Luiz Rocha will compete for Karate Combat gold this weekend.
Rocha challenges Edgars Skrivers for the lightweight title. He is a protege of Bellator fighters Patricky and Patricio Freire.
“Luiz Victor is not only a great athlete but also a great fighter. He’s got the technique and the heart to win championships and I’m certain he can do it. His skills are at the highest level. He’s really a top-caliber fighter,” says Patrício, the reigning Bellator featherweight champion.
Rocha and Skrivers met in 2019, during the first season of Karate Combat. The Latvian left the Brazilian on the canvas and walked away with a TKO win. Skrivers went on to become champion, while Rocha steadily blasted his way back into title contention.
“I’ve been waiting for this fight ever since our first encounter. I think this one is going to be a classic, I’m really ready to beat him now. And after I win this one, we can go to a trilogy match – and I’ll win that one as well.” Rocha said. “Back then, I wasn’t ready to be champion. He deserved it, so good for him. But I’ve evolved a lot since then, mentally and physically, I’m a very different fighter. I’m here for the belt, but revenge adds a little extra spice for sure.”
Rocha stopped Nikita Yanchuk with a brutal body kick in the very first round, then revealed that he had torn his left hamstring backstage while warming up for the fight and was in agony before the fight even started.
“I am training every day with some of the best guys in the world here at Pitbull Brothers gym – who is he training with? They’ve prepared me for anything. I hope he can say the same.
The event airs live Saturday on Karate.com.
