Kai Asakura Confirms Move to UFC Bantamweight After 0-2 Start at Flyweight

He signals a switch as early as next year, vowing to “definitely win” his next fight after consecutive submission defeats.

Overview

Asakura announced the change on his YouTube channel, saying he will prepare his body for 135 pounds.
He debuted in the UFC with an immediate title shot at UFC 310, losing to Alexandre Pantoja by second-round rear-naked choke.
He fell to 0-2 in August at UFC 319, tapping to Tim Elliott’s second-round guillotine.
The move returns him to a division where he was a two-time Rizin bantamweight champion and a 2021 grand prix finalist.
He has not named an opponent, and reporters note it remains unclear whether the flyweight cut contributed to his struggles.