Goiti Yamauchi not worried about 'so-so' and 'average' Adam Piccolotti at Bellator 183

Goiti Yamauchi had a busy 2016 with three fights, but tonight he finds himself back to work for the first time this year – and against an unbeaten opponent.

But Yamauchi (21-3 MMA, 7-2 BMMA) isn’t very concerned with his lightweight foe, Adam Piccolotti (9-0 MMA, 5-0 BMMA) and that perfect record. He also isn’t very concerned with the Californian’s six finishes in his nine wins, or the four that have come by submission.

“He’s good; he’s not a bad fighter,” Yamauchi told MMAjunkie. “But none of his individual martial arts is at a very high level. His jiu-jitsu is so-so. His standup is pretty raw. But he shows up in good shape and has a lot of heart. I think it will be an excellent fight. I’ll win in a convincing way. He’s good, but I’m excellent. I’ll beat him.

“His striking, takedowns and jiu-jitsu are all average.”

Yamauchi and Piccolotti fight on the main card of Bellator 183, which takes place tonight at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. The main card airs on Spike following prelims on MMAjunkie.

Adam Piccolotti choking out Mario Soto at Bellator 147

Piccolotti might disagree with Yamauchi’s assessment of his skills, though. Like Yamauchi, Piccolotti will be returning after a lengthy layoff – but one that doesn’t concern him. And over the course of his career, he’s been happy with how things have gone so far and the quality of opponents that have stood across from him.

“I’ve had long layoffs in the past, so it’s nothing new to me,” Piccolotti told MMAjunkie Radio. “I’m really excited. Nerves and everything are definitely there, like usual – as they should be.

“I wish I would’ve finished a couple more fights that I didn’t. But I’m happy. I went out there and I’ve fought my ass off and I’ve made improvements every fight. I think I’ve represented myself and my team very well. I’m really happy with the competition I’ve had up to this point. Looking back on my career … I’ve had a pretty cool upbringing in terms of my opponents being pretty well-matched with me along the way.”

Yamauchi represents the most accomplished opponent so far on Piccolotti’s resume, both overall and in Bellator. And with 18 finishes in his 21 career with, and a whopping 17 by submission, he’ll be no slouch for Piccolotti to try to stay unbeaten against.

But Piccolotti said if the time comes for him to lose, so be it. He just doesn’t plan on that happening against Yamauchi. And he definitely doesn’t buy into that whole theory of learning more from your losses than your wins.

“I’ve lived my whole career with the mentality of: ‘Learn from my victories and learn from other people’s mistakes,'” Piccolotti said. “I think that stays true to me as a person. … I don’t want to ever (expletive) lose. It happens; I get it. And if someone’s better than me on that day, then it is what it is. But I’m ready to go out there and put my life on the line every single fight.”

So too, though, is Yamauchi, he says. And he wants to start making his way toward the top of the lightweight division.

“I’ve been doing good work,” Yamauchi said. “I’m very happy, but I’m unsatisfied since I want to be the best in the world. I want to break records and make a new era in our sport. I truly believe in that. From a young Brazilian prospect, I’ve been able to make my name in one of the top promotions in the world. People have always doubted me and my team, but we’re among the best in the world.”

For more on Bellator 183, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.