Naoki Inoue aims to defend his RIZIN bantamweight title against DEEP champion Ryuya Fukuda at Super RIZIN 4 in Saitama, Japan, while aspiring to showcase his skills internationally and face tougher competition.
Naoki Inoue is set to defend his RIZIN bantamweight title against DEEP champion Ryuya Fukuda at Super RIZIN 4 in Saitama, Japan. This matchup not only tests Inoue’s prowess but also introduces him to a global audience, showcasing him as one of the top bantamweights worldwide.
Inoue’s ambition stretches beyond RIZIN. He dreams of facing the current UFC bantamweight champion. However, there’s a twist—Merab Dvalishvili, the reigning champ, is a former training partner, complicating the call-out scenario.
Back in 2018, Inoue competed twice in the UFC as a flyweight. He claimed victory over Carls John de Tomas but fell short against Matt Schnell. Now, he’s eyeing other challenges, like a potential face-off with Sergio Pettis, who once fought in RIZIN.
A win over Fukuda would be monumental for RIZIN’s aspirations in Japan. While some fighters, like Kleber Koike and Roberto Satoshi, focus on representing RIZIN, Inoue takes a different approach. He seeks international competition to elevate his skills, driven by personal ambition.
Inoue firmly believes RIZIN is Japan’s top organization, aspiring to prove its superiority on an international stage. His goal is to continue his reign, demonstrating that RIZIN fighters can compete globally.
At 28, Inoue is laser-focused on his upcoming bout. He’s 10-2 in RIZIN, having successfully defended his title against Soo Chul Kim and Yuki Motoya. Meanwhile, Fukuda boasts a 25-8-1 record, with an impressive 3-0 streak in RIZIN.
Inoue acknowledges Fukuda’s resilience, having been finished only a few times. He’s been meticulously preparing strategies to finish or outpoint Fukuda, analyzing past fights for vulnerabilities. Inoue’s determination is clear—he’s ready to take the fight wherever it leads.