‘I’m Not Just Any Black Belt’

A world-class Brazilian jiu-jitsu participant by all viable measures, he
initially made the choice to check the waters in combined martial
arts as a method to enhance his expertise as a grappler. Satoshi de
Souza fought solely as soon as in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Nonetheless, the outcomes
had been unimaginable to disregard, even for him.

“I used to be trying to achieve expertise and be a greater teacher for my
college students,” Satoshi de Souza advised Sherdog.com. “MMA was the easiest way
to realize expertise, although my greatest ardour was nonetheless
jiu-jitsu.” The scenario—most notably the scale of his
paychecks—advanced through the ensuing years, and the
Rizin Fighting Federation introduced him aboard in 2019. He was
7-0 with seven first-round finishes on the time. “That’s when
issues completely modified,” Satoshi de Souza stated. “It’s once I
began dedicating myself 100% to MMA.”

The Bonsai Jiu-Jitsu consultant ultimately upped his report to
11-1, a technical knockout loss to Johnny Case
his lone misstep. Satoshi de Souza confronted Tofiq Musaev for the
inaugural light-weight championship at Rizin 28 on June 23, 2021 and
wanted simply 72 seconds to choke the Orion Battle Membership standout into
submission in entrance of greater than 9,000 followers on the Tokyo Dome. He
embraced his position as a marked man throughout the firm and
efficiently retained his title on two subsequent events,
dismissing Yusuke
Yachi with a triangle armbar at Rizin 33 earlier than vanquishing
Case with a reverse triangle armbar within the first spherical of their
Rizin 35 rematch. Although Satoshi de Souza has labored diligently to
add ancillary weapons to his arsenal, the two-time Abu Dhabi Fight
Membership Submission Wrestling World Championships gold medalist
perceive what greases his wheels.

“My floor recreation makes me stand out,” he stated. “I’m not simply any
black belt. I win by submission. That’s why my MMA bouts don’t go
to the judges. I both submit [my opponent] or get a knockout.
Even again once I was solely doing jiu-jitsu, I’d virtually by no means go to a
choice.

Satoshi de Souza’s diploma of problem figures to rise
significantly when Bellator
MMA and the Rizin Combating Federation unite to co-promote

Rizin 40 on Saturday on the Saitama Tremendous Area in Saitama,
Japan. A non-title affair with former Bellator featherweight
champion A.J. McKee
awaits him in the primary occasion.

“I turned very acquainted with A.J. after I began watching extra
Bellator fights,” Satoshi de Souza stated. “He has unbelievable expertise.
I believe that’s very cool. His father raised him to be an MMA
fighter. My father raised us in jiu-jitsu. I believe it’s going to be
nice.”

McKee, 27, rides a sensational 19-1 report into the match, the
nice Patricio
Freire chargeable for the one blemish on his in any other case
pristine resume. The Workforce Bodyshop cornerstone final fought at
Bellator 286, the place he moved as much as 155 kilos and took a unanimous
choice from Spike
Carlyle on Oct. 1. McKee sports activities 13 finishes—seven by
submission, six by knockout or technical knockout—amongst his 19
skilled victories.

“A.J. is an entire fighter,” Satoshi de Souza stated. “He’ll assist me
reveal how good my placing really is, along with my
floor recreation. He’s well-balanced. I believe that on the bottom I can
submit anybody, and I’ve stunned lots of people with my placing.
I’m assured I can win both means. The one factor is to decide on the
proper technique. After we’re within the battle, each punch, kick and transfer
can change our plans.”

Win or lose towards McKee, Satoshi de Souza plans to shift his
consideration towards his duties as Rizin light-weight champion
in 2023.

“My objective is to maintain defending my belt, in addition to Rizin,” he stated.
“I wish to present that Japanese promotions are among the greatest. I
need us to return to the Satisfaction [Fighting Championships] period, when
the perfect on this planet fought in Japan.”