Kai Asakura shocked the entire fighting community by getting a title shot for his UFC debut. This makes him one of the 6 fighters to have ever done so. Before coming to the UFC, Asakura competed under the banners of Road FC, Fighting Network RINGS, and RIZIN Fighting Federation. He garnered 21 phenomenal wins, facing defeat in only 4 of his bouts.
As the Japanese mixed martial artist gets ready for his next bout, the fight fans have wondered about his fighting style. So what are you waiting for? Let’s dive in and find out how Asakura fights and how he got into sanctioned fighting.
What type of fighter is Kai Asakura?
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Asakura’s style usually relates to a street fighter’s style. Well, he can’t use Hadouken, but he can surely dominate the MMA cage with his strikes and ground game. He has a purple belt in Jiu-Jitsu and a Zendo-kai Karate black belt. On top of that, he has trained in Muay Thai and boxing. Needless to say, the Japanese star uses every single weapon in his arsenal during his fights.
But Asakura doesn’t really rely on a specific aspect of fighting. He is a master tactician and prepares strategies tuned to defeat his opponents. Prompt with both striking and grappling, he uses everything that his opponents usually lack. Manel Kape and Kyoji Horiguchi, both of whom have a strong profile in the UFC, faced defeat at the hands of Asakura. This indeed proves his versatility on the canvas.
He even left an everlasting impression on Michael Bisping. Talking about the former RIZIN champ, ‘The Count’ said, “This guy is a champion. He’s got bone-breaking power. He’s got jaw-breaking power in his punches and in his knees. Last time we saw him was against Juan Archuleta, that was on New Year’s Eve and it was a beautifully timed knee, right to the mid-section… It’s not like he’s a one-trick pony. He’s got great wrestling and all the rest of the abilities you need for mixed martial arts. He can do it all.”
View this post on Instagram A post shared by 朝倉 海 Kai Asakura (@kai_asakura_)
This power got Asakura a prominent name in Japan. Fighting and winning out of Japan isn’t an easy feat. And becoming a champion at RIZIN twice is a feat that surpasses it all. But how exactly did the Japanese fighter find his way to professional fighting? Let’s find out!
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How did Kai Asakura start fighting?
Unlike most professional fighters, Asakura’s fighting career began with a street fight with his older brother, Mikuru Asakura. He revealed that his older brother used to fight on the streets. But there came a day when there was no one left for him to fight. That was when he challenged Kai Asakura in the middle of the night. Even though the older sibling was trying his best to throw heavy hits. But Asakura dodged them all. And that was when he knew he could do great things in sanctioned fighting.
Talking to the UFC, the former RIZIN bantamweight champion said, “At 18 years old, my brother called me out and challenged me to a street fight in the middle of the night. My brother was throwing hard punches at me and was really trying to take my head off, but he couldn’t land a clean shot. At that moment I realized I had a natural ability to fight and decided to actively train to become a MMA fighter.”
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Now, the Japanese star has got the chance to fight for the UFC flyweight championship title. Pitted against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 310, Asakura is all set to entertain the fighting community. After all, that’s exactly what he promised Dana White as he handed him his UFC debut.
Do you think Asakura can defeat ‘The Cannibal’ with his street fighting experience? Drop down to the comments below and let us know what you think.
What Is Kai Asakura’s Fighting Style? Is He a BJJ Black Belt?
