Kai Asakura

Overview

Two UFC losses, both by submission, then two straight knockouts. Kai Asakura is 2-2 in the UFC at bantamweight, and the way the record split says more than the record itself.

The Aichi, Japan native trains out of Japan Top Team and carries a 23-6-0 professional record across all promotions. That figure includes non-UFC fights, so the UFC mark is the 2-2. He debuted in December 2024 against an elite opponent and has not fought a decision since. Four fights, four finishes, no exceptions.

UFC Career

His debut came at UFC 310, a second-round submission loss to Alexandre Pantoja at 2:05. Our model rates Pantoja as one of the elite opponents in the UFC, so it was about as hard a first assignment as the division offers. At UFC 319 he dropped a second straight, submitted by Tim Elliott in round 2 at 4:39.

Then the results turned. At UFC Fight Night: Song vs Figueiredo he stopped Cameron Smotherman by KO/TKO in round 1 at 1:50. At UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs. Song he finished Aoriqileng by KO/TKO in round 2 at 0:34.

He enters his next fight on a two-fight win streak, and both wins came by knockout.

Fighting Style

Asakura is a hard man to hit. He absorbs fewer strikes per minute than the UFC average, while his own output and his striking defense sit right around the norm. Accuracy is his weak spot, lower than most.

He rarely shoots for takedowns and almost never hunts for submissions, so his offense lives on the feet. His takedown defense is about average, which matters because of how his losses have gone.

His finishing pattern is clear. Both of his UFC wins came by KO/TKO, one in the first round and one in the second. Both of his losses came by submission. When he wins, he wins by knockout, and when he loses, he gets submitted. It's a small sample, but the split is consistent.

Notable Wins

• Aoriqileng — KO/TKO, round 2, UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs. Song (2026)
• Cameron Smotherman — KO/TKO, round 1, UFC Fight Night: Song vs Figueiredo (2026)

Quick Facts

• Division: Bantamweight
• UFC record: 2-2 (2 KO/TKO wins, 2 submission losses)
• Professional record (all promotions): 23-6-0
• UFC debut: December 2024
• Stance: Orthodox
• Height / reach: 5'8" / 69"
• Team: Japan Top Team
• Born: Aichi, Japan