Japanese legend Hideo Tokoro will retire if he loses to Hiroya at Super RIZIN 3 next week.
Tokoro, 46, has lost his last three fights and revealed that he’ll call time on his 24-year fighting career if he’s bested by Mikuru Asakura’s protege at Saitama Super Arena on Saturday week.
“If I lose to Hiroya I will retire,” the former K-1 HERO'S star said on the latest episode of RIZIN CONFESSIONS (154).
The Gifu native’s last victory came in 2020 when he submitted Rio 2016 Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling silver medallist Shinobu Ota with an armbar.
Tokoro, who lost by unanimous decision to Alan Yamaniha last time out in October, added: “I’m not getting the results I want, I can’t move the way I want in a fight.
“Every happy and sad thing that has happened to me has involved martial arts.
“I feel sad when I think that there are only 15 minutes left. I think it would be great to retire on a big stage like RIZIN.”
The 2011 Dream Japanese Bantamweight Grand Prix Champion has been training with long-time friends and teammates Kazushi Sakuraba, Masanori Kanehara and Masakazu Imanari.
Sakuraba said: “Tokoro has the experience that a 26-year-old doesn’t have.
“Martial arts is not about strength but about timing.”
Submission specialist Tokoro, who will compete in his 71st MMA fight, has 35 career wins with 21 coming by submission.
While practicing in what could be his last training camp, Tokoro revealed that his wife Nana was diagnosed with breast cancer in March and is currently undergoing chemotherapy.
“I was really surprised,” said Tokoro who found out in a video call from his wife while he was training in Thailand.
“When I found out I couldn’t look her in the eyes as I spoke so I looked away the whole time.”
The couple have been married for 13 years and have started a family and opened a gym together.
“I can’t do anything without my wife," said Tokoro who will compete in RIZIN for the 11th time.
“I was told that her hair would fall out between the second and third treatments. When the day came for her to shave her hair off, my son and I shaved our heads together with her.
“I have to work hard because I want to win the fight and make her happy."
Nana Tokoro said: “He’s had so many close calls (in the ring) with his opponents.
“I think it’s amazing that you can move people’s hearts no matter how many times you lose. He really loves martial arts.”
Super RIZIN 3 takes place on Sunday 28 July at Saitama Super Arena
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