven instances, and I all the time received [laughs].”
