Daron Cruickshank proud to be lone American representing RIZIN against Bellator

Daron Cruickshank will be the lone American fighter representing RIZIN at Bellator 237, a fact he’s proud of.

Competing in one of three cross-promotion fights, Cruickshank (22-12 MMA, 0-0 BMMA) takes on Goiti Yamauchi on Saturday (Sunday locally) at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, near Tokyo. The main card streams on DAZN.

“Obviously I want to win, but I want to win for the company because they’re putting me out there,” Cruickshank told MMA Junkie. “I’m the only non-Japanese fighter they are putting in to represent them. That kind of feels good to me because they think I’m going to represent them in the best way at 155 pounds.”

A RIZIN-contracted athlete and former UFC fighter, Saturday will be the first time Cruickshank has competed under the Bellator banner. It’s been a long time coming. In 2011, Cruickshank was booked to fight at Bellator 47. He went through a training camp and made weight at weigh-ins, just to be told the bout was canceled on fight day.

“The day of the fight, I got a call an hour after I was supposed to be at the venue saying that my fight was canceled and my opponent forged some of his medical documents,” Cruickshank said.

At one point during Cruickshank’s career, the public perception was that the UFC was the only promotion worth competing for. When he decided to part ways with the promotion, RIZIN was uncharted territory for American fighters. Nine RIZIN fights later, Cruickshank is pleased with his decision.

“I was the first UFC fighter to go to RIZIN,” Cruickshank said. “I didn’t leave the UFC on a bad note. I was on a three-fight losing (skid), and they were basically like, ‘You’re not going to fight for six to eight months.’ Me being me, I like to fight often. I was like, ‘I’ve got to fight, guys.’ They were like, ‘We can release you and you can go somewhere else.’ I was like, ‘OK, let’s do that.’ Right out of the gate, I got a fight like a month after with RIZIN.

“The UFC is not the only place to fight. They are the name-brand, but other companies are coming up and they’re getting some eyes. The good thing for the fighter is that they have more options. With more options comes better deals. The organizations are going to be fighting over the people that are exciting.”

Cruickshank said he views Bellator 237 as what will be a late Christmas present. The task at hand is tough, but Cruickshank predicted a first-round knockout.

“It’ll be nice to get back in the cage, and (Yamauchi) is pretty tough,” Cruickshank said. “It’s going to be a good performance by me knocking him out.”