Rinya Nakamura, the first Road To UFC winner, is set to make his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs The Korean Zombie in Singapore. Nakamura, with a record of 7-0 and impressive first-round finishes in all three of his RTU fights, is ready to showcase his growth as a mixed martial artist against Fernie Garcia. Read more about Nakamura’s journey and his upcoming fight.
Rinya Nakamura Makes UFC Debut
Thirty years into the UFC’s incredible journey, there are only a handful left of firsts that can happen. Last year, the UFC launched Road To UFC, which matched elite mixed martial artists from Asia who had a chance to compete for a UFC contract through a “win and advance” tournament. Earlier this year, the RTU finals from season one concluded and contracts were handed out. This weekend, at UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs The Korean Zombie in Singapore, Japan’s Rinya Nakamura becomes the first RTU winner to make his debut as a member of the UFC roster.
Nakamura, a 28-year-old bantamweight with a record of 7-0, has quickly made a name for himself with his impressive first-round finishes in all three of his RTU fights. His success on RTU led him to further improve his skills by training at American Top Team with some of the best fighters in the world. Now, he is ready to showcase his growth as a mixed martial artist in his first UFC fight against Fernie Garcia, a UFC contract winner from Dana White’s Contender Series.
Despite Garcia’s power, Nakamura believes he has the advantage in speed, explosive power, and fight IQ. With six of his seven victories coming by way of finish, Nakamura is aiming for another show-stopping performance in front of the Singapore crowd. He has visualized multiple paths to victory, but remains uncertain about which one will unfold.
Nakamura’s debut as a UFC fighter is just the beginning of his journey. He sees this opportunity as the starting point to climb to the top of the mountain in the UFC. With his talent and determination, the sky is the limit for Nakamura.
Fight Card Preview
| Fight | Result |
|---|---|
| Rinya Nakamura vs Fernie Garcia | TBD |
Key Points
- Rinya Nakamura, the first Road To UFC winner, is set to make his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night: Holloway vs The Korean Zombie in Singapore.
- Nakamura has a record of 7-0 and has earned first-round finishes in all three of his RTU fights.
- He trained at American Top Team to further improve his skills and prepare for the UFC.
- Nakamura’s first UFC fight is against Fernie Garcia, a UFC contract winner from Dana White’s Contender Series.
- Despite Garcia’s power, Nakamura believes he has the advantage in speed, explosive power, and fight IQ.
- Nakamura aims to deliver another impressive performance and continue his ascent in the UFC.
