Kazuki Okubo & Ryuichi Murata

Pride Fighting Championships: How did it feel, getting that submission? Kazuki Ookubo: I thought I was going to die when I put that arm-bar on. I didn't think I would get it but I'm glad I did.

Pride:	You were overwhelmed in the beginning.
Ookubo:	Tamura gave me advice just before the fight and I wanted to be calm. There were scary aspects, so I decided to go with striking but he put a lot of pressure on me and I wasn't able to attack him.
Pride:	What advice did Tamura give you?
Ookubo:	Mainly about stand-up striking. I also got advice about grappling. I was on the bottom a lot but I knew that Murata wanted to fight standing. I was surprised because Murata was true to his word.
Pride:	Did Tamura say anything to you after the fight?
Ookubo:	He said I did well. I was happy to hear that.
Pride:	I think you must have been under a lot of pressure.
Ookubo:	Yes. I didn't feel any pressure when I was told who I would be fighting but I began to feel it as the days went by and at the press conference. Murata had nothing to lose. I don't know how the fans saw it but I'm glad that, in the end, I was able to win without worrying about the content of the fight.
Pride:	Are you happy that you submitted a judo fighter with an arm-bar?
Ookubo:	I didn't know what kind of fighter Murata is or how he would come out. I certainly didn't think that I would win by arm-bar. I wasn't sure if I should let go there but I knew I would regret it if I let that chance go by. Honestly, I'm happy that I won.