Pantoja Submits Asakura to Defend UFC Flyweight Title
Kai Asakura entered the UFC with a strong record as a former RIZIN bantamweight champion and received an immediate shot at Alexandre Pantoja’s flyweight title at UFC 310 in December 2024. At UFC 310, Pantoja submitted Asakura in the second round. The video below shows the buildup to the fight.
A title opportunity in his UFC debut
Asakura’s UFC debut was also a championship main event. At UFC 310 on December 7, 2024, Pantoja retained the flyweight belt with a rear-naked choke at 2:05 of Round 2. The result ended Asakura’s bid to become UFC champion in his first appearance for the promotion.
A second flyweight loss, then a move up
Asakura returned against Tim Elliott at UFC 319 in August 2025 and lost by mounted guillotine in the second round. He then moved to bantamweight, the division where he had held RIZIN titles. The change brought a turnaround: Asakura knocked out Cameron Smotherman in the first round in May 2026, then stopped Aoriqileng in the second round in August.
Where the story stands
The 2024 preview treated the Pantoja bout as Asakura’s chance to make an immediate statement at flyweight. He did not win the title, and his first two UFC appearances ended in submission losses. His two most recent results came after moving up to bantamweight, where he has recorded back-to-back knockouts. Those wins marked a change in direction after his flyweight title challenge.
