Nakamura Vows Return After UFC Vegas 121 Upset

Rinya Nakamura has promised to rebuild his approach after a crushing submission loss at UFC Vegas 121.

The 31-year-old bantamweight was stopped in the second round by Brady Hiestand on Sept. 26 in Las Vegas, tapping to a rear-naked choke after being controlled on the mat. Nakamura entered as a heavy favorite but could not defend Hiestand's wrestling over two frames.

Per Sherdog, Nakamura posted on Instagram that he would return with a revamped skillset. "I will return having forged a martial arts style that is purer, more righteous, more beautiful, and stronger," he wrote. "I refuse to ever experience a feeling like this again."

Nakamura won the Road to UFC Season 1 bantamweight bracket in 2023 and arrived in the promotion unbeaten. Since then, the Japanese fighter has gone 3-2 inside the Octagon and now carries two losses in his last three appearances.

No timeline has been announced for his return to competition.