Q: In September, it was announced that you will fight Kron Gracie.

HT: Yeah, that’s right. It was supposed to take place in April but Kron got injured and we couldn’t fight. Now that it’s been announced for September, it feels like it finally has been decided.

Q: Instead of fighting Kron in April, you took part in a special grappling bout for Rizin. The other people in the match were Sakuraba, Wanderlei Silva, and Kiyoshi Tamura. They are all legends and you were there with them on the big stage.

HT: Well, I am sure that from their point of view, they questioned if it was ok for me to be in that match with them! (laughs). But I had so much fun, it was really cool.

Q: And the result was good too?

HT: I think it was a great result. I had so much fun during that match, I didn’t want the fight to end!

Q: What was it like teaming up with Sakuraba?

HT: It was really cool being able to train with Sakuraba, and to then be a part of his team. I really feel that happy that I kept going with MMA. I grew up watching Sakuraba and Tamura fight, so I am so thankful for the chance to have been able to team with them.

Q: You had quite a lot of work to do in that fight (laughs)

HT: And I had so much fun doing it. The problem is, it was over before I even knew it, it went to quickly!

Q: And now you can finally face Kron in September. Kron fought Asen Yamamoto at Rizin’s New Years Eve event last year. What are your impressions after watching that fight?

HT: As soon as the fight goes to the ground, Kron excels. He’s a great grappler, to have easily been able to defeat Asen, who himself is a great fighter, is incredible. When you ask the great grapplers about Kron, they all say how good he is. Quite scary when you come to think of it, but I am really looking forward to this fight.

Q: This will be the third time you have fought a Gracie, after having previously fought Royce and Royler.

HT: Yeah. Kron is really sharp right now, on top of his game. It’ll be a big difference and in that sense, the Kron fight will be different from those two fights.

Q: So is it fair to say that you think Kron is a very good fighter?

HT: Yeah, I think he is. I look at him and just think “wow”, as he is one of the top grapplers in the world today. How is it possible that this will be only his third professional fight? My thoughts on facing him change daily. Some days I think “I got this”, other days I am like “damn, this is going to be tough”. But I am confident of going out there and handling business.

Q: Kron is a dangerous fighter, but the fans watching believe that you are more than capable of beating him.

HT: I am very happy to hear that, and I want to repay their trust in me with a good solid win!

Q: As a veteran fighter, do you change your fighting style when you need to? Try to change what you want to show?

HT: Well, I am not really trying to “show” anything but I really do want to do well for my gym and for my supporters. When I was in Hero’s, I really wanted to show the fans what I could do and put on a show. Now it is more about my opponent and how to beat them.

Q: So, what do you want to show exactly?

HT: I want to show people that even at my age, it’s totally possible to go out there and give it my very best. That is what I want to show. It is more about my family, my hometown friends, my classmates from school, everybody in my gym. I don’t want to disappoint them with a bad performance. I am very grateful for all the support, and I feel something similar to when I was in ZST. This give me more motivation to go out and there and compete better.

Q: So is it fair to say that Rizin is indeed a very big stage to fight on?

HT: Yes, it is. Fighting for Rizin is a similar feeling to when I was with Grand-slam. That is why I want to give it my very best when I fight for Rizin. Last month (June), there was a match-making meeting at the fan event. After that, I went out to dinner as a guest with some of the Rizin staff, and I really felt then that Rizin was my home. I was really happy, and am very happy to be a part of Rizin.

Q: It’s good to be able to call somewhere your home.

HT: That’s why I want Rizin to rise to the top, to be the number 1 MMA company in the world. It would be nice if we could rise to the top together (smiles).

Q: You certainly do give the fans exactly what they want. They were very happy with your NYE performance.

HT: Well, that doesn’t happen every time (laughs), I put on a really good performance on NYE. Actually, I want to fight every fight like that from now on. I want the fans to expect a good performance from me, and I want to deliver one. That is really important to me.

Q: You have been training with a lot of people lately. Recently you have been training with Akira Yaegashi, the current IBF Light Flyweight Champion as well as Sumo wrestler Ishiura.

HT: Yeah, I have. We often bump into each other at the gym, so we train together. Yaegashi is amazing. He is a world boxing champion, and I want train with those kind of veteran fighters.

Q: What is it like training with different fighters from different generations, and mixing up different martial arts? Does that give you further motivation?

HT: It’s great. I am in a really good environment right now. All the Grand-slam members are great, Mr, Nouki from Gushiken gym and Mr. Wada are awesome, Team Otokogi have been great to me, and Mr. Matsuo who holds mitts for me has been great too. I have also really enjoyed my time at the Carpe Diem gym with Mr. Iwasaki, as well my Jujitsu training with the Imanari brothers. It’s just an awesome environment I find my self in now.

Q: Wow, that sounds like an amazing training schedule.

HT: Of course. You have to surround yourself with the best, and I have done just that.

Q: A perfect situation?

HT: As close to as I can get! I feel amazing. I’m having a blast and it’s very rewarding for me. I just wonder what will happen once all this ends?! (laughs). I would like to train like this forever.

Q: You have been able to maintain your motivation, and have been on top for over 10 years.

HT: On top? Well, maybe. I can at least say I have been fighting for all the top companies. It has been exciting, but I haven’t been the strongest fighter I don’t think (laughs).

Q: We are looking forward to seeing you fight in September. Thank you for your time today!

HT: Thank you! All I can say is that I will fight to the best of my ability (smiles).

【Rizin Fighting World Grand-Prix 2016  Opening round event details】
Organization: Rizin Fighting Federation.
Date: Sunday, September 25th.
Place: Saitama Super Arena, Japan.
Doors open: 1:30pm
Event start time: 3pm.

Fighters confirmed to appear: Hideo Tokoro, Kizaemon Saiga, Kron Gracie, Asen Yamamoto, Gabi Garcia, Kanako Murata, Mirko Filipović, Wanderlei Silva, Baruto, Kazuyuki Fujita and more.

Outline of event: Opening round of the 16 man open weight tournament (7 fights) and 4-6 regular fights.

Ticket information
All seating is fixed seating. Prices included GST. Infants over the age of 1 require a ticket.

VIP seats: ¥100,000 (includes special VIP gate entrance, event booklet, special merchandise, guaranteed to sit in rows 1-5)
SRS seats: ¥20,000
S seats: ¥10,000
A seats: ¥5,000

Three event package:
VIP seats: ¥200,000 (includes special VIP gate entrance, event booklet, special goods, guaranteed to sit in rows 1-5)
SRS seats: ¥40,000
S seats: ¥20,000

Rizin Fighting World Grand-Prix 2016 Open weight tournament second round event details:
Date: Thursday, December 29th
Place: Saitama Super Arena, Japan.

Outline of event: Quarter finals (4 fights), and 9-10 regular fights.

Rizin Fighting World Grand-Prix 2016 Open weight tournament final round event details:
Date: Saturday, 31st.
Place: Saitama Super Arena, Japan.

Outline of event: Semi finals and final (3 fights), and 9-10 regular fights.