TEMECULA, Calif. – Goiti Yamauchi turned down an offer to fight in Bellator’s $1 million featherweight grand prix. Why? Not because he wanted to, but because he felt he had to.

Formerly a competitor at featherweight and now fighting at lightweight, the Brazilian is trying to cut the least amount of weight possible. Yamauchi (23-4 MMA, 9-3 BMMA) takes on fellow longtime Bellator vet Saad Awad (23-11 MMA, 11-8 BMMA) in the co-main event of Bellator 229.

The event takes place Friday at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. The main card airs on Paramount and streams on DAZN following prelims on MMA Junkie.

Even though he has already turned his weight cut down a notch, Yamauchi is considering a move to welterweight. The cut to featherweight was hellacious, he said, but the cut to 155 pounds is by no means easy, either. Despite being offered a chance to fight in the ongoing tournament, Yamauchi didn’t want to risk his health by shedding ten additional pounds.

“They offered me the chance to compete in the featherweight tournament, but I can’t do it anymore,” Yamauchi told MMA Junkie. “Even the cut to lightweight is really hard, but I can still make the weight.

“I was thinking I’d move up to the welterweight division or maybe get creative with other weight classes I can compete in, but no featherweight. … It compromised my performances. Even at lightweight it’s compromised. Can you imagine with ten pounds more? I can’t do that no more.”

Over the past year, Yamauchi has been inactive from competition. He spent much of 2019 recovering from what he called a “fairly serious injury,” but still continued to train and improve his game both physically and mentally.

“Not to be cocky, but I think I’m in the most talented fighter in the world,” Yamauchi said. “Inside MMA, there’s not many people who can do what I do. I’ve got to show people it’s not the easy competing at this level of shows against that level of talent. I’m learning.

“It’s more mental, because physically I’m very talented. It’s all about being mentally sharp and ready and that’s what I feel. I feel mentally ready to put together my work and show it… Goiti is completely different now, so people can expect a better fighter.”

Yamauchi said the fans will be in for a thriller at Bellator 229. One of the longest tenured fighters in Bellator, his opponent Awad is known for his frenetic pace and brawling style. When it comes to matching Awad’s excitement level, Yamauchi feels he’s up to the task.

“I like the people who bring the fight,” Yamauchi said. “I don’t like boring fights. I don’t like people like my last defeat was like that Chandler is an exciting fighter. He used to bring the fight. Not just him, we both made the fight boring.

“Takedown on the fence and the cage and do nothing. So, I like these kind of people – different styles. I’m a ground fighter. He’s a striker. he likes to bring the fight on the feet and I like to bring the fight on the ground, so it’s going to be exciting.