Has Kai Asakura fought in the UFC and what type of fighter is he? Japanese star set to take on Alexandre Pantoja
Kai Asakura will look to announce himself to UFC fans this weekend as he takes on Alexandre Pantoja in the headline bout of UFC 310. The Japanese star is set for his first appearance in MMA‘s biggest brand after impressing over a long career. Asakura is raring to go for his UFC debutGetty He is someone that combat sports fans are very excited about, and they’ll be eager to see him in action when he tops the bill in Las Vegas. Has Kai Asakura fought in UFC? No, UFC 310 is set to be his debut. However, given he’s going to be the headline event in a flyweight title bout, it’s clear he’s rated extremely highly by Dana White and co. UFC President White claimed ‘no one wanted to fight’ Asakura when announcing the Las Vegas clash, because of the latter’s successful background in Japan. However, one man who gracefully accepted the bout was UFC flyweight champion Pantoja, who puts his 125 lbs strap on the line for the third time this weekend. Pantoja told talkSPORT.com exclusively that he aims to ‘kill’ his opponent in every bout, but insisted both men have a ’50 per cent chance’ when they meet in the cage. 31-year-old Asakura has won 21 of his 25 career fights and left his old company, Rizin, in June 2024 to sign a deal with the UFC. He announced to Rizin fans in the same month that he was giving up his bantamweight title to pursue a career in UFC. Though UFC 310 will be his debut, Asakura has battled fighters who have been on White’s books in the past. These include Kyoji Horiguchi and Manel Kape, who both have victories over the UFC debutant. And despite the fact he’s never fought in the UFC, Asakura is regarded as one of the best MMA flyweights in history. If he could claim the title at UFC 310, it would be one of the moments of the year as he would be Japan’s inaugural UFC champion. Asakura is a champion and elite fighter, and he will make the lower weight divisions in UFC betterGetty What is Kai Asakura’s style? It’s quite hard to pinpoint an exact style for Asakura because he uses his intelligence to adapt to his opponents. No two fights involving Asakura are the same, with the Japanese star aiming to nullify his opponent and strike where they are weakest. This means in some bouts you will see Asakura wrestling and grappling, while in others he might look to keep the distance. These tactics have long pleased MMA fans around the world, so UFC supporters can’t wait to see them in the octagon. Pantoja is a fearsome competitor but Asakura will be more than preparedGetty Of course, he still has some main fighting disciplines, which include Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and boxing. And ahead of his UFC debut, Michael Bisping can’t wait to see Asakura in action. Speaking to TNT Sports, the former UFC fighter-turned commentator said: “This guy is a champion. “He’s got bone-breaking power. He’s got jaw-breaking power in his punches and in his knees. “Last time we saw him was against Juan Archuleta, that was on New Year’s Eve and it was a beautifully timed knee, right to the mid-section. “It was a tremendous fight. Prior to that, this man was knocking people out left, right and centre.” Bisping is a big fan of AsakuraGetty “Being a champion out in Japan, that’s not an easy thing to do. “But we all know the Premier League is the UFC, that’s where you start to make life-changing money and the name recognition, brand value, really does go to the next level. “Of course, this is new blood. The next guy in line is Brandon Royval. He’s hoping that Kai Asakura wins this fight because he knows he’s had two shots at Pantoja, he’s probably going to struggle to get a third. “So a lot of people in the flyweight division are hoping and praying that Asakura will come in, rock the boat, get an upset and get a victory because then that opens the door to everybody else. “It’s a great fight, I can’t wait for it. This man is very very exciting, dangerous with the hands. Beautiful kicks and knees. “It’s not like he’s a one-trick pony. He’s got great wrestling and all the rest of the abilities you need for mixed martial arts. He can do it all, but it is a tough test against Alexandre Pantoja.” Bisping also revealed on his YouTube show that UFC 310 could have the best set of prelims the company’s history. Ireland’s Ian Machado Garry takes on Shavkat Rakhmonov in a thrilling co-main event bout, but the first set of fights that kick off the event are just as exiciting. Two former UFC champions in Chris Weidman and Aljamain Sterling battle it out in respective bouts on the prelims card. As well as this, Dominick Reyes and Anthony Smith, who both contested Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title, will share the octagon in UFC 310’s headline prelims act.
Kai Asakura will look to announce himself to UFC fans this weekend as he takes on Alexandre Pantoja in the headline bout of UFC 310.
The Japanese star is set for his first appearance in MMA‘s biggest brand after impressing over a long career.
He is someone that combat sports fans are very excited about, and they’ll be eager to see him in action when he tops the bill in Las Vegas.
Has Kai Asakura fought in UFC?
No, UFC 310 is set to be his debut.
However, given he’s going to be the headline event in a flyweight title bout, it’s clear he’s rated extremely highly by Dana White and co.
UFC President White claimed ‘no one wanted to fight’ Asakura when announcing the Las Vegas clash, because of the latter’s successful background in Japan.
However, one man who gracefully accepted the bout was UFC flyweight champion Pantoja, who puts his 125 lbs strap on the line for the third time this weekend.
Pantoja told talkSPORT.com exclusively that he aims to ‘kill’ his opponent in every bout, but insisted both men have a ’50 per cent chance’ when they meet in the cage.
31-year-old Asakura has won 21 of his 25 career fights and left his old company, Rizin, in June 2024 to sign a deal with the UFC.
He announced to Rizin fans in the same month that he was giving up his bantamweight title to pursue a career in UFC.
Though UFC 310 will be his debut, Asakura has battled fighters who have been on White’s books in the past.
These include Kyoji Horiguchi and Manel Kape, who both have victories over the UFC debutant.
And despite the fact he’s never fought in the UFC, Asakura is regarded as one of the best MMA flyweights in history.
If he could claim the title at UFC 310, it would be one of the moments of the year as he would be Japan’s inaugural UFC champion.
What is Kai Asakura’s style?
It’s quite hard to pinpoint an exact style for Asakura because he uses his intelligence to adapt to his opponents.
No two fights involving Asakura are the same, with the Japanese star aiming to nullify his opponent and strike where they are weakest.
This means in some bouts you will see Asakura wrestling and grappling, while in others he might look to keep the distance.
These tactics have long pleased MMA fans around the world, so UFC supporters can’t wait to see them in the octagon.
Of course, he still has some main fighting disciplines, which include Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, and boxing.
And ahead of his UFC debut, Michael Bisping can’t wait to see Asakura in action.
Speaking to TNT Sports, the former UFC fighter-turned commentator said: “This guy is a champion.
“He’s got bone-breaking power. He’s got jaw-breaking power in his punches and in his knees.
“Last time we saw him was against Juan Archuleta, that was on New Year’s Eve and it was a beautifully timed knee, right to the mid-section.
“It was a tremendous fight. Prior to that, this man was knocking people out left, right and centre.”
“Being a champion out in Japan, that’s not an easy thing to do.
“But we all know the Premier League is the UFC, that’s where you start to make life-changing money and the name recognition, brand value, really does go to the next level.
“Of course, this is new blood. The next guy in line is Brandon Royval. He’s hoping that Kai Asakura wins this fight because he knows he’s had two shots at Pantoja, he’s probably going to struggle to get a third.
“So a lot of people in the flyweight division are hoping and praying that Asakura will come in, rock the boat, get an upset and get a victory because then that opens the door to everybody else.
“It’s a great fight, I can’t wait for it. This man is very very exciting, dangerous with the hands. Beautiful kicks and knees.
“It’s not like he’s a one-trick pony. He’s got great wrestling and all
the rest of the abilities you need for mixed martial arts. He can do it
all, but it is a tough test against Alexandre Pantoja.”
Bisping also revealed on his YouTube show that UFC 310 could have the best set of prelims the company’s history.
Ireland’s Ian Machado Garry takes on Shavkat Rakhmonov in a thrilling co-main event bout, but the first set of fights that kick off the event are just as exiciting.
Two former UFC champions in Chris Weidman and Aljamain Sterling battle it out in respective bouts on the prelims card.
As well as this, Dominick Reyes and Anthony Smith, who both contested Jon Jones for the UFC light heavyweight title, will share the octagon in UFC 310’s headline prelims act.
