Rinya “Hybrid” Nakamura, new UFC bantamweight prospect, and Road To UFC Bantamweight finalist winner did not plan to meet in the middle and brawl with his opponent Toshiomi “Silent Finisher” Kazama.
The two Japanese fighters squared off in the cage Feb, 04, 2023 on the prelims of UFC Fight Night 218: Lewis vs Spivac card (at the Apex) to determine who was going to secure a UFC contract.
The two were not scared to meet in the middle and exchange punches, but Nakamura was victorious, knocking Kazama out cold within 0:32 seconds of the first round, giving a “so-so” sign to the camera as he walked away from Kazama’s limp body.
Post fight Nakamura described how he and his opponent, as he referred to as “Mr.Kazama”, were betting their lives on this fight so it was sure to be a “dogfight”, but didn’t think it would go like that.
Nakamura described that the fight going the way it did “was not my plan, but I forced the fight like that”
Nakamura told the media that he thought he was going to get a knockout by headkick, but still happy with punching.
He also explains the controversial last shot he gave as the ref came in as “just to make sure to finish the fight”. Not seeming as it was anything personal between the two fighters.
The Hybrid also mentioned he does not want to fight anymore Japanese fighters, he stated, “I want to spread how Japan is good, how Japanese fighter is good, how Japanese mentality is good, samurai spirit, and ninja style, I want to show the world how Japan is good“.
Nakamura is still undefeated with a record of 7-0 only going to decision once.
