Kai Asakura has a brand new place to name dwelling after saying throughout Sunday’s RIZIN 47 card in Tokyo he has vacated the RIZIN 135-pound title to hitch the UFC. The 2-time RIZIN champion went 13-3 underneath the corporate’s banner and leaves to the UFC after profitable back-to-back bouts over Yuki Motoya and Juan Archuleta, regaining his belt in December 2023.
The UFC has but to formally announce the signing and a date and opponent for Asakura’s octagon debut.
“I’m giving up my belt and going to the UFC,” Asakura mentioned. “I feel there will probably be an announcement type the UFC quickly, however it’s official that I’m going. This ought to be thrilling information, however proper now I really feel very lonely. I imagine that because of RIZIN, I who was initially nobody, was acknowledged as a fighter, a martial artist, a person. And final 12 months, on New Years’ Eve, it was Mr. Sakakibara who accepted my egocentric request to go to the UFC with no single protection. I wish to thank Mr. Sakakibara from the underside of my coronary heart for his help. Thanks very a lot.”
Asakura has additionally defeated the likes of Kyoji Horiguchi, Manel Kape and Ulka Sasaki contained in the RIZIN ring since becoming a member of the corporate in 2017.“There’s a remorse that I misplaced three major video games in a row on New Years’ Eve, however I additionally grew to become a champion twice,” Asakura mentioned. “I really like RIZIN and its followers. I’ll positively grow to be a champion at UFC and I’ll convey followers from all around the world with me, so be sure to sit up for it. I hope you’ll proceed to help me.”
Watch Asakura’s speech beneath.
