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MMA champions not often settle for short-notice fights as they’ve extra to lose with a setback, even when their belt isn’t essentially on the road, however that’s not the case for Patricio Pitbull and Roberto Satoshi.
The Bellator featherweight and RIZIN light-weight titleholders agreed to struggle Chihiro Suzuki and Patricky Pitbull, respectively, on quick discover at this weekend’s occasions in Saitama, Japan. The decision for catchweight bouts got here on lower than every week’s discover, with Satoshi changing A.J. McKee and the opposite matchup being put collectively on the final minute. They spoke with MMA Preventing concerning the choice to leap within the ring with principally no camp.
“They provided me a struggle on quick discover towards Suzuki, a troublesome Japanese [fighter],” Patricio Pitbull mentioned of his opponent, who not too long ago challenged Kleber Koike for the RIZIN featherweight title. “He’s an excellent kickboxer with heavy strikes and good takedown protection, however we’re prepared. I’m at all times coaching.”
Patricio Pitbull vs. Suzuki goes down at Tremendous RIZIN 2 within the early hours of Sunday, proper after Patricky Pitbull faces Satoshi in the principle occasion of Bellator MMA vs. RIZIN 2.
Patricio Pitbull got here up quick in his try and develop into a three-division titleholder in Bellator this previous June, shedding a choice to Sergio Perris, and mentioned he was again within the gymnasium every week after the five-round contest.
“I had stitches in my brow however stored doing 15 rounds within the gymnasium every single day,” he mentioned. “I’m at all times prepared for battle. You referred to as me for a warfare, I’m prepared.”
Satoshi most not too long ago fought in Might, successful a unanimous choice over Spike Carlyle in a non-title bout to enhance to 8-2 beneath the RIZIN banner. He mentioned on this week’s episode of the Trocação Franca podcast that he obtained the decision on Monday to switch the Bellator star.
“I respect Patricky quite a bit, I’ve large respect for these others and their historical past,” Satoshi mentioned, “however I admit that I’ve at all times needed to struggle him. I believe I’ve said that before. They deal with me tremendous effectively after they come to Japan, however they’re paying good cash for us to lose our friendship for half-hour. [Laughs.]”
Satoshi is aware of it’s a difficult match-up, particularly when his opponent had an extended camp and he accepted it on six days’ discover, however mentioned “I’m at all times coaching.”
“I don’t suppose [five rounds] shall be a problem for me,” Satoshi mentioned. “The one factor is that you simply research your opponent while you ebook a struggle, you prepare for him and put together a technique, however this time I’ll must deal with myself and never on my opponent. I’ll watch out, in fact, he’s referred to as ‘the KO king’ for a purpose, however I hope to placed on an excellent struggle and shock quite a bit to individuals on Sunday.”
Whereas Patricky Pitbull had an extended camp, he was coaching for McKee, not Satoshi. Protected to say, McKee’s preventing type is nothing like Satoshi’s.
The winner will advance to the event semifinal to face Alexander Shabliy.
“Lots has modified,” Patricky Pitbull mentioned. “[McKee] was a southpaw and now [Satoshi] is an orthodox. A.J. McKee preferred to throw kicks and Satoshi does a little bit of placing, however he’s not a striker. He does it to maintain the space and shoot for takedowns. His takedowns are jiu-jitsu takedowns, not wrestling, and he has nice triangle assaults and again takes.
“However the focus and objective stay the identical. Sadly it’s a Brazilian on the opposite aspect [of the ring], however that’s work. I’ve to beat somebody, and it’s going to be Roberto Satoshi.”
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