Former RIZIN bantamweight champion Kai Asaukra is formally heading to the UFC.
The 30-year-old has been seen as one of many biggest Japanese fighters on the planet for years now. For the unaware, Kai Asakura has been competing within the RIZIN ring since late 2017 and holds victories over the likes of Manel Kape and Kyoji Horiguchi. In December, the bantamweight earned a knockout victory over former Bellator champion Juan Archuleta.
It appears that evidently will go down as Kai Asakura’s final battle within the firm. Over the weekend, the previous bantamweight champion appeared at RIZIN 47. There, he made an announcement to the stay crowd that he was signing with the UFC. In a passionate promo to followers, Asakura thanked promoter Nobuyuki Sakaibara for the chance.
As of now, the UFC hasn’t formally introduced the signing of the RIZIN star. Nonetheless, Kai Asakura later reiterated the information on X, the place he promised to win the bantamweight title and convey extra battle followers to Japan. For what it’s price, the previous champion will seemingly get a highly-ranked matchup in his debut later this 12 months.
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リングの上で発表させて頂いたとおり
RIZINバンタム級のベルトを返上してUFCに行きます。
一度も防衛戦をせずにUFCにいくという僕のわがままを受け入れてくれて背中を押してくれた榊原さんに感謝します。
僕の夢はUFCのチャンピオンになって日本に世界中のファンを連れてくることです。… pic.twitter.com/DpPVtunxSs— 朝倉 海 Kai Asakura (@kai_1031_) June 9, 2024
Former RIZIN champion Kai Asakura declares UFC signing
Not lengthy after Kai Asakura made his announcement, MMAMania’s Alex Behunin reported that the previous champion would seemingly get a top-five matchup in his debut. With that in thoughts, it appears that evidently the UFC has excessive hopes for the previous RIZIN champion. Given all of the expertise at 135 kilos proper now, there’s no scarcity of enjoyable matchups for Asakura.
With the bantamweight’s signing, he’ll finish his RIZIN run holding a 13-3 promotional file. Kai Asakura first claimed the title with a knockout win over Hiromasa Ougikubo in August 2020. Whereas he misplaced the title to the aforementioned Horiguchi later that 12 months, his run within the Japanese promotion was a formidable one.
The UFC’s determination to signal Kai Asakura is an attention-grabbing one, particularly contemplating that they reportedly handed on Kyoji Horiguchi. The previous RIZIN and Bellator champion needed to affix Dana White and firm following his win in December, however they reportedly had no curiosity.
What do you make of this UFC information involving Kai Asakura? Who do you wish to see the previous RIZIN champion face in his debut?