----- You will be fighting Takafumi Otsuka at DREAM.14 on 5.29. Since you moved down to FW last year, you've won three fights in row and doing well. How do you feel about it?
Miyata: Everything is going as planned. I was confident that this was a good move for me. I used to wrestle at 63kg so cutting weight wasn't a concern for me.
----- What's you impression of your opponent, Otsuka?
Miyata: He's a fighter that brings a lot of energy. I think he's one of the top fighters in the weight division. I'm not sure if he recognizes it himself, but I think he's better than a lot of people may think. In terms of ability, he is definitely one of the best out there.
----- At the fight announcement, Sasahara EP said that you and Otsuka are similar types of fighters. What do you think about that?
Miyata: He probably said that after seeing my last fight (against DJ taiki). When you go out there to win the fight, I guess that's how it can end up, both for me and for Otsuka. I had a muscle tear in my thigh in my last fight and it ended up affecting the fight, but I've always been a fighter that goes for submissions so I don't agree with him. Right now, everyone's talking about "America" or the "cage" so in terms of having a style that would translate well anywhere, I guess we are similar. I don't think you can do anything these days if your wrestling is weak. So I feel that me and Otsuka are fighters in this weight division who can compete globally.
----- Otsuka lost by decision to Bibiano Fernandes at DREAM.7 and then went on to beat Mishima at DEEP43 and Yamazaki at DEEP46. Have you been following Otsuka's fights from the past year?
Miyata: I didn't see his fight against Yamazaki-kun, but I saw him fight Mishima-san live. When he fought Bibiano, I didn't know who Otsuka was, so I wasn't really paying much attention.
----- Have you gone over his fights since your fight with him was finalized?
Miyata: I've wanted to but I don't know how to watch them on YouTube (laughter). I'm a low-tech guy and I don't know how to use a PC. That's why I go to see the fights live (laughter).
---- Is that so (laughter).
Miyata: That's why my memory is vague (laughter). I just remember things like who won. Even nowadays, I still need someone to record something for me. I need a PC-savvy person by my side (laughter).
----- Can you tell me about the Mishima fight then?
Miyata: I always thought that I would fight Mishima-san sometime, so I was there to watch him actually. But then Otsuka was winning the whole time, so I was really surprised. I dropped to FW thinking that I could win any fight, and up until that fight I thought that Mishima-san was the only guy that would be a tough fight. Mishima-san was the DEEP champion at the time and would be an obstacle for me to get to the top, but then Otsuka goes out and beats him quite handily. It surprised me. Since then I've gained respect for Otsuka as a good fighter.
----- Otsuka mentioned at the press conference that you want this fight to be a physical fight. How would you rate his physicality?
Miyata: I wasn't aware of his background until now, but he wrestled at Nittaidai, right? Nittaidai wrestling is no joke, so I'm sure he is very physical if he wrestled there.
----- But you don't plan on getting losing in terms of physicality, do you?
Miyata: Of course not. If I get out-physicaled, it's not looking good for me. In continuing to fight in this weight class, that's my backbone. I moved to FW to overwhelm my opponents with physicality. So if I'm not able to do that, it's game over. When I fought at LW, I think I was too light and I would get worn out midway in the fight. But now, I don't think that will happen. I can out-physical my opponents, and therefore my endurance will be good too.
----- What are the things you need to be cautious of in fighting Otsuka?
Miyata: Well...I try not to worry about my opponent. I'm confident that I can fight anywhere, so I put importance on how I can dictate the fight and do what I do.
----- Have you ever met Otsuka?
Miyata: Yes, once.
----- What kind of character is he?
Miyata: Of course we were polite to each other (honorific talk), but I'm sure he addresses me differently (without an honorific). (laughter) But I don't think puts on a facade.
----- You belonged to the judo club in junior high, and then went on to wrestle in high school, college, and thereafter. I assume you were in an environment where manners are strictly adhered to.
Miyata: That's true.
----- What's your take of Otsuka's character, seeing the you grew up in such a environment?
Miyata: How old is he?
----- 23 years old.
Miyata: 23 huh. I was at the Sydney Olympics when I was 23. I was kinda like him at that age and I got beatings for it (laughter).
----- Hahaha!
Miyata: So I can't judge others (laughter).
----- How do you feel about sudden decision to fight in a cage?
Miyata: Either way is OK for me, frankly. People always say that the cage is better suited for a wrestler, but I don't favor the cage. Does it really matter that much? For a submission fighter that likes fighting off his back, it's unwise to get pinned against the cage. An example is Aoki-kun's fight the other week. But I'm not a fighter that fights off his back, so it doesn't matter much to me. But I think fighting in cage is cool.
----- You mean in terms of visuals (laughter).
Miyata: Yes (laughter).
----- So you're not really doing anything special to prepare for the cage?
Miyata: Not really.
----- In your MMA debut, didn't you fight Royler Gracie in a cage (Nov 2004 Rumble on the Rock 6)?
Miyata: Oh yeah, that's right. It was a cage. But at that time, I only trained MMA for 2-3 months. That training camp was about me trying to incoporate my judo into MMA, and judo into jiu-jitsu. Before that I was all about wreslting. I was basically an amateur then, so that doesn't work as a reference point.
----- Sasahara EP said that he wants to have DREAM.14 in a cage and wants everyone to voice their opinion on whether DREAM should continue in a cage or ring, and if they should change some rules to help map out DREAM's future. What is your opinion?
Miyata: Hmm. I don't mind either way. If fans want to move the unified rules, then we should switch to the cage. If they say they don't like the cage, then let's use the ring. Or we can use both equally. I personally don't have an opinion on which is better. Also, with the rules, I could go either way with elbows. I'm used to stomps in DEEP, so I can work with them. I'm confident that I can adjust to any rules, so really, I don't care at all. At the end of the day, it should be about what the fans want. Fighters would not exist without the fans. Cage or ring, whatever the rules, it's a professional fighter's job to adapt to the rules. After all is said and done, the best fighters will win out.
----- One magazine had a headline that said "Japan is the weakest". What's your take on the status of MMA in Japan?
Miyata: I don't think I'm in a position to speak on that yet. I need to win a few more fights and become one of the top featherwights before I comment on that. But I have confidence. I don't think I'm second to anyone in the world.
----- What can we expect from you in the fight against Otsuka?
Miyata: Not only is it a fight pitting two Japanese fighters, but it feels like a fight for survival. It's not just about doing everything to win, but more about looking at the big picture. We need to liven up the MMA world. I need to avoid any injuries going into the fight, seeing that it affected me last time out. So this time, I look forward to fighting without any injuries and giving it my all.
----- What's next after this?
Miyata: I'm sure all my opponents will be tough here on. I want to take one fight at time. I've never had a belt so I want one, but that's still far ahead. One step at time.
----- Your final words of enthusiasm please.
Miyata: Not just in regard to the Otsuka fight, I feel that I can work my way to the top of the featherweight division. I just need to go out there and get it done.