Chihiro Suzuki scored the most important win of his profession when he knocked out Bellator champion Patricio Pitbull in a non-title match in July 2023, and he expects to develop into extra widespread because the Brazilian climbs the rankings within the UFC.
A former two-division champion in Bellator, who holds a win over Suzuki’s nemesis Kleber Koike in Japan, Pitbull begins a brand new chapter in his profession on April 12 when he faces Yair Rodriguez in what might find yourself being a title eliminator bout at UFC 314. Suzuki competes within the early hours of Sunday at RIZIN 50, taking over Karshyga Dautbek, and predicts a “very profitable” future for Pitbull within the UFC.
“I feel he’s going to do nice,” Suzuki advised MMA Preventing via an interpreter. “He’s going to be very profitable within the UFC. I imply, he’s acquired great credentials and he’s acquired nice accomplishments. He’s champion of two divisions, and he’s finished all of it. That evening I did beat him, however I used to be simply higher that evening at the moment. I do know for certain that he’s going to achieve success.”
Suzuki has had an amazing run to date contained in the RIZIN ring, going 8-2 with one no-contest and title finishes over Masanori Kanehara and Vugar Karamov.
“Clearly, the extra Pitbull wins, I feel it’s simply pure that my inventory goes up,” Suzuki mentioned. “The extra he wins within the huge stage, the extra worth I develop into. I feel it’s simply regular. This isn’t simply MMA, and that is in each aggressive sport, so it’s simply pure for that to occur. I do hope that occurs. And at some point, if he turns into the champion over there, I feel I need to get that rematch.”
RIZIN has seen fighters make the leap to the UFC previously, with Kai Asakura difficult Alexandre Pantoja for UFC flyweight gold in 2024. Kyoji Horiguchi is rumored to be in talks for a return to the promotion as effectively, and Suzuki received’t shut the door on switching properties sooner or later if it is smart for all components concerned.
“I feel all of it is dependent upon the RIZIN followers,” Suzuki mentioned. “If the RIZIN followers wish to ship me out to the UFC, and see me problem to the UFC, I’ll undoubtedly take into account that. However proper now, if the RIZIN followers say, ‘hey, we don’t wish to see you go,’ in the event that they wish to proceed to see me struggle in RIZIN, that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to remain right here.”
Suzuki stays centered on his upcoming bout with Dautbek in Kagawa, and predicts a first-round knockout end.
“I’ve the boldness as a result of I’ve finished it earlier than,” Suzuki mentioned. “I’ve knocked out a world champion earlier than, I’ve knocked out Pitbull, and that’s very convincing to me. I did one thing that lots of people couldn’t do, in order that’s the place my confidence comes from. I’ve finished it as soon as, I do know I can do it once more.”
Suzuki misplaced his most up-to-date bout in an exciting three-round battle defending his 145-pound belt in opposition to Koike this previous December. He mentioned he’s “discovered the depth in regards to the floor recreation” with that bout. With a view to develop into an entire combined martial artist, the Japanese star went a step additional and reached out to Koike to coach at his crew in Japan, alongside Koike and Roberto Satoshi.
“I felt that as a way to beat this new champion, which is Kleber, I have to be taught from him,” Suzuki mentioned. “I have to be taught from the champion as a way to beat the champion. That was my fast thought. And to place it easy, I haven’t misplaced in such some time. So it was simply easy thought that I haven’t misplaced, I actually wish to get that loss again, and I have to get higher. And the easiest way to get higher is to be taught from the one that simply defeated me.
“I needed to get higher. And the easiest way to get higher is to be taught from the one that simply defeated me. Clearly he is aware of my weaknesses and he capitalized on my weaknesses, so studying from him I assumed could be the easiest way to take my recreation to the subsequent stage.”
Suzuki doesn’t rule out chasing a trilogy match with Koike at some point, however solely after they kick out “worldwide invaders” from the RIZIN featherweight roster.
“Originally I had completely no considerations about [fighting each other after training together,” Suzuki said. “I was going to go in there, I was going to learn from him and eventually beat him. But as we got to train together my thoughts have kind of changed. It felt more like I didn’t want to fight him unless it’s absolutely necessary. Obviously, it’s going to take me a few more fights in order to get that title shot, and if Kleber still remains champion at the time, and if I have to fight him, I’ll definitely fight him.
“But right now, as we train together, we kind of bonded,” he continued. “We have like a common goal where RIZIN’s featherweight division is being invaded by a bunch of international fighters, and they’re all tough and they’re all very strong, so I think we came to a common goal where we are going to fight off these international invaders to RIZIN, who are coming over and try to take over. We’re both going to fight off the invaders and then eventually, if we still have to fight, we’ll fight as good sportsmen. But you know, realistically, I don’t really want to fight him right now.
“If that’s the case, if we have to fight when the time comes, I think we’ll be able to show the beauty aspect of real sports, the sportsmanship aspect. We can fight with full-on respect and trade skills as martial artists. These days in MMA, it’s all about trash talking and bad blood and controversy and all that kind of stuff, but I think there’s a different side to MMA that we can show. I think when that time comes for me to fight Kleber, I think we’ll be able to fight and show the beauty of the real sport.”
