With Rafael Werneck One of the most charismatic fighters in Japan, Kazuhiro Nakamura arrived last Thursday in Rio de Janeiro. Already confirmed to be fighting in the Pride middleweight Grand Prix, the athlete from Yoshida Dojo intends to spend some time in Rio improving his MMA skills with some of the best fighters in the world. The idea of sending Nakamura to Brazil was conceived by Pride?s president, Nobuyuki Sakakibara. The DSE president contacted Meca promoter Jorge Guimaraes and Nakamura’s presence was immediately accepted. Since the chances of Nakamura facing a Brazilian fighter in the GP opening round are good, Guimaraes arranged for Nakamura to train with Pedro Rizzo at Ruas Vale-Tudo team. Away from the ring since November of 2003, when he defeated Ricco Rodriguez by unanimous decision at UFC 43, Rizzo is negotiating his participation future Pride editions. Meanwhile he is helping Yoshida?s prot?g?, whose last Pride appearance happened on February 20th, when he TKOed (strikes) Stefan Leko. So far Nakamura has faced three Brazilian fighters. He beat Daniel Gracie (Bushido I) and Murilo Bustamante (Pride Final Conflit-2004) and was defeated twice by Rogerio Minotouro Nogueira. Check out the fighters already confirmed for the Pride Middleweight GP: – Kazushi Sakuraba – Yuki Kondo – Hidehiko Yoshida – Kazuhiro Nakamura – Wanderlei Silva – Rog?rio Minotouro Nogueira – Igor Vovchanchyn – Maur?cio Shogun
