NobuyukiSakakibara took PRIDE FC to extraordinary heights. Then ties to organized crime were made public, television stations withdrew support, the league was sold and folded, and Japanese MMA withered.

It was a combat sports pattern that had been repeated before. In the 1970s Japanese kickboxing rose to mainstream appeal, but when ties to gambling interests were revealed, it fell from favor for decades.

Sakakibara is back, with RIZIN Fighting Federation. He intends to restore JMMA to its former supremacy, and he has a plan – find stars, rise up in Japan, and take over the world.

First we have to recreate the Japanese market, said Sakakibara to Mike Bohn and Matt Erickson forMMAjunkie. The Japanese market is still sleeping now. The Japanese market is not so huge, but not so small. Japanese fans know martial arts very well. I can open it one more time in Japan.

Not just Rizin, but all promotions all over the world need a new icon, need a new star. Wanderlei Silva, Fedor are big names, but we have to create new heroes – younger, more aggressive, so fans are interested in the fights. We have to create as soon as possible.

Sakakibara conceded that the ubiquity of MMA worldwide makes it more difficult to break through, but is undeterred.

Yes (it’s more) difficult, he said. But I’ve already picked up several potential fighters so they have chance. I’ll give a chance to younger fighters this year.

This year is very important. We have three events this year, and these three events are for the Japanese market. … We need more attention – first from Japan and then outside.

I came back to this industry two years ago and I watched a lot of promotions all over the world. Each promotion is a little bit different, but they are mostly all the same. I want to change a little. I don’t compete with other promotions. We will build up Federation and I will make a relationship with each promotion. I will try another strategy in this industry.