UFC signs bantamweight champion Kai Asakura from RIZIN amid rumors that the KO artist will soon be catapulted straight into title contention.
From UFC Fight Night in Louisville, Kentucky to the Yoyogi National Stadium in Japan, the MMA world leader has reportedly signed a new bantamweight contender to the promotion – one who fans could very well see surge into title contention in just his very first UFC fight.
UFC signs RIZIN bantamweight champion and KO artist Kai Asakura
There was some major UFC news outside of Louisville this weekend as RIZIN bantamweight champion Kai Asakura confirmed that he’ll be leaving the promotion to sign with the UFC.
Asakura might not be the biggest name in either North America or Europe, but the 30-year-old Japanese athlete is a true superstar in Asia, having earned a reputation as not only a brutal knockout artist but for his entertaining back-and-forth wars with top-level MMA talent.
He joins the UFC with a professional record of 21-4, with 13 of those victories coming by way of KO/TKO – with his highlight reel (see below) being a five-minute compilation of him demolishing his opponents with crisp, powerful striking.
In fact, Asakura has already fought some vastly experienced fighters since joining RIZIN in 2017, including flyweight contender Manel Kape, the legendary Kyoji Horiguchi, and ex-Bellator champion Juan Archuleta.
Speaking to the crowd at the Yoyogi National Stadium over the weekend, Asakura confirmed that whilst he’s awaiting an official announcement, he is “giving up my belt and going to the UFC.”
“I think there will be an announcement from the UFC soon, but it’s official that I’m going. This should be exciting news, but right now I feel very lonely… I love RIZIN and its fans.
“I will definitely become a champion at UFC, and I will bring fans from all over the world with me, so make sure to look forward to it. I hope you will continue to support me.”
Asakura then took to social media to tease that it won’t be long before he faces current UFC champion, Sean O’Malley.
“I’m grateful to Sakakibara-san for accepting my selfish wish to go to UFC without ever defending my title and for pushing me forward… My dream is to become a UFC champion and bring fans from all over the world to Japan. I will definitely get the belt, so please look forward to it.”
Asakura rumored to make UFC debut against top 5 opponent
According to an inside source at MMA Mania, the UFC is already looking to book Asakura against a top 5 opponent in the bantamweight division – so who could be on the cards for his debut in the world MMA leader?
With Sean O’Malley sitting pretty as king of the 135lb division, the top of the bantamweight tree is populated by Merab Dvalishvili (1), Cory Sandhagen (2), Petr Yan (3), Marlon Vera (4), and Henry Cejudo (5).
Asakura likely won’t face either Dvalishvili, whose title fight against O’Malley is expected to be announced by the end of June, or Cory Sandhagen as the fan-favorite American is already booked to face Umar Nurmagomedov later this summer.
Similarly, Marlon Vera is set to make his UFC return on the same card as Nurmagomedov vs Sandhagen, this time against the former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo.
This leaves just Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo as potential opponents who fit the top 5 criteria – and if push comes to show and none of the top 5 accepts a fight offer against Asakura, there could be a potential China vs Japan clash against Song Yadong.
Whoever the UFC opts to match Asakura up against in his UFC debut, fans are in for a treat when the Japanese superstar eventually makes his grand entrance.