Former DREAM champion Hiroyuki Takaya’s opponent has been confirmed as DJ Taiki. He made a bold statement in how he will finish the fight, “I’m pumped to be fighting in the big show again. I am determined to win by KO.”

What are your thoughts about this fight

I got the offer in the middle of October through my manager. I figured this big show would be a good opportunity to refuel the fire in Japan’s dying MMA industry, and I wanted to do what I can to help make an exciting show. It will be a big event, so I want to show my strength to everybody.

What is your impression about your opponent DJ Taiki

We’ve actually fought on the same tournament in the past and I’ve seen some of his fights. At first I thought that he was all stand up, but now he’s turned into a well-rounded fighter. His unorthodox style will be a bit annoying, and that character he has is pretty eerie. But as a fighter, he has a strong record and wins against legitimate opponents so I am not going to take him lightly.

What kind of training are you currently doing

I am working on strengthening my strong parts by installing new technique drills on top of my regular training. My next opponent has an extremely weird style and it’s hard to practice spar specifically for him, so I’ve been sparring with orthodox, southpaw fighters to be able to deal with whatever he decides to do.

Lastly a message to the fans

My fights are simple, so I think that even viewers who don’t watch fights on a regular basis can enjoy my fights. I’m really motivated to fight in this big show, and I cannot lose to this character, so I’ll keep myself motivated and will deliver the KO finish.