TRAINER: I am training a lot at GEN SPORTS GYM, where there are many top Japanese welterweight and middleweight fighters. I also practice with heavyweight fighters so that my physical strength is good.

Thoughts on opponent, Jake Matthews? I think that he is young and very energetic.

So I will go to crush him from the beginning because I cannot let him get any momentum.

When and why did you start training for fighting? I watched Peter Aerts fighting at K-1 in Japan on TV when I was in junior high school. That made a big impression on me, but I thought that MMA was more suitable for me than kickboxing. So I chose a good high school to train wrestling, and I started from when I was 15 years old. I went to school two hours each day every day for three years, then I went to Meiji University and did freestyle wrestling for four years.

What ranks and titles have you held? PANCRASE middleweight belt (June 29, 2014) – 12^th Middleweight King of Pancrase

Do you have any heroes? Peter Aerts

What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? UFC is my life. I wanted to fight Wanderlei Silva one day since I was in college.

Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? I graduated from Meiji University

What was your job before you started fighting? I started fighting after I graduated from college. Now, I work at a shopping mall and I am a wrestling coach at Meiji University.

Specific accomplishments in amateur competition? 2005 All-Japan Junior Olympic cup 2nd place

2005 Asian Junior Wrestling 96kg 6th

2008 All-Japan Wrestling Freestyle Best 8

2008 All-Japan Combat Wrestling over 80kg 1st place

ADCC ASIA TRIAL 2011 Winner - 99kg (ADCC world championship participant)

ADCC ASIA TRIAL 2013 Winner - 88kg (ADCC world championship participant)

Favorite grappling technique: Ankle lock

Favorite Striking technique: Low kick