UFC 144 Japan: Hatsu Hioki – Proving He Belongs

“I am proud of being a Japanese fighter. To me, the Japanese fighting spirit symbolizes overcoming obstacles and growing after every combat.” – Hatsu Hioki

Featherweight contender Hatsu Hioki is under no illusions about his debut win in the UFC over George Roop last October. He knows it wasn’t his best performance and he is well aware that he didn’t display the skills that had him dubbed before the fight as the best featherweight not fighting in the Octagon.

“That was a tough fight, and because of that, it was a very educational one, since I got to know what to work on in training,” said Hioki through translator / manager Kei Maeda. “I was not nervous, but my preparation and thoughts about fighting in the UFC environment were premature, so to speak.”

That was then. Four months later, Hioki has put the disappointment of his razor-thin split decision win aside, and now all that matters is showing off the “real” Hioki in front of his home country fans in Japan this Saturday against Bart Palaszewski, a welcome surprise to say the least.

“I thought I was not going to have an opportunity to fight in Japan for a while, so I am glad I have gotten that opportunity this quick,” he said. “I’m motivated.”

A recurring theme this week for the Japanese fighters on the card is that this event at Saitama Super Arena isn’t just an opportunity to get another win, but to help kickstart the flagging Japan MMA scene. Hioki is on board with that

via Hatsu Kioki – Proving He Belongs.