Kai Asakura

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Covers

Records

Kai Asakura is celebrated as one of Japan's most electrifying MMA fighters. His Rizin bantamweight title reign and his stunning knockout of Kyoji Horiguchi stand as career highlights. Asakura's willingness to drop to flyweight to challenge for a UFC title in just his second UFC fight shows his fearlessness. He is widely regarded as the top Japanese bantamweight of his generation, with a fan base that spans Asia and beyond. His dual career as a TV producer adds a unique dimension to his legacy.

AwardsAsakura won the Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix in 2017 and became the promotion's inaugural bantamweight champion in 2018. He also held the interim bantamweight title in 2022 and won the Fighting Network Rings bantamweight championship early in his career. His knockout of Kyoji Horiguchi earned KO of the Year honors from multiple Asian MMA outlets.

Honours & Distinctions

Rizin Bantamweight Grand Prix Winner

Rizin Fighting Federation·2017

Won the 2017 bantamweight tournament.

Rizin Bantamweight Champion

Rizin Fighting Federation·2018

Became the inaugural champion.

Rankings & Lists

World Bantamweight Ranking

Fight Matrix·2021

#Listed

Top Japanese Fighters of the 2010s

Sherdog·2020

Best Japanese Bantamweight of All Time

Tapology Fan Vote·2023

Magazine Covers

Fighters Only

September 2021

The Samurai Spirit: Kai Asakura's Rise

Rizin Fighting Federation Official Program

December 2019

The New Face of Japanese MMA

Records & Feats

First fighter to hold Rizin bantamweight title and interim title

Career Milestone·2022

Asakura was the inaugural Rizin bantamweight champion and later won the interim belt.

KO of the Year (2021) – multiple Asian outlets

Awards·2021

His first-round knockout of Kyoji Horiguchi was widely recognized.