UFC: Takashi Sato looks to revive Japan’s glory days with statement win over Daniel Rodriguez
- ‘It’s not exactly sad but there’s a little feeling of loneliness with only three Japanese [in the UFC],’ says Sato
- ‘That’s why it is important for me to win this weekend. I need to get people to notice me, and to get other Japanese fighters to follow me’
Explosive Japanese welterweight Takashi “Ten” Sato is hoping his efforts inside the Octagon will inspire a fresh wave of fighters from his country to follow his path to the UFC.
“I need to prove to other Japanese fighters that they can also do it, they can fight in the UFC – and they can win,” Sato tells SCMP MMA from Las Vegas.
The 30-year-old welterweight (16-3) is looking for his second win of this pandemic era when he takes on American Daniel “D-Rod” Rodriguez (12-1) as part of this weekend’s UFC Fight Night: Munhoz vs. Edgar preliminaries.
Sato is one of two Japanese fighters on the card, alongside exciting 25-year-old strawweight prospect Mizuki Inoue (14-5). She is up against Brazilian Amanda Lemos (7-1-1) as she also looks to make her mark in a division that is also overloaded with contenders.
The only other Japanese fighter on the UFC’s books is former Invicta strawweight Kanako Murata (11-1) – rumoured to be making her debut with the organisation against Brazil’s Lívia Renata Souza (14-2) on the UFC Fight Night 184 card on November 14.