Kate Lotus is set to compete at Rizin 53 on May 10th against Katie Perez. Expressing her preference for quick fight turnarounds, Lotus mentioned that the catchweight for this bout will alleviate concerns about weight cutting. She hopes a victory over Perez will propel her towards the RFF super atomweight championship, emphasizing the importance of the fight having significance for her career progression.
Reflecting on her recent loss to Saori Oshima, a former Rizin title contender, Lotus identified a key lesson: the need to impose her own fighting style rather than solely focusing on defending against grapplers. She realized that being overly defensive, particularly against submission attempts, hindered her aggression and ability to fight on her own terms. This realization has led her to focus on instigating her style and forcing it upon her opponents, regardless of their strengths.
Lotus believes her current training regimen is well-suited to maintaining this aggressive mindset, especially against submission specialists like Katie Perez. Despite her growing popularity and increased exposure in the Japanese combat sports scene, Lotus maintains a grounded perspective, emphasizing authenticity over manufactured stardom. She feels no obligation to be the face of women’s MMA in Japan, believing that her achievements in the ring will naturally lead to such recognition later.
Her commitment to authenticity was evident after her Rizin Landmark 12 fight, where she remained critical of her own performance despite a victory. Lotus acknowledges the gap between her ideal fighting performance, such as a spectacular knockout, and her current reality, stating she is not yet super talented enough to consistently achieve such outcomes. She sees this as a challenge to overcome through hard work.
The news of Seika Izawa vacating the RFF super atomweight title due to pregnancy has motivated Lotus. She sees it as a clear opportunity and a sign that her hard work is aligning with potential success. Lotus is eager to pursue this vacant title, viewing it as a significant motivation to push even harder.
Looking ahead, Lotus expressed a strong desire for a rematch with Rena Kubota, acknowledging Rena’s pioneering role in Japanese women’s MMA. She respects Rena immensely and sees a victory over her as a significant milestone. For her upcoming fight against Katie Perez, Lotus is focused not just on winning but on winning convincingly. She anticipates facing an American opponent for the first time and aims to showcase the excitement of Japanese fighters to both her fans and Perez’s supporters, promising a fun and victorious performance on May 10th.
English Translation:
Kate Lotus is set to compete at Rizin 53 on May 10th against Katie Perez. When asked about the quick turnaround from her previous bout, Lotus stated that she prefers fighting with quick turnarounds and that the agreed-upon catchweight for this fight will make weight cutting less of an obstacle.
Regarding her aspirations for the vacant RFF super atomweight title, Lotus expressed her hope that a win against Katie Perez at this weight class will contribute to her career path in the super atomweight division, provided the fight holds significant meaning.
Reflecting on her loss to Saori Oshima, Lotus identified a key takeaway: her aversion to grapplers and a tendency to focus too much on defending submissions. She realized she needed to be more aggressive and fight on her own terms, instigating her style rather than being reactive. She believes her current training allows her to maintain this mindset against submission artists like Perez.
Lotus acknowledges her growing presence and exposure but emphasizes that she doesn’t feel like a star and isn’t obligated to be the face of women’s MMA in Japan. She believes these accolades will come with continued success and winning championships. She prioritizes authenticity and wants to fight for those who recognize and support her true self, rather than trying to be someone she’s not.
She shared that after her Rizin Landmark 12 fight, she was critical of her own performance, not harshly, but in the context of striving for an ideal performance against the realities of fighting. While she desires spectacular knockouts, she acknowledges that she doesn’t currently possess the talent for them and must work harder to bridge that gap.
Upon hearing about Seika Izawa vacating the super atomweight title, Lotus felt motivated, seeing it as a significant opportunity to push harder and have her efforts pay off. She believes “this is the time” for her to capitalize on her hard work.
Lotus is eager for a rematch with Rena Kubota, whom she deeply respects as a pioneer of women’s MMA in Japan. She views competing against and overcoming someone like Rena as a significant accomplishment she looks forward to.
For her upcoming fight against Katie Perez, Lotus stresses the importance of not just winning, but winning convincingly. She anticipates her first fight against an American opponent and aims to showcase the excitement of Japanese fighters to both her fans and Perez’s supporters, promising a fun and victorious performance.
