"Asakura (21-6) has endured a difficult start to his UFC career. The Japanese contender debuted with considerable fanfare, receiving an immediate title shot against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 310. The opportunity, however, was short-lived. Pantoja secured a rear-naked choke in the second round to hand Asakura a disappointing setback in his first Octagon appearance."
"Asakura's second outing offered little improvement. Paired with veteran Tim Elliott, a tough but winnable matchup on paper, he was submitted by guillotine choke in the second round. The setback appeared to serve as a wake-up call, prompting Asakura to make the move up to bantamweight at 135 pounds."
Kai Asakura will move up from flyweight to bantamweight and plans to recondition his body for the higher weight class. The move could occur next year as Asakura targets a stronger start at 135 pounds. Asakura began his UFC run with an immediate title shot but lost to Alexandre Pantoja via rear-naked choke in the second round at UFC 310. A subsequent fight against Tim Elliott ended in a second-round guillotine-choke loss. Those consecutive submission defeats prompted the decision to change divisions. No opponent has been named for the bantamweight debut.
Read at Cageside Press
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