Overview

• Asakura announced on his YouTube channel that he is moving from flyweight to 135 pounds and will rebuild his body for the change.
• He said the switch might happen next year and no opponent or debut date has been set for his first bantamweight bout.
• The decision follows back-to-back submission defeats in the UFC, including a rear-naked choke loss to Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 310.
• He was also submitted by guillotine choke by Tim Elliott in the second round at UFC 319 in August.
• A former two-time Rizin bantamweight champion and 2021 grand prix finalist, Asakura (21-6) vowed, “I’ll definitely win my next fight.”