# INTERVIEW Toshiomi Kazama - Fighter -

January 27, 2023

Mixed martial arts is a strategy game. I stay pretty calm during the match.

Toshiomi Kazama is a fighter who made the switch from Japan's top class Jiu-Jitsu to mixed martial arts (MMA) and has a brilliant track record. As an ambassador for KOSMIC MARKET, we were able to interview him just before the big match, the Road to UFC final (February 5, 2023, Japan time: Las Vegas).

--There is an image that fighters live stoic lives because of things like weight restrictions, but is that really the case? Please tell us how you spend your day.

I'm in the midst of losing weight for about eight months out of the year, so I'm always mindful of calories and fats. It's become a habit to check the labels on products. As a reaction to that, once I've finished losing weight, I feel like I'm constantly eating. I eat so much that my mother has to stop me (laughs). My weight changes by about 13kg before and after losing weight.

In the morning, when I'm losing weight, I walk for about an hour and then have breakfast. After that, I practice, have lunch, practice, and sleep for 5 to 6 hours. Every day is the same. My daily life is so unchanged that I don't know what to write on social media . I practice ground fighting, standing fighting, sparring, boxing, kicks, etc. There is a lot to do in MMA. Before my debut, I wanted to fight anywhere, but in reality, I couldn't strike or wrestle, and I could only do ground fighting. Looking back, I was defeated before the match.

--What do you do to manage your health and mental health?

I take vitamin supplements. I don't do anything special. I'm in pain somewhere, injured somewhere, 365 days a year. I don't think there's anyone who can go into a match in perfect condition. I don't skip sparring in practice to avoid injuries before a match. I've torn a ligament during a match, but if an injury keeps me from playing, I think that's just the kind of person I am.

I don't take care of my mental health either. I don't feel like the people at the gym I belong to are my teammates. We're on the same team, but there are some people in the same weight class as me, and we're just competing for rank. We just train in the same place. We hardly talk to each other. It's like each fighter is running their own company. In the end, it's you who fights. It's your life.

--You're always under a lot of tension, both physically and mentally. I've heard that you have a very good relationship with your family. Is it because of the support of your close family that you're able to continue fighting alone?

My parents were against my decision to switch to MMA, but now they support me. My older brother also supported me during my weight loss period, so I'm grateful to my family.

--The path to the big stage of UFC is becoming more realistic. Has that always been your goal?

I'm not very good at thinking about the future, or about things that haven't even been touched yet, so I never thought about which belt I wanted. I just felt that there was a fighter I wanted to fight, and that I had to become a ranked fighter in order to compete with him.

But when I went to Singapore for the UFC , I felt that this was the place I wanted to be. I saw the champion fight and for the first time I thought, "I want to be in that position."

--When I watch the match, I think that Kazama is very calm.

Martial arts may seem like punching and fighting, but I was taught that MMA is a strategy game. You just have to exploit your opponent's weaknesses and follow your strategy. That's why I'm pretty calm during matches.

--It seems like your days are all about martial arts, but when do you feel happy?

The day after a match is the happiest. During my cutback period or before a match, no matter how clear the sky is, it just feels cloudy to me. I can't sleep much on match days, so I go for a walk early in the morning, and the sky feels amazing when I do that. It almost feels like I'm competing not to win, but to see this sky.

--No matter how clear the sky is, it feels like it's cloudy! I got a glimpse of how tough your mental state is. You have a big match coming up in Las Vegas, so please give a message to your fans.

To those who support us

The Road to UFC final in Las Vegas is fast approaching.

The next time I return to Japan, will I be able to come back as a UFC fighter? Do I deserve to be there? I'm more excited than anyone else.

I don't want to disappoint myself or those who support me, so I would be delighted if we win!
I will come back victorious.

After the interview

The striking words "It's my life" seemed to encapsulate her determination and confidence to move forward on her own terms. She also said that because she has no doubts about how she wants to live her life, she is able to reveal herself as she is, and that refreshing nature is what captivates her fans.

Toshiomi Kazama: Toshiomi Kazama