Fernando Santo Forte faces S. Ishii at KSW. Photo: Disclosure
Former KSW champion, heavyweight Fernando “Santo Forte” Rodrigues wants to regain the belt from the Polish organization. But to do so, he will first have to go through the Japanese Satoshi Ishii, in a duel that is scheduled for this Saturday (23) at KSW 47.
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The São Paulo native, who is excited about winning the belt in the Swedish Superior Challenge event, believes that a victory against the Japanese judoka, champion of the 2008 Olympic Games and who had significant victories in MMA against names like Pedro Rizzo, Tim Sylvia and Heat Hearring, could lead him to another chance at the belt.
“The year I lost the belt, in 2017, was very difficult for me because I couldn't recover properly from the fracture I had suffered in my hand in the fight against Karol Bedorf, when I won the KSW belt. I had six months to recover, I did physiotherapy every day, but I couldn't be 100%. I ended up losing the belt and then suffered another defeat at KSW. For the first time in my career I had suffered two consecutive defeats. But, after the two losses, I had the opportunity to do the co-main event at Superior Challenge and won the event belt. Now I want to look for a new opportunity for the KSW belt, and I will do everything I can to make that happen. I believe that a good victory against Ishii will qualify me to compete for the title again”, said the Brazilian.
In fact, Fernando is willing to do anything to earn this new chance at the KSW belt. For this fight, he left São Paulo for Florida, where he spent five weeks training with American Top Team, a team that includes big names such as former UFC champions. Junior Gypsy, Robbie Lawler and Tyron Woolley and the current UFC champion Amanda nunes.
“I had the best camp of my life. I had the opportunity to spend five weeks at ATT training with the best in the MMA world and this added a lot to my game. I know he will look for grappling, but I trained a lot to nullify his game. He's a southpaw, I know I need to work a lot on moving to my left side to avoid clinches and waistlocks. If he manages to get the clinch, I’ll use my knees a lot”, explained Santo Forte.
With a record of 12 wins and just four losses, Santo Forte is known for his knockout power. There have been eight so far in my career. The expectation is to achieve another quick victory, but the Brazilian guarantees that he will be more strategic as it is an important fight for his aspirations in the Polish organization.
“As always, I enter to decide and not leave it in the hands of the judges. But, for this fight, as it is very important, and will probably qualify me for a new title fight, I will fight in a more strategic way. I will impose the tactics that my coaches outlined for me. But, even more strategically, I’m going in to decide, whether by knockout or submission,” he concluded.
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