Neiman Gracie was hoping to face a top-ranked Bellator opponent to get back on track after losing to now-interim champion Logan Storley.
Instead, he had to settle with Goiti Yamauchi.
As he focuses on getting past the jiu-jitsu ace on Friday at Bellator 284, Gracie has his sights set on avenging another recent defeat.
“Jason Jackson has been out there, so I’ve wanted to do this rematch for a while,” Gracie stated on MMA Fighting’s Trocacao Franca .. “I think I won last time, and I’ve been asking Bellator for this rematch, and I think we can run it back if he doesn’t decide to wait [for a title shot].
“I’m hoping to fight him after this one, to rematch him and see who really wins this fight. It should be five rounds .”
Gracie has lost three of his past five after a stellar 9-0 start in his career. He isn’t in agreement with the split decision against Jason Jackson at Bellator . He offered to sit and wait for the winner of the Jackson vs. Douglas Lima at Bellator 283, but Bellator had other plans.
Now, after Jackson’s five-round victory over Lima in the Bellator 284,, Gracie believes a rematch against Jackson would be the next step. This will take place at Sanford Pentagon, Sioux Falls (S.D.).
Welterweight champion Yaroslav Almosov will likely unify his title with Storley within the next few months, which could give Jackson some breathing room. First, though, Gracie must get past Yamauchi.
Gracie called his fellow Brazilian a dangerous matchup despite a lack of positioning in Bellator’s promotional rankings. Yamauchi is similar to Gracie in that he has submitted most of his MMA opponents.
“He [holds the record] for most submissions in Bellator and is seen as one of the best jiu-jitsu fighters,” Gracie said. “If I beat him, I can take that title away from him. And if he beats me, he can take my spot in the ranking.”
Even though they are both decorated grapplers, Gracie sees differences with his style on the ground compared to Yamauchi.
“He is very dangerous, and he goes straight for the finish on the arm and the back. “I think the only difference is that maybe I try to control the fight more before submitting [my opponent], and he’s different — he goes straight for the submission, one after the other, so that makes him very dangerous.
” Normally, the men I fight run from each other. Although I doubt he will do this, I believe that he might. Strikers can sometimes be made out of wrestlers or grapplers. I hope he accepts to grapple with me. I have trained in a lot [in addition to] jiu jitsu to prepare for this fight. I also train in wrestling and striking. I’m ready to represent one more time.
” I don’t believe it will go beyond five rounds. It will either be submitted by someone else or knockout. It’s always my goal. It’s a guarantee that I will win the fight .”
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