The following is from an interview conducted with Tatsuya Kawajiri on Sherdog.com:
Sherdog: What does it mean for you to win this tournament?
Kawajiri: I started MMA trying to be the strongest. I also love MMA. I became the Shooto welterweight champ but wasn’t satisfied. So I fought in Pride but couldn’t be the strongest there. Pride is no longer in existence, but now there is an organization called Dream with excellent fighters and now I am actually in a position to be the strongest lightweight in Dream. This is probably the last chance for me to take part in a tournament like this. As a compilation of my life as a fighter and as a proof of what I have accomplished, I do want to win this tournament.
I have a lot of people who support me too. They have stuck with me even after losses. But more than anything, I couldn’t fulfill the responsibilities as the Shooto champion. When I defended the belt against Joachim Hansen (Pictures), the fight ended in eight seconds. After that, I relinquished the belt. Now I don’t have the belt in my hands and I regret a lot about what I couldn’t accomplish.
Therefore I want to be in the position where I can say I am the best, again, and repay those who supported me.
I have to carry out another fine moment before I die.
Sherdog: You’re confident about your chances?
Kawajiri: Yes. I strongly believe in myself. If I can’t believe in myself 100 percent, my body won’t react at 100 percent. I absolutely trust myself. I will go into the fight with superb confidence.
