BELLATOR 70 - 05/25/2012: Interview with Hiroshi "Iron" Nakamura part 2 - Appreciates the Opportunity

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(Although tournament is tough but Hiroshi "Iron"Nakamura is happy to be able to stay active as a professional fighter. He hasis ready to take on Luis Nogueira next weekend in New Orleans)

"Bellator is where only those chosen eight fighters are qualified to fightin the tournament so I am very happy and honored to be able to fight for thispromotion."

Hiroshi "Iron" Nakamura knows he crossed the Pacific Ocean at theright time.

Although DREAM is rumored to be doing two shows this year - end of July and endof the year - right now, in Japan, not enough events for top MMA fighters to betruly "active" any more.

Therefore, Nakamura immediately answered a call from Bellator, "I thinkwins over (Masakazu) Imanari, (Yoshiro) Maeda in DEEP, and also, a draw againstHatsu Hioki in Shooto were the reasons why I got Bellator's attention."

Nakamura knows winning is the only way to stay active as a fighter, and also,only way to earns enough income to stay as a professional. "If I lostthat fight (vs Rodrigo Lima - tournament opening round) I don't think I wouldhave a place to fight right now but because of that win I can pursue mypossibility in the MMA, and I didn't lose my job". The fellow Japanesefighter in the same tourney, Masakatsu Ueda, got released after losing in theopening round. Nakamura was very surprised about that but at the same time hesaw situation as, "The top league is a tough world. This motivates me moreto train harder".

Needless to say most Japanese fighters has been struggling in North America andNakamura is one of the few that won the first fight, "I think, we need tofigure out what we need to do to win, then do something about itimmediately". Although many Japanese fighters fell short in the Bellatorcage, Nakamura feels Japanese fighters can still win the world championshipespecially at 135 lbs division, "I would like to see many people in Japanrecognizing MMA as a sport, so its important for Japanese fighter to becomenumber one. And also, for my own future's sake, I want to be number one in thebantamweight division."

BELLATOR 70
October 25th, 2012
At New Orleans Convention Center, New Orleans, LA

Confirmed Cards (Subject to Change):

Heavyweight World Championship 5 min / 5R
Cole Konrad (USA / Team DeathCluth) vs. Eric Prindle (USA / TeamDeath Cluth)

Bantamweight Tournament Semi-final Bout 5 min / 3R
Luis Nogueira (Brazil /Renovacao Fight Team) vs. Hiroshi"Iron" Nakamura (Japan / Tokyo Yellow Man's)


Reportand photo by Shu Hirata