Goiti Yamauchi won't call out anyone, but he wants a 'good opponent' to elevate him in Bellator rankings
HONOLULU – Goiti Yamauchi is off to a great start after making his welterweight debut at Bellator 279.
Yamauchi (27-5 MMA, 13-4 BMMA) submitted Levan Chokheli in the first round Saturday at Neal S. Blaisdell Center, becoming the first fighter in Bellator history to earn victories in three weight classes.
The 29-year-old doesn’t have an opponent in mind for his next fight, but wants a big name that will help push him up the welterweight ladder.
“I’ll see where I’m at in the rankings after this fight,” Yamauchi told MMA Junkie at the Bellator 279 post-fight press conference. “Hopefully in the top 10. I will look to climb up the rankings and it’s up to Bellator, but I want to fight the best. This is what me and my team were looking for, fight with the best.
“I love a different style versus a different style, those are the kind of fights I like. Just like we had today, it was a grappler against a striker. I love these types of fights so I’m looking forward to face a top-five guy and I’m not rushing. I’ll be patient, I’ll wait for a good opponent, but I wish I could fight with a good opponent so I can climb up the rankings.”
Check out the full post-fight interview with Yamauchi in the video above.