Rizin champion, Kleber Koike talks about his career: “I lost a year of my life waiting for the UFC”

Kleber Koike featherweight champion at Rizin. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @kleber_koike

Living in Japan since he was 13, Kleber Koike, who was already training judo, began practicing jiu-jitsu and MMA. Upon turning professional, the athlete was already KSW champion within ten years. In his last contract fight, Koike lost to Mateusz gamrot, but he didn't expect the episode to change his career plans. Available on the market, the athlete waited for a year for contact from the UFC, which never came.

“I tried to go to the UFC when my contract with KSW ended, but they didn't get me because I was coming off a loss. I wasted a lot of time, I wasted a year of my life believing in the UFC and expecting things from the UFC (…) I fought my fights and started winning again, and then they came with an offer. I refused because of Rizin. They came again (later), and now it's just an option. I can say today that I didn’t want to be in the UFC”, the fighter told Super Lutas.

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Koike was hired by Rizin when he no longer had any plans for the future. Feeling welcomed, the São Paulo native only seeks to repay all the support that the Japanese event gave him, at a difficult stage in his life.

“Rizin took me in when I didn’t have a job, when I had nothing. Rizin gave me the opportunity to come to Japan, so I no longer dream of being in the UFC. I have a child to support, I have a house and Rizin pays me well for that. For me to win well in Ultimate, I only need to be among the top 5 or the belt. I prefer to play outside the 'selection', be valued and make money. Living in Japan I get sponsorships and students”, concluded the athlete.

Champion x champion

In a great moment in the organization, Koike comes from seven victories by submission and is looking for his eighth victory, when he faces the Bellator champion, Patrick Pitbull, December 31st, in Saitama, Japan. For the Rizin athlete, his victory is something likely to happen.

“I believe I can put on a great fight and win. Everyone talks about Pitbull being a knockout artist, but if you look at his record, he has more submissions than knockouts. He's a complete guy and that's what I admire most about him, but I believe in my work and my jiu-jitsu. Just as I know he's coming to knock me out, I'm heading into submission. In the same way that I know I can't make mistakes against him, he knows he can't make mistakes against me on the ground', said Kleber.

In a clash valid in the featherweight category (up to 65,7kg), the two fighters made weight this Friday morning. Kleber registered 65,8kg on the scale and Patrício 65,7kg. The event will also feature the presence of Roberto Satoshi in a duel against AJ Mckee, in the lightweight category (up to 70,3kg.)

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