A.J. McKee vs Roberto Satoshi de Souza: An upset by the Japanese Jujitsu

Roberto “Satoshi” de Souza vs A.J. McKee is the main event of the Bellator MMA vs. RIZIN FF at the Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan. The event between fighters in both promotions holds under the RIZIN FF rules. Brazilian-born Japanese Roberto Satoshi de Souza and his American opponent A.J. McKee will fight over 3 rounds in the Lightweight division (155 pounds). Both fighters come into the contest with wins in recent months and riding a wave of confidence. The odds have opened with McKee as the favorite. We analyze both fighters and give an expert prediction on the outcome.

The 27-year-old American made his Lightweight debut this October with a unanimous win over Spike Carlyle in a wild fight at Bellator 286. Earlier in the year, A.J., whose father was also an MMA fighter, lost his Bellator Featherweight title to Patricio Pitbull also by unanimous decision to record the first loss of his career. “Mercenary” spent most of that career in the Featherweight division, winning the championship and a $1 million prize money when he submitted Pitbull in the Featherweight Grand Prix final with a guillotine choke in round one. In the semifinals, McKee made history with his submission of Darrion Caldwell. The first round neck crank submission won the “Submission of the year” for 2020 in most MMA news media and websites. McKee has only one loss in his professional career.

Born in Brazil to a Japanese mother, “Satoshi” is the current Rizin FF Lightweight champion winning the inaugural Rizin Lightweight championship at Rizin 28 in June 2021 with a triangular choke in the first round. Before the fight “Satoshi” chose the Japanese anthem to be played instead of the Brazilian national anthem. Roberto de Souza is a black belt in Jiujitsu and won several BJJ junior world championships as a teenager before moving to Japan to start his MMA career. His jiu-jitsu is the main framework of his martial arts and in his last five fights he has four submission wins and one KO. He has ten submissions in fourteen wins. “Satoshi” made his MMA professional debut in 2013 and has one career loss, a 2019 loss to Johnny Case.

McKee has opened as the clear favorite with the oddsmakers. “Mercenary” has excellent striking and submission returns. Also he has lost only once in his pro career - against a top contender in the featherweight division. In the fight with a Jiu-Jitsu expert like “Satoshi”, McKee will have to lean on his better striking capabilities to overcome the Japanese. Anything less and the grappling capabilities of “Satoshi” will see the Japanese win. “Satoshi” loves takedowns. He will try and try, and when he doesn’t get it, he will disengage and try again to force the takedown. He has great strength and dexterity on the ground and loves to fight there. Remember that he won BJJ championships as a teen. His striking isn’t as good as A.J.’s but he hits hard with his wild strikes. Looking at “Satoshi’s” resume and the fact that this is A. J.’s second fight at 155lbs, we think an upset is in the making.

• Roberto Satoshi de Souza to win at 2.80 odds on Bet 365
• Roberto Satoshi de Souza to win at 3.03 odds on Coinplay
• Roberto Satoshi de Souza to win at 2.92 odds on Betking