Kleber Koike treats his RIZIN 54 main event clash against Kyoma Akimoto on Tuesday as his final chance to earn a shot and regain the RIZIN featherweight title, and watching the Japanese promotion partner with the PFL — and automatically MVP — gives him extra motivation to pursue more gold.
Koike, who turns 37 in October, said the promotion has already made it official that the winner of the RIZIN 54 main event will challenge for the 145-pound belt next. RIZIN featherweight champion Razhabali Shaydullaev is currently slated to face A.J. McKee Jr. on Sept. 10, looking to defend his RIZIN gold and win the inaugural PFL belt that night.
“This merger can only bring good things,” Koike told MMA Fighting. “Even for me, as one of the title contenders, I’m happy to know that this merger is happening. I live in Japan, which has embraced me. Imagine being able to fight in the United States while carrying the Japanese flag. Hopefully, it works out. It would be very interesting. Even though I’m Brazilian, I built my entire career in Japan and I carry the Japanese flag. For me, as a foreigner who wants to have Japanese blood, having spent my entire career here in Japan and being able to carry the Japanese flag abroad would be very rewarding and very cool. So I’m going to work to make that a reality.”
“It’s my last shot,” he continued. “I know I don’t have many years left. I’m closer to the end than I am to the beginning, so let’s give it everything we have. I’m here to build my story, not tell stories, so I’m going to work toward that.”
Koike lost his title to Shaydullaev in 2025, but favors McKee at Super RIZIN 5.
“Shaydullaev is a tough guy who’s been doing really well, but he’s young,” Koike said. “I really believe McKee is going to win. Shaydullaev’s chance is in the first round. He has very heavy hands, I’m living proof of that [laughs], and he has a good ground game too. But I don’t think McKee is going to be intimidated by that. McKee is used to this style of fighting from the Russians with the grappling, taking you down and throwing heavy shots. If it gets past the first round, I think McKee wins. I believe Shaydullaev’s best chance is in the first three minutes, which is what he’s been doing in RIZIN.”
Koike, who re-inserted his name in the title picture with a win over Vugar Karamov in December, knows that a win for McKee in September could delay his plans for a title show on New Year’s Eve. The former Bellator champion could instead face someone from the PFL roster next, but Koike said he has plenty of “beefs” to settle in Japan, like a trilogy bout with Mikuru Asakura, if that’s the scenario.
“And since the New Year’s Eve event is in my hometown, in a very large arena — which is also the city where [Asakura] used to live —, it’s a fight that I can bring home,” Koike said. “Right now, I just want to have this fight, win, and leave the belt or any other fight for later. If I can’t fight for the title on New Year’s Eve, I have no problem with that either. I can fight for it later. I’m going to take it one step at a time. I made that mistake a lot in the past. Before, I wanted the title so badly. Today, I have to think one step at a time. I’m going to beat this kid, and then I’ll be the next title contender.”
Koike revealed he was originally offered the Akimoto fight for the last NYE card, but thought the young talent wasn’t deserving of the opportunity just yet. RIZIN contacted him again in late-January for a March date, but it was too soon for the Brazilian to make weight again. Akimoto fought Patchy Mix instead, flooring the former Bellator champion with soccer kicks in the second round.
“Everyone thought Patchy Mix was going to win, and he went in there and put on a show,” Koike said. “But I’m biased when I say this because I believe Patchy Mix never really fit into this division. Still, credit to the kid. He wasn’t intimidated by the name Patchy Mix and put on a great performance. So they came back to me with the fight again. Now we’re contenders, so this is the fight to make. It’s my last shot at the title. I’m aware of that, so if this is my last shot, I’m going to give 100 percent.”
In the meantime, Koike flew to Brazil with his family for the first time in nine years, “resetting body and soul” to resume his career.
“No disrespect, he’s on a good run, he’s a tough kid, he’s young, only 20 years old, but I don’t think he has the MMA experience yet,” Koike said. “I already know what he’s bringing. I’ve fought several strikers, I’ve fought several good guys, but he’s never fought anyone at my level on the ground or at my level in MMA. That’s where the difference is. He’s a kid I have to respect. I can’t underestimate him, but what’s going to prevail in this fight is experience.”
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