Bellator 144's Goiti Yamauchi wants title shot: 'I'm the best featherweight in Bellator'

Goiti Yamauchi

Goiti Yamauchi has everything going for him. He’s young, skilled, experienced, injury-free and finally ready to show the world he’s the best featherweight on Bellator’s roster.

Yamauchi (18-2 MMA, 4-1 BMMA) has been out of action for more than a year following his most recent Bellator appearance in September 2014. He returns to action against Isao Kobayashi (18-2-4 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) on Friday at Bellator 144 and said he’s prepared to prove where he stands.

“I’m ready to be the champion; I’m the best featherweight in Bellator,” Yamauchi told MMAjunkie. “I’m young, but I am a competitor since I was a little kid, so to compete for me is something very normal. I’m feeling ready. I’m stronger mentally and physically than ever before. People will see another Goiti.”

Bellator 144 takes place at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., The main card airs on Spike TV following prelims on MMAjunkie.

Yamauchi was originally scheduled to return to competition in June when he was booked against ex-Bellator champ Pat Curran. It was a massive opportunity to defeat one of the best at 145 pounds, but Yamauchi was forced out of the matchup due to injury.

Although Yamauchi was disappointed to miss out on such a significant fight, he said he’s able to reflect positively on the situation and see the upside of the 13-month break between bouts.

“I wanted to fight Pat Curran in June, but I got hurt during a training sessions,” Yamauchi said. “It was a good time to take a rest and take care of other things in my life. It was a good time to think about my career and I learned a lot about myself during this time.”

Yamauchi’s return fight at Bellator 144 has nowhere near the significance of Curran, but the 22-year-old is still looking forward to it, he said. Kobayashi has spent the entirety of his career fighting in Asia and has never competed in North America.

There’s typically a transition that comes with fighting stateside for the first time, from potential rule changes to differing fight surfaces. Yamauchi began his career in Brazil and admits the changes in environment played a relevant role for his Bellator debut. He expects Kobayashi to feel the impact of that, as well.

“I have five Bellator fights so I think I’m more comfortable than my opponent and that’s going to be a big deal,” Yamauchi said. “It’s his first time in USA and when I fought my first time it was a big surprise. It’s going to be the same feeling he will feel with his first time in America. The difference? He will face Goiti Yamauchi, the toughest fighter of his career.”

If victorious at Bellator 144, Yamauchi would improve to 5-1 during his tenure with the organization. He firmly believes that record should be enough to get the next featherweight title shot against the winner of next month’s Bellator 145 main event between champ Patricio Freire and challenger Daniel Straus.

“I’m not arrogant, but I think I can be the champion of this division,” Yamauchi said. “I don’t have to prove anything for anybody, but with this it will be five wins with Bellator and I think I deserve the title shot.

“I believe Patricio will beat Daniel Straus and they should give me the title shot. I respect everybody. But I think I’m the best. I think I can beat anybody in this division.”

For more on Bellator 144, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.