RIZIN star Kai Asakura will make his UFC debut on December 7 when the promotion closes out its pay-per-view scheduled in Las Vegas.
As introduced by CEO Dana White, Asakura will problem reigning flyweight world champion Alexandre Pantoja within the UFC 310 co-main occasion, a bit of reports that has some followers annoyed.
Whereas it’s changing into extra frequent for fighters to earn a title alternative with only a few fights beneath their belt i.e. Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka, seeing a newcomer instantly step into the title image and problem a longtime champion whereas concurrently skipping a line of prime 10 contenders is uncommon, even for UFC requirements.
In consequence, followers are lashing out about Asakura’s “unearned” alternative, however that’s definitely nothing new for the two-time RIZIN titleholder.
“Lots of people say I can’t win a title match, however I’ve overcome comparable adversity and I imagine I can win, and I’ll show it within the cage,” Asakura wrote in a translated put up on X.
Brandon Royval Reacts to Kai Asakura’s Title Alternative
One man who can be watching Pantoja vs. Asakura very intently is Brandon Royval. The one-time title challenger secured a giant win over Tatsuro Taira within the UFC Vegas 98 headliner on Saturday, re-establishing himself because the division’s top-ranked contender.
In all chance, he’ll combat the winner of December’s flyweight title tilt.
Requested for his tackle Asakura’s alternative throughout the post-fight press convention, Royval mentioned:
”I’ve been watching Kai Asakura for some time, I feel he’s sick. I feel there’s quite a lot of cool issues, he’s but to make flyweight. So I’ll be there and I’ll be prepared simply in case he doesn’t. That being mentioned, I’ll give the person his roses, I feel he brings quite a lot of pleasure to the division however I feel if Pantoja grapples him in any respect it’s gonna be over”
Asakura is 21-4 in his combined martial arts profession with 13 wins by means of knockout and three submissions. He’s a two-time RIZIN bantamweight champion and was a 2021 Bantamweight World Grand Prix runner-up.
