LOS ANGELES – Bellator MMA has today announced the signing of Pancrase featherweight champion Isao Kobayashi (27-5-2) to an exclusive, multi-fight contract. Kobayashi becomes the second Pancrase champion to join the Bellator roster in recent months, following the signing of welterweight champion Masayuki Kikuiri.
“It is a huge honor for me to sign with and fight for Bellator, which is home to many of the world’s best fighters,” said Kobayashi. “I would like to thank Bellator president Scott Coker and everyone involved. This will be my second contract with Bellator, and I didn’t get the results I wanted last time, so I’ll be there to show I am a new fighter and string the wins together. As King of Pancrase, I’m coming to prove my place in the world with solid results.”
“At Pancrase, we are celebrating our 30th anniversary, and as a long-established Japanese MMA organization, we are proud to send our King of Pancrase champion, Isao Kobayashi, to the world’s premier MMA organization: Bellator,” stated Pancrase executive director Hidetaka Fukui. “I would like to extend my gratitude to Scott Coker and all at Bellator for giving Isao this great opportunity to return to fight for you. I would also like to reiterate my gratitude for my partner in the U.S., Arsenal Sports Agency leader Tiki Ghosn. Isao has been the reigning King of Pancrase featherweight champion for five years now, (establishing him as) Japan’s strongest MMA featherweight. When I realized Isao’s burning desire to fight the best in the world again, I immediately decided to have his back in realizing his dream because I felt he fits the our criteria at Pancrase for world-stage level. This is our second King of Pancrase champion to sign with Bellator, and we intend to continue strengthening the pathway from Pancrase to major overseas organizations.”
Kobayashi, 34, joins the Bellator featherweight division as one of Japan’s top unsigned fighters and one of the weight class’ top international competitors. He previously fought for Bellator from 2015-2016, where he faced current welterweight contender Goiti Yamauchi and Justin Lawrence in what proved to be exciting contests. Since, Kobayashi has won nine of his last 10 bouts, including six straight victories in Pancrase.
A well-rounded fighter with nine knockouts and two submissions to his name, Kobayashi has demonstrated marked improvement during his latest title run. He captured the interim Pancrase title in April of 2018, then became undisputed champion by defeating Guam’s Kyle Aguon in 2019 in a rematch of their first meeting in 2017.
Like his hot dog-eating namesake, the Japanese featherweight will compete in pursuit of glory and championship aspirations upon returning to Bellator. He will join a division stacked with talent, helmed by champion Patricio “Pitbull” Freire and featuring such standouts as Adam Borics, Aaron Pico, Pedro Carvalho, Jeremy Kennedy and many others.
