“I learned how to say that in Japanese just for the sheer fact that I knew they’d ask me that.”
Tai Emery has become quite the character in the bare-knuckle boxing (BKB) world.
Australia’s Emery certainly burst onto the scene in BKFC with her promotion debut in Thailand against Rung-Arun Khunchai in September 2022. The performance went as smoothly as Emery could have requested, scoring the first-round TKO at 1:41. However, the unique post-fight celebration arguably had the combat sports world talking more than the in-ring efforts.
Emery, 37, ran to the ropes in elation and gave the Bangkok crowd a surprise by pulling her top up after the win. A recently formed partnership between BKFC and RIZIN led the flyweight brawler to Japan for her last time out when she battled Charisa Sigala at Super RIZIN 3 last month (July 28, 2024). Emery once again scored a quick finish, breaking the nose of Sigala to earn her second pro victory (2-1). Beforehand, she had to make some promises that her unforgettable celebration wouldn’t be repeated.
“100 percent,” Emery told MMA Mania on BROADENED HORIZIN about promising not to flash the Saitama crowd. “In every single email, every single phone call from David Feldman. I literally had to learn how to say, ‘No, I promised David Feldman and Conor McGregor that I wouldn’t flash and I wouldn’t be naughty.’ I learned how to say that in Japanese just for the sheer fact that I knew they’d ask me that.
“I had to pull that [phrase] out in some of the interviews and they were impressed.”
Emery has a lot of options going forward after the big win and debut on Japanese soil. Ultimately, she wants to claim gold in BKFC but she’s not at all opposed to putting the gloves on if requested.
“I want the belt. I want what’s mine. That will be the moment I can finally go (exhales), okay, on top of the mountain, let’s smell one flower, and let’s get back to work,” Emery said. “Outside of that, I really want to put on the gloves and box whether that’s with RIZIN or Misfits or both. I think it’s exciting times for fighters right now.”
Watch the full episode in the video embedded above, or listen to it on Spotify.