TLDR
- Rinya Nakamura lost to Brady Hiestand via second-round rear-naked choke at UFC Vegas 121 on September 26
- Nakamura entered as a heavy -325 favorite but was controlled by Hiestand’s wrestling
- The Japanese fighter posted on Instagram promising a ‘purer, more righteous, more beautiful, and stronger’ style
- Nakamura has gone 3-2 in the UFC since winning Road to UFC Season 1 in 2023
- The 31-year-old has now lost two of his last three fights with no return date announced
Sources: yardbarker.com | sherdog.com | ufc.com
Rinya Nakamura has vowed to completely overhaul his fighting approach after suffering a second-round submission loss at UFC Vegas 121 on September 26.
The 31-year-old Japanese bantamweight tapped to a rear-naked choke against Brady Hiestand in Las Vegas. Nakamura entered the fight as a heavy -325 favorite but could not defend against Hiestand’s wrestling attack over two rounds.
Instagram Promise to Fans
Nakamura took to Instagram to address his loss and make a commitment to his supporters. “I will return having forged a martial arts style that is purer, more righteous, more beautiful, and stronger,” he wrote in his post.
“Thank you, UFC, for the ultimate stage,” Nakamura continued. “I refuse to ever experience a feeling like this again.”
Rinya Nakamura Posts a Statement Following His #UFCVegas121 Fight ⬇️
“To become more pure, correct, beautiful, and strong, I’ll go back and build up my Martial Arts again. Thank you, UFC, for the Greatest Stage” pic.twitter.com/oNTDCJjnBy
— Kevin (@realkevink) September 27, 2026
The bantamweight was controlled on the mat for much of the fight before Hiestand locked in the finishing submission. It marked a disappointing return for Nakamura, who had been sidelined for just over a year with a knee injury.
Nakamura grew up surrounded by mixed martial arts history. His father Kozo was instrumental in founding Shooto, the Japanese promotion that helped launch the careers of many MMA legends.
The fighter attended UFC 144 in 2012 at Saitama Super Arena as a spectator. He watched Benson Henderson face Frankie Edgar that night and decided he wanted to become a UFC champion.
Before turning to MMA full-time, Nakamura had success as a wrestler and considered pursuing the Olympics. When the 2020 Summer Games were delayed, he committed fully to mixed martial arts instead.
Road to UFC Champion Now Struggling
Nakamura arrived in the UFC undefeated after winning the Road to UFC Season 1 bantamweight tournament in 2023. The tournament victory earned him a contract with the promotion.
He started his UFC career with wins over Fernie Garcia and Carlos Vera. Nakamura then defeated Nathan Fletcher in August 2025 before his knee injury forced him to the sidelines.
The loss to Hiestand drops Nakamura’s UFC record to 3-2 overall. He has now lost two of his last three appearances inside the Octagon.
Nakamura’s overall professional record stands at 10-2. Before Saturday’s defeat, his only other career loss came during his UFC tenure.
In a pre-fight interview, Nakamura discussed the concept of “Yamato-damashii,” which translates to “Japanese spirit.” He said he tries to show bravery, resilience and perseverance in every fight.
“Through my fight, I can show what is yamato-damashii,” Nakamura explained. “I want all of the audience to catch my energy.”
The fighter also said before the bout that he believed the fight would not last long. His prediction proved accurate, though not in the way he anticipated.
Hiestand had also been away from competition for over two years before the fight. The American used his wrestling to neutralize Nakamura’s striking and grappling skills.
Nakamura has not announced a timeline for his return to competition. The UFC has not yet scheduled his next fight or provided details on when he might compete again.
