Kai Asakura

Mixed martial arts career Early career Asakura began his professional career under the banner of DEEP, when he faced a fellow debutante Tomoya Suzuki. Asakura won the bout via a first round TKO.

He would then fight with Fighting Network Rings new brand of MMA events named Outsider, after a three-year hiatus. He faced Satoshi Date, whom he defeated in the second round by TKO. Two months later he faced Keigo Takayama winning the fight after just 40 seconds via technical knockout. Two months later he fought a debuting Jung Bin Choi, earning his first career submission, forcing Choi to tap to a D'Arce choke in the first round. Asakura's next opponent was Jong Hyun Kwak. Asakura again ended the fight in the first round, winning through a TKO.

Fighting with Road Fighting Championship, Asakura fought Liu Xiaoyang, who he beat by an RNC in the first round. Fighting for the Fighting Network Rings 60 kg title, Asakura faced Yoichi Oi. He won the title fight in the first round, defeating Oi at the very end of the first round by technical knockout. Asakura's next opponent was Alateng Heili, who was riding a six-fight winning streak. Asakura won the fight after 29 seconds, hitting Heili with a short left hook, followed by a knee strike. Asakura suffered his first career loss to Je Hoon Moon during Road FC 39, losing via technical knockout.

Rizin Fighting Federation Asakura made his Rizin debut on 29th December 2017, during RIZIN Fighting World Grand Prix 2017. Asakura was scheduled to fight the ZST Flyweight Champion Seiichiro Ito. Ito suffered a nasal fracture before the bout, and was replaced by Kizaemon Saiga. Kai won the fight in the second round after knocking Saiga out with a grounded knee.

During Rizin 10, Asakura faced bantamweight, Manel Kape. After suffering an early knockdown, he went on to win a split decision, which would be named as a Fight of the Month nominee for May of 2018 by MMA Junkie.

Asakura was next scheduled to fight Thanongsaklek Tiger Muay Thai at Rizin 11. The fight was subsequently rescheduled for Rizin 13, after Asakura injured his right knee. At Rizin 13 and he won a unanimous decision.

During RIZIN Heisei's Last Yarennoka!, Asakura rematched with Je Hoon Moon. Asakura won via unanimous decision.

Asakura's face Ulka Sasaki. at Rizin 15. However, Sasaki had to pull out due to injury and was replaced by Justin Scoggins. Scoggins would then pull out of the bout after he suffered a meniscus and ligament tear in his knee.

His next fight was scheduled for Rizin 18 as a non-title bout against the Rizin bantamweight champion Kyoji Horiguchi. Asakura would feint Horiguchi backward and landed a big right hand as Horiguchi was blitzing in. Following up with knees and punches, Asakura won the fight via knockout.

Two months later he faced Ulka Sasaki at Rizin 19. Asakura dominated Sasaki, hitting the veteran with a right hand, and following up with grounded knees and soccer kicks and won the fight via technical knockout, as Sasaki was unable to continue due to a broken jaw.

Title reign This six-fight winning streak gave Asakura a chance to fight for the Rizin bantamweight strap, in a rematch against Kyoji Horiguchi during Rizin 20. Horiguchi pulled out of the bout due to a knee injury and vacated the belt. Asakura faced Manel Kape in a rematch for the vacant Rizin Bantamweight Championship. Kape knocked Kai down twice in the beginning of the second round which forced the referee to stop the fight.

Asakura faced Hiromasa Ougikubo for the vacant Rizin Bantamweight Championship at Rizin 23. He won via first-round soccer kick knockout.

Asakura faced former Lightweight King of Pancrase Shoji Maruyama at Rizin 24 – Saitama. Asakura won the fight by a first round technical knockout.

Asakura was scheduled to make his first title defense in a rematch with the former Rizin Bantamweight champion Kyoji Horiguchi during Rizin 26 – Saitama. He lost the fight by a first-round TKO.

Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix 2021 Asakura faced Shooto Watanabe in the opening round of the Bantamweight Grand Prix at Rizin 28 on June 13, 2021. He won the fight by a first-round technical knockout.

Asakura faced Alan Yamaniha in the quarterfinals on September 19, 2021 at Rizin 30. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

In the semi-finals, Asakura faced Kenta Takizawa on December 31, 2021 at Rizin 33. He won the fight by unanimous decision, and advanced to the tournament finals, where he faced Hiromasa Ougikubo. He lost the bout via unanimous decision, becoming the runner up in the Grand Prix.

Continued bantamweight career Asakura was expected to face the undefeated Ji Yong Yang at Rizin 36 on July 2, 2022. Asakura withdrew from the fight on June 30, as he had re-injured his right hand.

Asakura faced Yuki Motoya at Rizin 42 on May 6, 2023. He won the fight by a second-round flying knee knockout.

Asakura was expected to face former Bellator Bantamweight Champion Juan Archuleta for the vacant Rizin Bantamweight Championship at Bellator MMA x Rizin 2 on July 30, 2023. However on July 18 it was announced that Asakura withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Hiromasa Ougikubo.

Second title reign Asakura faced Juan Archuleta for the Rizin Bantamweight Championship on December 31, 2023, at Rizin 45. At the weigh-ins, Archuleta weighed in at 140.65 pounds, 5.65 pounds over the limit. As a result, Archuleta was stripped of the title and only Asakura was eligible to win it. Asakura won the bout via technical knockout in the second round.

Ultimate Fighting Championship On June 8, 2024, it was announced that Asakura signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

In his promotional debut, Asakura competed for the UFC Flyweight Championship against champion Alexandre Pantoja on December 7, 2024 at UFC 310. Asakura lost the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the second round.

Asakura faced former UFC Flyweight title challenger Tim Elliott on August 16, 2025 at UFC 319. He lost the fight via a guillotine choke in round two.

Returning to bantamweight, Asakura faced Cameron Smotherman on May 30, 2026 at UFC Fight Night 277. He won the fight by knockout in the first round. This fight earned him a $100,000 Performance of the Night award.

Asakura faced Aori Qileng on August 29, 2026 at UFC Fight Night 286. He won the fight by technical knockout in the second round.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championship Performance of the Night (One time) 2019 Upset of the Year

Personal life He is the younger brother of Mikuru Asakura.

Mixed martial arts record Win

Aori Qileng TKO (head kick and punches) UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs. Song

Shanghai, China Win

Cameron Smotherman KO (punch) UFC Fight Night: Song vs. Figueiredo

Macau SAR, China Loss

Tim Elliott Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 319

Chicago, Illinois, United States Loss

Alexandre Pantoja Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 310

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Juan Archuleta TKO (knee to the body and punches) Rizin 45

Saitama, Japan Win

Yuki Motoya KO (knee to the body) Rizin 42

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Hiromasa Ougikubo Decision (unanimous)

Win

Kenta Takizawa Decision (unanimous)

Win

Alan Yamaniha Decision (unanimous) Rizin 30

Saitama, Japan Win

Shooto Watanabe TKO (punches) Rizin 28

Tokyo, Japan Loss

Kyoji Horiguchi KO (punches) Rizin 26

Saitama, Japan Win

Shoji Maruyama TKO (punches and soccer kick) Rizin 24

Saitama, Japan Win

Hiromasa Ougikubo KO (knee and soccer kicks) Rizin 23

Yokohama, Japan Loss

Manel Kape TKO (punches) Rizin 20

Saitama, Japan Win

Ulka Sasaki TKO (broken jaw) Rizin 19

Osaka, Japan Win

Kyoji Horiguchi KO (punches) Rizin 18

Nagoya, Japan Win

Moon Jae-hoon Decision (unanimous) Rizin: Heisei's Last Yarennoka!

Saitama, Japan Win

Topnoi Kiwram Decision (unanimous) Rizin 13

Saitama, Japan Win

Manel Kape Decision (split) Rizin 10

Fukuoka, Japan Win

Kizaemon Saiga TKO (punches and knee) Rizin World Grand Prix 2017: 2nd Round

Saitama, Japan Loss

Moon Jae-hoon KO (punches) Road FC 39

Seoul, South Korea Win

Alateng Heili KO (knee and punches) Road FC 37

Seoul, South Korea Win

Yoichi Oi TKO (punches) Rings: The Outsider 42

Aichi, Japan Win

Liu Xiaoyang Submission (rear-naked choke) Road FC 32

Changsha, China Win

Kwak Jong-hyun TKO (punches) Rings: The Outsider 38

Tokyo, Japan Win

Choi Jung-bin Submission (brabo choke) Rings: The Outsider 37

Numazu, Japan Win

Keigo Takayama TKO (punches) Rings: The Outsider 36

Tokyo, Japan Win

Satoru Date TKO (punches) Rings: The Outsider 35

Tokyo, Japan Win

Tomoya Suzuki Technical Submission (armbar) DEEP: Cage Impact 2012 in Hamamatsu

Hamamatsu, Japan Amateur mixed martial arts record Win

Yoichi Oi TKO (punches) Rings: The Outsider 33 December 7, 2014

Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan Won the Outsider Bantamweight Tournament Championship. Win

Masamichi Yoshino TKO (punches) Rings: The Outsider 33 December 7, 2014

Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan Outsider Bantamweight Tournament Semi-finals. Win

Takayuki Okugi TKO (punches) Rings: The Outsider 32 September 7, 2014

Kadoma, Osaka, Japan Win

Masaya Kamide Decision (unanimous) Rings: The Outsider 31 June 22, 2014

Tokyo, Japan Win

Kenta Tanoue TKO (punches) Rings: The Outsider 30 April 6, 2014

Tokyo, Japan Win

Shota Kaneko TKO (punches) Rings: The Outsider 29 February 16, 2014

Tokyo, Japan Win

Masamune Shimada Decision (unanimous) Rings: The Outsider 28 December 7, 2013

Kadoma, Osaka, Japan Loss

Ryota Kitamura Decision (unanimous) Rings: The Outsider 27 September 9, 2013

Osaka, Japan Loss

Riku Shibuya Decision (unanimous) Rings: The Outsider 25 April 21, 2013

Tokyo, Japan Win

Dai Aoki Technical Submission (armbar) Rings: The Outsider 24 February 10, 2013

Tokyo, Japan

Pay-per-view bouts