Rinya Nakamura has been away from the Octagon longer than he wanted, but he’s finally healthy and ready to get back to work.
After recovering from injury Nakamura returns at UFC Vegas 121 against Brady Hiestand on Saturday night, expecting a gritty fight and believing the finish will come if he stays in the moment.
“It’s been a long time since he fought last time. I think he got through the many tough parts from get back (from) injury. As you can see in his fight he had (the) never give up spirit,” Nakamura told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.
“(He’ll) bring me into really deep waters fighting so I prepared for it. I can attack (in any) situation.”
Nakamura’s long layoff wasn’t exactly by choice after dealing with some pretty significant injuries to his shoulder and knee. Now healthy again, he says he’s coming into this fight feeling better than he ever has.
“I tore the tendon of my shoulder and MCL. That’s why I took a long time since my last fight,” he said.
“But my condition is best ever.”
Nakamura would love to put Hiestand away, but he’s not going into the fight trying to force anything. For him, it’s about staying in the moment and trusting that the finish will eventually show up.
“Of course I want to finish opponent every time I fight, but just focusing on the present. Then finish comes after,” he said.
“I don’t try to focus on the knockout, I’m going to submit him, just focus on the present. I believe finish comes after.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Rinya Nakamura above. He faces Brady Hiestand at UFC Vegas 121 on Saturday night.