It’s been said that no fighter is immune to the first-time UFC jitters. That doesn’t mean everyone reacts to them the same way. And given that Takashi Sato has already been on big shows in Japan for the Pancrase and Deep promotions, he may just dodge those nerves when he makes his Octagon debut against Ben Saunders this weekend in Florida.
But he is aware that they might show up.
“I usually don’t really get nervous, but I am preparing to step into a nerve-racking situation, though,” Sato said. “The experience of fighting in Pancrase and DEEP are a plus for me, but I always wanted to fight in the UFC, so right now, finally, I’m at the place I always wanted to be.