A long layoff hasn't slowed Tim Tamaki down as he prepares to step back into the cage after almost four years away.
Tamaki (17-28-1) is set to square off against hard-nosed finisher Delane LaMere (6-3) in a featherweight matchup at Rumble in the Cage 60, taking place Saturday night in Lethbridge, Alta.
Besides a Muay Thai outing in 2016, Tamaki hadn't competed in a cage fight since December 2014. Still, the extended absence hasn't rattled him—he's confident he won't show any rust on fight night.
"Nerves are always part of the package for me," Tamaki shared during an interview. "But I don't see the time away from competition hurting me."
"I've put in countless hours sparring and drilling on the mats recently."
The 35-year-old with 17 career victories understands what it takes to walk away victorious inside the octagon.
While securing a win Saturday is certainly the goal, Tamaki emphasized that his primary focus is delivering the strongest performance he can muster.
"My approach is simple: I'll give it everything I've got, and whatever outcome comes, comes," Tamaki explained. "I can't fixate solely on the result or force a particular style—I need to concentrate on executing at my peak."
Over the course of 46 fights, Tamaki has witnessed virtually every scenario the cage has to offer, from devastating strikers to elite grapplers.
Scouting reports suggest LaMere prefers to stand and exchange, but Tamaki said he's training for every possibility.
"He may lean toward striking, but I'm treating him as a threat in every facet of the game," Tamaki noted. "You have to stay ready for top-level competition constantly—that's how you avoid letting your guard down against anyone."
The Finisher's Edge
Which brings us to LaMere—an opponent Tamaki clearly won't afford the luxury of underestimating.
The 32-year-old has made it clear he hunts for early finishes, a habit backed by five of his six career stops coming before the opening bell.
"I pride myself on being an entertaining fighter," LaMere said in an interview. "Striking runs deep in my DNA—boxing has been the backbone of my family for generations."
"Every time I step in, my mindset is about bringing the heat."
Fighting out of Fort Belknap, MT, LaMere is accustomed to entering enemy territory and pulling off the upset, a role he'll embrace once again Saturday night.
Yet even though Tamaki calls Lethbridge home, LaMere sees a deeper connection to the area—it sits on land his father claims as ancestral territory.
"If we went back two centuries, I'd be on horseback leading a war party, collecting scalp trophies," LaMere said. "I strive to honor the spirit of my father and my ancestors, living by that warrior ethos every single day."
Though LaMere boasts five first-round stoppages, only two have arrived via knockout or TKO.
And despite Tamaki's well-known moniker "The Chin," LaMere remains convinced he has the knockout power to put his opponent down.
"I respect Tamaki, no question, but I genuinely believe I'll be the one landing the knockout shot," LaMere declared. "I just need to stay alert for that big right hand he always launches, and I know I'll find the opening. His speed and reach aren't going to trouble me."
Tamaki's Shoutouts
"I want to extend my gratitude to everyone at the Canadian Martial Arts Centre."
Lamere's Shoutouts
"Above all, I'd like to thank the Creator for the blessings I've received. I'm also grateful to my wife and kids for their unwavering support, my manager at White Buffalo Fight Mgmt, my entire family and circle of friends, plus my sponsors: Fort Belknap Casino, Island Mountain Development Group, and the Fort Belknap Tribe."
