You’re fighting Yukata Kobayashi as the main event for the up- coming Art of War Fighting Championship. Do you think you can win? This is going to be big because it is two Asians going up against each other. More recently, I’ve been practicing harder and faster in the ring. It is my first time going up against Yukata Kobayashi, and I don’t know what to expect from him. But this is going to be a fight and I am going to win it.

**How did you get into mixed martial arts? Before I started mixed martial arts in 2007, I happened to go to watch a fight. I was so impressed by the sport, I thought it was beautiful. I decided then and there that I was going to get into this sport. My first fight was in jiu-jitsu and I won. After that I was asked to begin training professionally.

So you think trying to hurt another person is beautiful? No, mixed martial arts is not about hurting your opponent. It is an exciting sport. When you are in the ring, it is about you and your opponent, and who wants it more. They want to win. You want to win. You hit, punch and kick, but your intent is not to hurt your opponent.

What’s your diet like? Breakfast is milk and eggs. For lunch, I typically eat meat, either chicken or steak, along with fruit. Dinner is a very small meal. And I don’t eat rice. You can end up gaining weight if you eat too much rice.

Win or lose, what’s the next step? Whatever the outcome of the fight between Kobayashi and me, I am going to be training harder, stronger and faster than I was before. Where I am at now, there are not too many people at my skill level. So I also want to participate in more fights in the future.

Win Tickets here

What: Art of War Fighting Championship When: May 23 Where: National Olympics Sports Center Contact: www.artofwar.com