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HISAKI KATO TALKS REMATCH WITH JOE SCHILLING: "HE IS THE ONE THAT DOESN'T WANT TO FIGHT ME AGAIN"

By Percy Crawford | June 24, 2016
HISAKI KATO TALKS REMATCH WITH JOE SCHILLING:

"It's a new challenge. I want to enjoy the moment and my martial arts ways, so it was important for me to try something new...he is the one that doesn't want to fight me again because he was heavily knocked out by me. So even though I don't have extra confidence because it will be his rules, the kickboxing rules, I'm pretty sure he's not as confident as he usually is facing me again," stated Bellator middleweight Hisaki Kato, who talked about his upcoming rematch with Joe Schilling. Check out what else he had to say!

PC: How is preparation for your kickboxing debut/rematch with Joe Schilling?

HK: It's been really good. I have no injuries this time and I have done a lot of really good kickboxing training. I'm actually really ready for this fight.

PC: This is really different for you. What was the motivation behind taking this fight in a kickboxing setting?

HK: (Laughing) Good point! Like you said, it's different and that's the reason I accepted this fight. It's a new challenge. I want to enjoy the moment and my martial arts ways, so it was important for me to try something new. I'm pretty sure I've learned a lot of things in kickboxing and now I can say I'm a better martial artist.

PC: Can you take away anything from your knockout win over Schilling in MMA and implement it in this kickboxing match?

HK: Maybe there are some things that I can incorporate. I don't think it will be a smart choice to change everything and try to be a kickboxer in just a few months when you're facing a guy who has been kickboxing for years. Of course I can use my MMA striking, but I will also use my long karate background. I think there is a lot of skills I can use in kickboxing for this fight.

PC: Joe said he didn't feel like you really wanted to take this fight. Do you feel although you're coming into his sport, you still have the edge because of the knockout win you hold over him?

HK: It doesn't give me extra confidence, but even though he will never say it, he is the one that doesn't want to fight me again because he was heavily knocked out by me. So even though I don't have extra confidence because it will be his rules, the kickboxing rules, I'm pretty sure he's not as confident as he usually is facing me again.

PC: How big of a difference was it for you to prepare for a kickboxing match and stepping outside of your comfort zone?

HK: It was actually a big change because of the glove size, the step work, and the different style. It was really different and something very new. That's the challenging part. It was really good to train with a boxing coach.

PC: Was this just a great opportunity that you couldn't pass up or can we expect to see you dabble in kickboxing a little bit?

HK: I think I do MMA. I think having experience in kickboxing is great for all martial artists and it's good for me, but I never said I will be a good kickboxer. I think I can beat him because I have my game plan in mind and I know how he moves and that makes me feel like I can win this fight, but I will never be an elite kickboxer and I know that, so I think I will stick with MMA.

PC: You mentioned the glove size. Do you feel like you are accustomed to the bigger gloves and your power will follow you into the ring?

HK: Yes, yes! The glove size was the biggest deal for me. That's why I trained a lot with the gloves, and even my kickboxing coach, who has been holding the pads for a lot of famous kickboxers in Japan, he said that I was hitting really, really heavy. I believe that I can still use my power with boxing gloves on.



[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]

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