Kate Lotus is set to compete at Rizin 53 on May 10th against Katie Perez. Reflecting on the quick turnaround from her previous fight in March, Lotus expressed her preference for fighting with short notice, noting that a catchweight agreement for this bout will alleviate concerns about weight cutting.
When asked about her ambitions following this fight, Lotus stated her strong desire to pursue the RIZIN Super Atomweight championship. While acknowledging that this particular contest isn’t in her preferred weight class, she believes a victory over Katie Perez will be a significant step toward her ultimate goal of competing for the title.
Despite a recent loss in early 2026 to Saori Oshima, a former Rizin title contender, Lotus gained valuable insights. She admitted a dislike for facing grapplers and revealed that her focus on defending submissions during the Oshima fight led her to become too defensive. The key takeaway for Lotus was the necessity of imposing her own fighting style and being more aggressive, rather than reacting defensively, regardless of her opponent’s strengths.
Lotus believes her current training regimen is well-suited to maintain this aggressive mindset and apply the lessons learned from the Oshima fight, especially when facing a submission specialist like Katie Perez.
As a rising star in the promotion, Lotus has been gaining significant attention. She discussed how her exposure increased notably after her fight against Rena Kubota, which was a significant step up from her previous appearances. However, she maintains a grounded perspective, stating she doesn’t consider herself a star and isn’t obligated to be the face of women’s MMA in Japan. Her primary focus remains on winning fights, believing that recognition and any future responsibilities will naturally follow successful performances and championship achievements.
Lotus emphasized her commitment to authenticity, preferring to be herself rather than someone she’s not. She believes that fakeness is unsustainable and will be noticed, and she wants to fight for and inspire those who appreciate her genuine self.
Her candidness was evident after her Rizin Landmark 12 win, where she focused on self-critique despite a hometown victory. Lotus explained that she’s still navigating the balance between her ideal performance, like a spectacular knockout, and the reality of her current capabilities. She acknowledges that she’s not “super talented” and cannot easily juggle multiple aspects of performance, but she is dedicated to working harder to bridge that gap and achieve her target.
The recent vacation of Seika Izawa’s Super Atomweight title has opened up a significant opportunity. Lotus described hearing this news as highly motivating, viewing it as a clear sign that her hard work is paying off and that now is the time to push for her goals.
Looking ahead, Lotus expressed a strong desire for a rematch with Rena Kubota. She deeply respects Kubota as a pioneer of Japanese women’s MMA and sees competing against and overcoming her as a significant achievement she looks forward to.
Regarding her upcoming fight with Katie Perez, Lotus stressed the importance of not just winning, but winning convincingly. She aims to put on a performance that leaves a lasting impression.
In her concluding remarks, Lotus highlighted that this will be her first time facing an American opponent, marking a departure from her usual matchups against South Korean fighters. She intends to showcase her exciting fighting style to Perez’s supporters and all fans, promising an entertaining fight and a victory on May 10th.
English Translation:
Kate Lotus is preparing for her Rizin 53 bout against Katie Perez on May 10th. When asked about the quick turnaround since her last fight in March, Lotus stated her preference for fighting with short notice, mentioning that a catchweight agreement for this fight will remove weight-cutting challenges.
On her aspirations post-catchweight contest, Lotus expressed a strong interest in pursuing the vacant Rizin Super Atomweight gold. While acknowledging it’s not at her preferred weight class, she believes a win against Katie Perez will be meaningful and propel her career forward in the super atomweight division.
Despite a loss in Q1 of 2026 to Saori Oshima, a former Rizin title challenger, Lotus gained valuable insights. She admitted her dislike for grappling opponents, explaining that her focus on defending submissions against Oshima led her to be too passive. The crucial lesson learned was the need to instigate her own style and be more aggressive, rather than fighting defensively, irrespective of her opponent’s strengths.
Lotus is confident that her current training regimen enables her to maintain this proactive mindset and apply the lessons learned from the Oshima fight, particularly against a submission artist like Katie Perez.
As a burgeoning star for the promotion, Lotus has garnered increasing attention. She noted that her exposure significantly increased after her fight with Rena Kubota, which represented a major step up. However, she maintains a humble outlook, not considering herself a star or obligated to be the face of women’s MMA in Japan. Her primary focus remains on winning, believing that any associated responsibilities will naturally follow her success and championship status.
Lotus underscored her commitment to authenticity, preferring to be genuine rather than trying to be someone she’s not. She believes that pretense is unsustainable and will be detected by others, and she aims to be herself for those who recognize and support her.
Her introspective nature was evident after her Rizin Landmark 12 win, where she focused on self-assessment despite a hometown victory. Lotus explained that she is still balancing her ideal performance, such as a spectacular knockout, with the current reality of her abilities. She acknowledges not being exceptionally talented and facing limitations in juggling multiple aspects of her performance, but she is dedicated to working harder to bridge this gap and achieve her goals.
The recent news of Seika Izawa vacating her Super Atomweight title has created a significant opportunity. Lotus described hearing this news as highly motivating, seeing it as a clear indication that her hard work is leading to tangible results and that now is the time to capitalize on it.
Looking ahead, Lotus expressed a strong desire for a rematch with Rena Kubota. She holds great respect for Kubota as a pioneer of Japanese women’s MMA and views competing against and potentially overcoming her as a significant accomplishment she anticipates.
Regarding her upcoming bout with Katie Perez, Lotus emphasized the importance of not just winning, but winning convincingly. She aims to deliver a performance that leaves a strong impression.
In her closing thoughts, Lotus noted that this fight marks her first against an American opponent, a change from her usual matchups against South Korean fighters. She intends to showcase her exciting fighting style to both Perez’s supporters and her own fanbase, promising an entertaining fight and a victory on May 10th.
