Rinya Nakamura surprised by quick TKO finish at UFC on ESPN 71
LAS VEGAS – Many expected Rinya Nakamura to get a quick stoppage win over Nathan Fletcher, but don't count Nakamura as part of that group.
Nakamura (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) was surprised he only needed 62 seconds to stop Fletcher (9-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) at Saturday's UFC on ESPN 71 – which took place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Nakamura hit Fletcher with a body kick that folded him and sent him down on the canvas, and then just needed a few follow-up shots to his fourth UFC win. The Japanese prospect is happy with the victory, but admits it wasn't part of his game plan.
"I'm so happy and surprised because I expected this fight to be more scramble game, more grappling game, so I prepared for it, and it didn't happen," Nakamura said at the UFC on ESPN 71 post-fight press conference. "I feel kind of surprised."
Nakamura's plan was to use his high-level wrestling – which he underutilized in his last fight in January. However, a few seconds in the fight, he saw an opening for the fight-ending shot.
"I didn't try to knock him out by kicking his liver," Nakamura said. "I just saw his stomach was kind of open, so I just lift my hand, so he tries to come into me and the timing was good."
Nakamura feels renewed with his move to American Top Team in Coconut Creek, South Florida. This was the first camp under this new gym, and he's already feeling the effects of it.
"After my first loss in my MMA career, I was talking to myself, 'What are you going to do in your life? What are you going to achieve in your life?' I repeat that again and again,' Nakamura said. "I want to be a UFC champion to show my love and harmony. That made me decide to move to Florida to train at American Top Team. I trained in one of the highest levels in the gym. I'm taking back my confidence, and that showed tonight."
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