Lightweight heavy-hitter Patricky Freire expected a knockout win, but did not anticipate it could in only 70 seconds against seasoned veteran Tatsuya Kawajiri at last Saturday’s Rizin FF 19.
In his first ever match in Japan, ‘Pitbull’ scored a highlight reel flying knee KO to advance the semifinals of Rizin’s lightweight grand prix, but tells Portal do Vale Tudo he was prepared for Kawajiri, due to his experience, to last longer in the fight.
“I expected a knockout, but I thought the fight would be harder, because Kawajiri is so seasoned,” Freire said. “I thought he would try to take me down and smother me, but I was able to stay in the right distance and found the timing to stuff the takedowns.