Honolulu, HI – Bellator flyweight Sumiko Inaba may have put herself in position to earn a shot at the flyweight title sooner than later when she defeated Veta Arteaga at Bellator 295 in her home state of Hawaii.
“That was huge to get over that. Specially here in Hawaii you know. I feel the energy of my crowd and I’m excited. I’m excited for what’s to come. I want to just keep moving up the rankings and taking on tougher opponents and proving myself as a martial artist,” Inaba told reporters including Cageside Press at her post-fight scrum on Saturday.
The plan, according to Bellator president Scott Coker, is to have flyweight title holder Liz Carmouche take on Ilima-Lei Macfarlane for the belt. It’s hard to imagine Inaba isn’t on the short list to take on the winner.
She did say that she’s not really in a hurry.
“I love the pace that I’m going at. Whatever Bellator has for me. They’ve only ever been amazing to me and all the opportunities that I get. I got to fight twice in my home. I can’t be more than grateful for that,” she told Cageside Press.
“I know they have a great plan set out for me, and I just take it one fight at a time. Just make my way up that ladder, and one day I’ll fight for that title definitely.”
Watch the entire post-fight scrum with Sumiko Inaba above.
