Inspired by football star Ronaldo’s comeback from a knee injury in 2002, MMA fighter Goiti Yamauchi returned to the sport in 2024 after a similar injury, aiming to secure extra points in the PFL regular season and hoping for a dream fight with former interim Bellator champion Logan Storley.
Ronaldo, the football legend, almost saw his career end in 2002. A series of brutal knee injuries had him benched for what seemed like forever. But, he didn’t give up. He fought back, scoring eight goals and leading Brazil to its fifth World Cup victory.
Fast forward two decades, and Ronaldo’s comeback story is inspiring others. Goiti Yamauchi, for instance, drew strength from it for his 2024 MMA return.
Yamauchi was just a kid, 9 years old, when Ronaldo made those two epic goals against Germany in the 2002 World Cup final. Fast forward to March 2023, and Yamauchi’s on the receiving end of a nasty knee injury. Michael Page’s kick in their Bellator 292 fight ruptured his patella tendon. Ouch!
“We were crushed, no doubt,” Yamauchi told MMA Fighting. “But I kept thinking positive. I knew I’d bounce back, stronger than ever.” His coach, ‘Alemão’, was his rock. “I asked him if my injury was like Ronaldo’s and how long it took him to recover. He said, ‘I don’t know, Goiti. But he was a world champ a year later, so don’t sweat it.’ That gave me a lot of hope.”
Yamauchi’s recovery was quicker than expected. He used the downtime to heal, both physically and mentally. Meanwhile, PFL absorbed Bellator. Now, Yamauchi’s entering the 2024 PFL welterweight season “in my prime,” ready to take on Neiman Gracie in a showdown of Bellator vets. The first match of the season is this Friday in Chicago.
Yamauchi and Gracie have faced off before, in the Bellator cage. Yamauchi won that one, knocking Gracie out in the second round.
“Things are different now,” Yamauchi said. “I can’t speak for him, but I’ve changed. A lot. I know I won’t be fighting the same Neiman. And he won’t be fighting the same Goiti. This Goiti is 1,000 times better.”
Gracie bounced back from that loss with a decision win over Dante Schiro in February 2023.
Yamauchi’s got his sights set on a knockout in Friday’s rematch. He’s aiming for extra points in the PFL regular season.
“I’m prepared for anything,” Yamauchi said. “But I’m not just looking to win. I want to finish him. Check my record. I always go for the finish. I hate decisions. I want to end the fight ASAP. I’ll be putting the pressure on to end it early.”
The 2024 PFL season’s got a lot of former Bellator names. Yamauchi’s dreaming of a fight with ex-interim Bellator champ Logan Storley. The prize? A cool $1 million later this year.
“I’d love to face Logan Storley in the final,” Yamauchi said. “I’ve got more experience, but he was an interim champ in Bellator. He’s had some great fights against top athletes. I’ve been wanting this fight for a while. That’s why I want him in the final.”