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It is slightly bittersweet, though, as Nakamura will be facing his countryman with a lot on the line not just for the combatants, but the Japanese MMA scene, as well.
It’s better to have a non-Japanese opponent because I want all of Japan’s fighters to succeed,” he said. “When I step into the cage with you, I’m trying to keep my opponent’s dreams away from them, and that’s not something I’d like to do to another Japanese fighter. I think the result will be cruel for him, but I think both myself and my opponent will get something big in our hearts from this fight. I want to give back to Japanese society what I have gained someday, and I’m sure he feels the same way.”
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If you get the impression that Nakamura isn’t intimidated by the stakes and the stage, that’s accurate, but he believes a healthy dose of pressure is a good thing, too.
“By committing my ‘life-or-death’ mentality to this fight on the day, I think I will be filled with gratitude to my family, coaches, teachers who raised me, people who practiced with me, and friends who supported me,” he said. “I’m fighting for more than myself. There is a lot of pressure, but I’m ready for it.”