Kai Asakura will fight for the flyweight title on his UFC debut.
The 30-year-old Japanese fighter announced in June 2024 that he would be leaving his former promotion, Rizin, for the UFC.
Asakura has won 13 of his 21 professional MMA bouts by knockout, with his last two wins coming, uniquely, via a knee to the body.
Asakura is part of a surging Japanese MMA scene and will be aiming to become Japan’s first UFC champion when he faces Alexandre Pantoja in December.
UFC President Dana White announced the fight alongside the main event for UFC 310 in Las Vegas.
“Listen to me everybody. Nobody wanted to fight him [Asakura], but Pantoja is an absolute badass and agreed to the fight,” White said.
Pantoja has the second most wins in UFC flyweight historyand won the belt for the first time against Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 in July …