Part of an action-packed weekend of combat sports was the second edition of Bellator X Rizin, as Patricky Pitbull advanced in the ongoing grand prix. The fighter scored a finish of Roberto de Souza in the third round.
Patricky Pitbull Excited After Earning Finish In Japan
For Patricky PItbull, the opportunity to compete and win in Japan was something he will never forget. The fighter scored a third round finish of Roberto de Souza at Bellator X Rizin 2 from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.
It feels like a dream come true. I felt phenomenal in there. I felt like the cage was my home. Even though we’re in Japan, because of the fans I felt like I was the home fighter and he was the visitor,” Pitbull said. “This time the vibe was much more positive, I like when I feel that energy from the Japanese fans.
“I’m very happy and I knew this job was going to end in a perfect night.”
De Souza, a reigning Rizin champion, took the fight no short notice after AJ McKee was forced out due to a medical issue. Pitbull will now advance to the semifinals of the Bellator Lightweight World Grand Prix.
“For a flying knee you’ve got to have really good timing,” he said. “To tell you the truth I don’t even remember him throwing the knee. But the flying knee is the house specialty of the Pitbull brothers. In my second fight in Bellator I received a fight of the year knockout – an Oscar in MMA – against Toby Imada with that same flying knee.
“I didn’t believe I was going to finish him with kicks. I actually thought I was going to finish him with the flying knee and, if I couldn’t finish him with that, I was going to finish him with my hands.”
As for next, Pitbull is not concerned with how comes out on the other side of the bracket.
“It doesn’t matter who is in front of me in this next round, they’re going to get beaten just like the first one,” he said. “Whoever stands in front of me is going to get knocked out either way. It doesn’t matter who it is.”
It was a bit of an up-and-down night for the family, as brother Patricio Pitbull suffered a second round knockout loss to Chihiro Suzuki.
