Official Results and Quotes for BELLATOR MMA vs. RIZIN Event in Japan

SAITAMA SUPER ARENA – All 5 BELLATOR MMA athletes participating within the historic BELLATOR vs. RIZIN occasion in Japan emerged victorious on Saturday night time – making historical past on what’s traditionally MMA’s largest night time of the yr.

The mega occasion will air in the US on SHOWTIME at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

No. 3-ranked pound-for-pound expertise AJ “Mercenary” McKee (20-1) defeated RIZIN Light-weight Champion Roberto Satoshi de Souza (14-2) by way of unanimous resolution and had this to say following his victory.

“I’m simply making an attempt to embrace all of it. Being right here in Japan and combating in entrance of all of the followers, it’s an expertise. It’s an honor to be right here and an honor to placed on a fantastic present.”

On combating underneath RIZIN guidelines: “Man, that was so enjoyable. I don’t know if one thing I can do each battle but it surely’s one thing I loved rather a lot. RIZIN loved the present so hopefully they convey me again for a title.”

“Man, [Roberto de Souza is] a warrior. He’s one robust dude. He stored throwing that triangle. I felt like he was making an attempt to tug me into deep waters and drown me… Fortunately, I’m a very good swimmer.”

“Man, that is about the most effective arenas I’ve fought in. The followers are phenomenal, the tradition is phenomenal. I’ve heard so many tales so to lastly be right here is superb.”

“I’m a warrior, and I’ve returned from battle. What higher solution to characterize this tradition. I’d’ve gone out like a warrior. If he had caught me in a triangle, I’d’ve gone to sleep. That’s simply the form of warrior I’m.”

“I wished to placed on a fantastic present for you guys to indicate that I’m grateful for the tradition.”

“I need to go residence, go snowboarding. I’ll be again right here. I’m gonna come again and choose up extra of those [victor’s trophies]. There’s one thing I actually like in regards to the samurai warriors; as fighters, that’s who we’re. I need to present my kids, that is what I gained in Japan. That is who you might be. The warrior blood runs by us. You’ve simply bought to faucet into it.”

On what it will take for Roberto de Souza to beat him: “After I step into that cage or ring, I really feel it’s me vs. me. Come practice with me? I’m so well-rounded, wherever Im at I proceed to prevail. Whether or not I’m on my again I’m in a position to battle.”

On when he plans to return to Japan once more: “New Yr’s subsequent yr? Why not? Possibly quickly. When you name me, I’m right here.”

“Each battle I inform myself I’m going to knock this individual out. It’s simply the self consider I’ve in myself. In my craft, self-belief is an important factor. He introduced a battle. Particularly going into a brand new weight class. 

“On the finish of the day, it’s less than me; it’s as much as Mr. Coker. They ship me a contract, I signal it. That’s my job. It doesn’t matter who it’s, the place it’s, when it’s. You give me a name, I’m gonna signal the contract, and I’m gonna do my job.”

“It’s at all times emotional having my father in my nook. I’m not simply combating for myself, I’m combating for him, my brother. It at all times makes our father proud and that’s our foremost objective. Simply be the perfect I could be… He at all times tells me he’s happy with me, win, lose, or draw.”

“As soon as I observed we have been within the nook of the ring, I wished to position his physique so he couldn’t transfer. I didn’t really feel we have been out of the ring.”

Within the co-main occasion, BELLATOR’s present Featherweight World Champion and No. 1-ranked pound-for-pound athlete Patricio Pitbull (35-5) bested RIZIN featherweight kingpin Kleber Koike (31-6-1) by way of unanimous resolution and added these remarks post-fight:

“I really feel excellent. [RIZIN Featherweight Champion Kleber Koike] was a robust opponent.”

“It was a really tough battle, he was defending very effectively in opposition to me.”

“I’ve been PRIDE since once I was just a little child, and RIZIN is the successor to PRIDE, so I’m very glad to be right here. After all, I used to be very emotional. That is one among my desires come true, so I used to be very glad to comprehend my dream.”

“I wish to battle once more in opposition to Kleber Koike in 2023.”

“I believed I might get him [RIZIN Featherweight Champion Kleber Koike] earlier however he was stronger than I believed. I bought some kicks to my face. So far as ‘Satoshi,’ I believed he was controlling within the early rounds however AJ took over in spherical 3.”

“I wished to say thanks to my opponent, Kleber Koike, who’s an superior fighter, and likewise to [RIZIN President Nobuyuki] Sakakibara for this chance.”

“There was no title, so subsequent time I wish to put the titles on the road.”

“I feel he will probably be one of many high fighters, I by no means look down on an opponent however I used to be stunned to see his 29 finishes.”

Former BELLATOR Bantamweight World Champion Kyoji Horiguchi (31-5) defeated Hiromasa Ougikubo (25-7-2) for a 3rd time on the particular occasion, and gave these feedback within the post-fight press convention:

On his standing as a member of the successful Group BELLATOR, given his previous in RIZIN: “I don’t know if I must be having fun with this as a lot as I’m.”

“I really feel excellent, whether or not in Japan [or not], I wish to battle.”

“The calf kick was in my sport plan.”

“He didn’t reduce it or something however after the second I knew he was harm.”

“I don’t actually really feel like he was chasing me, or something. I don’t let that into my thoughts. So, it wasn’t actually one thing for me.” 

On variations between BELLATOR and RIZIN: “I personally don’t put myself and the Japanese behind the US so possibly it’s simply technical variations.”

“I at all times attempt to battle consistently. If I can get in 3-4 fights a yr, that’d be nice. Whether or not it’s in Japan or America, I’d wish to get these numbers in.”

On a possible battle with John Dodson: “I’ve seen his battle, I feel he’s a really sturdy fighter so I feel there are alternatives to battle him.”

“My supervisor’s put a lot into my schedule that I don’t have free time to go round [this New Year’s Eve].”

On going again right down to flyweight: “There isn’t a lot distinction. Possibly the scale distinction.”

“I feel I’m fairly good at taking my opponents’ again. However, you realize, he was making an attempt to defend the entire time, so it was fairly tough.”

Juan “The Spaniard” Archuleta (27-4) defeated Soo Chul Kim (18-7-1) within the lone break up resolution on the cardboard, and stated this about his expertise:

“I’m feeling very glad, very fortunate, and lucky. I simply bought in a battle with Soo Chul Kim, and I’m glad to get the victory. 

“I knew it was going to be a detailed battle. Soo Chul Kim is an animal and so am I and that he was going to push the tempo.”

“I knew it was going to be a troublesome battle, however I’ve much more respect as a result of I hit him with lots of onerous pictures. I form of harm my palms a bit as a result of he had such a tough head, and he stored transferring ahead. I’m form of stunned.”

“It was so superb [to fight here in Japan on New Year’s Eve]. There’s at all times one thing you would like you would do extra. It’s in my blood and I’m so honored to battle right here.”

“I’m ‘The Spaniard’; my battle identify is ‘The Spaniard.’ My father’s facet comes from Spain, however on my mother’s facet, my household comes from Mexico, from Native Meso-Individuals. [My walkout costume paid tribute to] these warriors that characterize what the emperor chosen; actual, true warriors hand-selected by the emperor. Right here in RIZIN, I used to be in a position to characterize the opposite facet of my tradition. It’s not solely the samurai, it means one thing to me: the jaguar warrior. I wished to carry that to your eyes, to indicate you that there are different warriors. Similar to the bushido code in Japan. That was honor, and that was actual respect. To pay homage to that was to pay tribute to my Aztec household, and that was the ‘jaguar warrior.’”

“I simply need to keep lively, I need to get again into the ring as quickly as attainable. I really like combating. I used to be already hitting mitts with my cornermen after the battle as a result of I used to be like “what ought to I’ve accomplished higher?”. We’re at all times critiquing ourselves like “I want I did this.” Proud of the efficiency, glad to get the win. Particularly in opposition to an opponent like Soo Chul Kim, and now come subsequent yr, if RIZIN and BELLATOR placed on one other occasion, I hope I left [enough of] an impression on the followers and confirmed my love, respect, and honor on your guys’ tradition to have me again.”

“I inflicted the primary injury; bloodied him up. Then, I began the takedowns. It was slippery. It was my first time within the ring; I attempted to not let it get to my head. I knew the place I needed to take the battle to win the battle. I knew I needed to take him to the bottom to get management, to ascertain dominance and trigger injury, and that’s what I did. And bear in mind, [RIZIN President Nobuyuki] Sakakibara didn’t carry us right here for a straightforward [Team BELLATOR] win. He’s a former champ. These fights are shut; they’re gonna be dogfights for us to win. I had the perfect of Soo Chul Kim, and he had the perfect of me.”

“His physique pictures have been fairly damaging. There are marks on my physique. He hit me with some good physique pictures, so anybody with weaker conditioning, he would’ve dropped.”

On the place he would rank Soo Chul Kim in BELLATOR’s bantamweight division: “Positively within the High 6, above the High 10 that’s for positive. I feel he finishes lots of guys we’ve in BELLATOR simply due to toughness and his grit. It jogged my memory lots of my final opponent I fought, Enrique Barzola.”

“I positively wish to come again and battle for the title. I feel beating one among RIZIN’s high fighters places me in title rivalry. I feel Asakura if he needs the problem. I’m greater than keen to take the battle, I’ve supplied the battle. If I’m able to come again to Japan I’ll battle anybody who Sakikabara wished.”

“I feel their confidence [has been a deciding factor in Team RIZIN’s struggles]. They’re missing in dictating their offense. With Soo Chul Kim, if he had began his offense just a little earlier, he would have had me on the again foot extra. I feel their confidence is missing just a little extra. It’s scary although, since you’re crossing the road. Generally if you cross the road and get hit, it makes you second guess your subsequent transfer. I feel fighters on each side have been questioning tips on how to cross the road with out getting harm.”

Kicking off the must-see occasion is No. 10-ranked BELLATOR light-weight and former Eagle FC champ Gadzhi Rabadanov (19-4-2) taking up former DEEP champ Koji Takeda (15-4).

“I do know. [Khabib Nurmagomedov has been] very useful for me. This man supported me for a very long time. He’s like my huge brother. When he’s with me, it’s an enormous help. I really like this man.”

On doubtlessly going through RIZIN’s Light-weight Champion after defeating Takeda: “Possibly [I would like to fight the RIZIN champion], sure. Possibly subsequent yr, [BELLATOR and I will] come again. I don’t know, however sure, I feel [Koji Takeda] could be very near the title.”

BELLATOR MMA VS. RIZIN:

SHOWTIME

Saturday, December 31 — 8 PM ET/PT 

AJ McKee (20-1) defeated Roberto Satoshi de Souza (14-2) by way of unanimous resolution

Patricio Pitbull (35-5) defeated Kleber Koike (31-6-1) by way of unanimous resolution

Kyoji Horiguchi (31-5) defeated Hiromasa Ougikubo (25-7-2) by way of unanimous resolution

Juan Archuleta (27-4) defeated Soo Chul Kim (18-7-1) by way of break up resolution

Gadzhi Rabadanov (19-4-2) defeated Koji Takeda (15-4) by way of unanimous resolution