Japanese Knockout Artist Nobutatsu Suzuki Aims to Entertain in One FC 12 Main Event
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10 of Nobutatsu Suzuki’s victories have come by knockout or
technical knockout. | Photo: Taro Irei/Sherdog.com
One Fighting Championship, the largest mixed martial arts promotion in Asia, has been existence for a little more than two years. In that time, Japanese knockout artist Nobutatsu Suzuki has established himself as one of the premier welterweights across the Pacific.
Suzuki will tackle undefeated Portuguese export Vitor Pinto in the One FC 12 “Warrior Spirit” headliner on Friday at the Putra Indoor Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysai. The event’s undercard will stream live and free to Sherdog.com at 7 a.m. ET/4 a.m. PT. Suzuki was originally booked to face Adam Shahir Kayoom for the vacant One FC welterweight crown, but he was forced to settle for a non-title clash with Pinto when the former muay Thai world champion withdrew with an injury.
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Born and raised in Japan, Suzuki first became involved in martial arts for personal reasons.
“I started in karate when I lost a street fight,” he said. “Then I wanted to know how my karate works in MMA, so I moved into MMA. I like to stand and strike. I believe I have power in both hands to knock anybody out.”
His karate base has served him well, as Suzuki started his career 9-0-2 through 11 bouts with the Zst organization. A submission loss to onetime Sengoku champion Keita Nakamura in December slowed his rise, but the 36-year-old rebounded from the defeat with a first-round technical knockout against Phil Baroni in his One FC debut. It marked Suzuki’s first appearance outside of Tokyo.
“It was my dream to fight overseas, and it is exciting for me,” said Suzuki, who has delivered all 10 of his wins by knockout or technical knockout. “I like crowd reactions with my good performance. Therefore, I want to make an exciting show all the time and in any place.”
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