LOS ANGELES – Sumiko Inaba doesn’t pick her fights. She simply fights in them.
At Bellator 286, that’ll be no different when Inaba (4-0 MMA, 4-0 BMMA) steps into the cage against Nadine Mandiau (2-5 MMA, 0-0 BMMA), a fighter she’s already faced and defeated once before.
“They gave me an opponent change,” Inaba told MMA Junkie on Thursday. “I think the original opponent they gave me had some issues getting here, so they gave me her and I took it. I wanted to fight on this card and I want to stay active.”
Inaba, 31, has been with Bellator since her pro debut, which followed a lopsidedly successful 6-1 amateur career. In her four pro appearances to date, Inaba racked up three TKO wins and one submission victory. She’s passed every test with flying colors and attributes that to Bellator’s prospect-build matchmaking.
“Bellator, they’re amazing,” Inaba said. “Everything so far, they take care of their fighters. I think that they have my best interest in mind. It’s showing. I can just keep winning and getting more fights and try to stay as active as I can. Hopefully, I can end up in the rankings.
“As I keep getting my wins, I think Bellator has me on the right track to get me to that point. … (I) trust the process, 100 percent. They are taking great care of me so far and I can only but put on great performances for them.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Bellator 286.
