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Roberto Satoshi is set to defend his RIZIN lightweight title this Sunday against Brazilian striker Luiz Gustavo in the main event of RIZIN 48 in Saitama, Japan. For Satoshi, this marks a long-awaited moment as he finally puts his title on the line after a series of non-title bouts that left fans questioning his invincibility.
Satoshi's rise to the top was swift. He claimed the RIZIN lightweight belt in 2021, submitting Tofiq Musayev in just 72 seconds. Following that victory, he defended the title twice, defeating Yusuke Yachi and Johnny Case, both in the first round. However, his trajectory was disrupted when RIZIN placed him in non-title matchups, including a loss to A.J. McKee in a RIZIN vs. Bellator event in 2022. He rebounded with a win against Spike Carlyle in 2023, only to face another loss at the hands of Bellator star Patricky Pitbull.
The series of defeats in non-title fights left Satoshi reflecting on how losses can affect a champion's standing, even if the belt remains in their possession.
“Regardless of not losing the belt and still being champion, people still feel it when you suffer a defeat,” Satoshi explained. Comparing his situation to UFC star Francis Ngannou’s loss in boxing, he added, “When you lose a fight and don’t lose the belt, you’ve still lost. Like Francis Ngannou... he lost in boxing, but it’s still like, ‘This guy is good, but he’s beatable, he has a flaw.’ I’ll try to absorb those losses and fix my mistakes to make sure it doesn’t happen again with the belt on the line.”
Gustavo, who has earned his shot at the title with four straight victories in Japan, is no easy opponent. Known for his aggressive brawling style, Gustavo trains under Wanderlei Silva and Andre Dida, which adds to the fight’s excitement. Both fighters boast finishing rates over 90%, making it unlikely that this matchup will go the distance.
Satoshi welcomes the challenge, noting the clash of styles reminiscent of PRIDE days. “I don’t think this fight will go the distance,” Satoshi said, with confidence that both fighters will seek a finish rather than leaving it to the judges.
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