Q) Please tell us about BAMMA

BAMMA is one of the biggest MMA promotions in the UK and one of the top promotions in Europe. We started in 2009 and is continuing to grow. We hold about 8 events a year, and we just successfully finished a big show in Dublin. BAMMA holds the record of the highest ratings for MMA in the UK.

Q) What are your thoughts on Japanese MMA?

It is not too much to say that Japanese MMA is the reason why I am in this industry today. Japanese MMA is an extremely appealing content packed with passion and excitement. I have been following MMA from the 90’s but the appearance of PRIDE changed it all. PRIDE was the event where excitement, entertainment was put in into the ordinary MMA competition.

Q) What were your thoughts when you heard about the project?

I got a phone call from Mr. Sakakibara out of the blue, and he asked me if we could meet in London. I thought this could be quite interesting and met with him right away and that is when he told me about this huge project. This project is something that everybody in this industry has thought about. But it is almost impossible to make it happen with all of these existing promotions these days. So having someone actually trying to do so, I happily joined him. If there was one person to do this, it would be Mr. Sakakibara. I believe that rest of the promoters have the same thoughts. I think Scott Coker being here proves my thoughts.

Q) What do you expect from RIZIN?

The top athletes from all over the world are going to gather, and put on top level competition. It is going to be like a big festival and it will be an event where the fans will be satisfied, talking about how good it was on their way home. And speaking in longer terms, this event will be a foundation of the future of MMA where all the promoters cooperate to make the sport bigger and better, so don’t miss it.