The first Brazilian Karate Combat champion, Luiz Rocha, is preparing for another big battle in his career. Straight from Natal, the fighter will unify his titles in the lightweight category (up to 70,3 kg) this Saturday (19), against his great rival Shahzaib Rind, a Pakistani who won the interim belt after the Brazilian was injured and had to stay away from the organization.
Protagonists of a fierce rivalry, the fighters do not hesitate to promise a violent performance in the pit that will be set up in Miami (USA) for another edition of Karate Combat. In an exclusive interview with SUPER FIGHTS, Luiz Rocha spoke about his preparation and expectations for the long-awaited meeting with Shahzaib.
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"Before the offer came to me, I had already asked for this fight. In April of last year, there was an event in Dubai, and I wanted to fight at that event to get to know Dubai, which I hadn't been to before. I told the president (of KC) that his athlete, because Shahzaib trains at the president's gym, is a coincidence. I said, 'Your boy is 5-0, he could be my challenger. I want to fight in Dubai. He's Pakistani/Arabic, people like him.' And then he said no, that he would fight an Indian, in a Pakistan vs. India match, and he would be the captain."
Luiz Rocha faces off with Shahzaib Rind during a Karate Combat event. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @luizvrocha
Due to his request being rejected, Luiz eventually decided to venture into the bantamweight division (up to 61,2 kg), where he suffered a defeat after failing to perform as well as he had hoped due to the strain of the brutal weight cut. The Pakistani fighter won the interim title when the Brazilian was scheduled to face him after returning to his weight class, but was injured and prevented from defending his title.
Analysis on Shahzaib
Willing to put rivalry aside to give his opinion on his next opponent's skills, Luiz highlighted the Pakistani's style as different from other rivals he has faced in Karate Combat.
"He's a very different guy from everyone else I've fought. I won't categorize him as better or worse, but a fight is a fight, they're different characteristics, but he's very different. But he's also never fought anyone with my game. I think that even increases the anticipation for this fight, because it's hard to predict how it will go."
S. Rind posing with his KC belt alongside Din Thomas (left) and President Asim Zaid. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @goatshed
Real concern: knee
Despite considering the Pakistani opponent as having a different style, Luiz surprised everyone by stating that his biggest concern is not preparing for his rival but rather recovering from a knee injury.
"I trained very well for this fight. My knee recovered, thank God. For me, the most important thing was this: my knee being healthy. My biggest concern with this fight was never him (Shahzaib), I never worried about him. My biggest concern was always that my knee would be recovered and healthy for the fight. That was always my fear, let's say."
Level of rivalry
Having been with Karate Combat for several years, Luiz has faced several fighters and has even had a history with Edgars Skrivers, the only athlete to have achieved a trilogy in the organization. When asked if his former victim generated more tension in their rivalry, the Brazilian explained the difference in his feelings towards Shahzaib today.
Luiz Rocha faces off with Shahzaib Rind during a Karate Combat event. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @luizvrocha
"With Edgars, I had a really different experience. I was undefeated in Karate Combat and MMA, so professionally I had never lost a fight. And Escrives beat me in 2019. In 2022, I fought him again, knocked him out, and won again in 2023. So, this story, being my first loss, and this whole scenario happening, puts Escrives on a higher level in my life."
"But Shahzaib is a guy who has truly built a star. Considering the audience, followers, and business, he's a very popular guy in his country, which lacks idols, so this is making the fight even more hyped. For me, it's good. I look at it positively, I don't see the negative side of the rivalry; it doesn't bother me. I see it as a good thing; the more people want to see his fight, the more people will watch me. I don't take it personally, at least not yet. Maybe if there's a more intense staredown, I'll take it, but I'm only taking it for the business side."
Pressure of provocations
Fearless and making confident and provocative statements, Luiz says he doesn't care about the pressure he's putting on himself and guarantees that the real athlete who comes under pressure is the Pakistani who needs to make his people proud, who, until now, haven't won a straight title in the country.
"Honestly, I'm not feeling any pressure. On the contrary, I miss getting in and out of fights. I haven't fought in 14 months. The excitement of being here, fight week, that adrenaline rush, making videos, signing posters—I've been missing that feeling. I think that's what's taking over me today: happiness and excitement. I'm really excited."
"I think the pressure is much greater on him because he's the interim champion. He arrived in Pakistan as the first Pakistani to become a world champion in a combat sport, and he's in this mindset that I'm the man. But if he loses on Saturday, and he will, he'll only be remembered as the guy who was the interim champion. Not me, my story is written. I'm the first Brazilian KC champion, it's written forever."
Luiz Rocha is the KC lightweight linear champion. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram @luizvrocha
Differentiated plan
Contrary to what many are hoping for, the Brazilian champion plans to stay in the pit as long as possible, to cause pain and ease his longing to perform at the KC.
"I always plan to try to knock him out quickly, but that's not my idea. My idea is to try to enjoy every second in the pit. I went 14 months without fighting, I even doubted whether I would fight again, so I really want to enjoy being in there, to have fun. And I want to hurt him, I want him to feel pain, I want to see fear in his eyes, I want to hit him, look him in the eye and see that he felt fear, see that he thought: 'What the fuck have I done with my life?' and provoke this guy. That's what I want to do, and the knockout will be a consequence of that," he concluded.
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