Teodoras Aukstuolis will be facing Jaideep Singh on April 17th (Sun) on “Top Presents RIZIN .1” held at the Nippon Gaishi Hall in Aichi prefecture. The BUSHIDO representative left a great impression with his looks and performance. The Lithuanian Werewolf speaks his thoughts —.

You participated in the -100kg 2015 GP last year, please tell us your thoughts looking back at that experience.
I have nothing but great memories, it was my dream to fight in Rizin in Japan. It has been a dream of mine since childhood, and I didn’t even imagining standing in that arena. It’s a pity that I lost in the semi-finals but I really hope that one day I can fight for the belt.

How did it feel like fighting in Japan for the first time?
I was given a chance to showcase my skills as a fighter and I wanted to put on a good performance and win. The atmosphere of the tournament was amazing and it helped me a lot. The opening ceremony was spectacular and I still not describe my emotions in words to this day. The whole atmosphere really helped me through the first fight in getting that win.

You are one of the fighters who many Japanese fans remember, and have nicknamed you as the “Lithuanian Werewolf”. What are your thoughts on that?
It‘s really good to know that people remember me. I am really happy that people liked my performance and am also glad that people recognize and talk about Lithuania. People can decide what they want to call me, because I am grateful they care enough to come up with a nickname.

Please tell us about your fight between Bruno Cappelozza
I put in a lot of hard training leading up to this fight, and tried not to make any mistake which might have led to a loss. I had no injuries coming into the fight, I felt healthy and strong. The spectacular opening ceremony inspired me mentally and spiritually and felt as strong as ever. I had a peek inside the Saitama Super Arena before my fight and I was very happy to see the number of people showing interest in BUSHIDO. At that point I was determined to do everything to do to win my fight. I put a lot of power behind my punches during the fight, I felt like I hit him with a sold left hand and saw him buckle, but the fight didn’t end. I also knew that he throws many kicks and likes to use them to keep distance, so I trained a lot on catching a kick and countering, and the fight ended exactly in the way I trained for.

Unfortunately you were defeated by King Mo in the Semi-finals. What was your game plan in facing King Mo?
We had to pick our own brackets before the GP started, I was in a position where I could choose King Mo in the first, semi, or not face him until the finals, but I specifically chose my spot where I would be facing him in the Semi-finals. I wanted to fight King Mo and win the belt. Our BUSHIDO Team’s plan was to keep distance and to avoid going to the ground due to his great wrestling which will affect my endurance. We also tried to avoid kicks since that also gives him a tool to close distance, and he is great at catching the legs. He allows you to kick him until you feel comfortable and catches you when you least expect it. I tried to hit him with my power strikes but lost control of my punches when he started to tease me and try to get me to step in. I think I could have thrown my strikes faster and with precision, but I learned a lot from my 15 minutes of mistakes and I will come back wiser.

What are your thoughts on King Mo after fighting him?
He’s a really good fighter and feel like I learn so much from that fight, since his fight IQ is very high, and I felt that first hand. When loser learn that much from a fight, you know he is the true champion. I would really like to fight King Mo for a rematch one day a confirm my strengths and ability.

Were you able to watch any of the fights for the event? Was there any fight, fighter who caught your eye?
I watched many fights and all of them were good. There were many KO’s and the fights were really professional. Fedor Emeljaninko, Kron Gracie and many other fighters’ performances left a huge impression.

What did you do after the event?
We were really happy that I did not get major injuries and after the tournament we attended an after party inside the venue where we had a chance to communicate with the best fighters from all over the world. When we returned back to our hotel we had a dinner in a traditional Japanese restaurant and afterwards we went to rest as the next morning we had to fly home.

What kind of training are you doing right now?
I have been training very hard, preparing for my taller, lengthier opponent. I am working on every aspect of the MMA fight game and will take the fight anywhere it goes.

You will be fighting Jaideep Singh for RIZIN 1. Did you watch his fight between Fedor Emelianenko? What are your thoughts about the fight?
Yes, I watched their fight. Emelianinko is really self-confident and throws ridiculously hand punches, moreover, his experience level is amazing. He is a legend. His name is well known over the world and any opponent is forced to feel less confident. I think Jaideep Singh wasn’t able to show his full potential and that doesn’t define him as a fighter I think he is.

What are your thoughts about Jaideep Singh?
Jaideep Singh is a good fighter, he is tall, fast, and is a serious threat on his feet. However, I have more experience in MMA. I am much more well-rounded than he is, I can fight standing and on the ground. I think Jaideep Singh will be desperate to prove himself and put on a good performance against me. It will be hard for me to fight him since we have such a reach and height difference. But I believe in my strengths and skills and I think people will enjoy a great fight. I can’t wait for this fight.

What kind of fight do you think it is going to be?
I can’t predict my fight but I know that it will be a great fight.

Please tell us your goal for this year.
I live a fighter’s life. My promoter Mr. Donatas Simanaitis, the President of International Bushido Federation, will decide my calendar for fights. He has a lot of plans and I think I will be able to fight in some great tournaments.

Message to the fans please.
I want to thank my fans. I am really happy that I was able to make a good impression to you all. I will do my best to deliver exciting fights, and win. See you all on April 17th.