Asakura eyes top-ranked bantamweight after two straight stoppages at 135

Kai Asakura is pushing for a marquee matchup in the UFC bantamweight division after knocking out both Cameron Smotherman and Qileng Aori since moving up from flyweight.

The former Rizin champion made the case on his YouTube channel, pointing to the unusual arc of his UFC career as evidence he belongs against a top-ranked 135-pounder. Asakura entered the promotion directly into a flyweight title fight against then-champion Alexandre Pantoja in 2024 — a booking he believes reflects the UFC’s original assessment of his calibre.

“So, I was brought in with the initial evaluation that I was allowed to have a title fight,” Asakura said. “So, having moved to bantamweight and winning two fights in a row in such a good way, is there a chance that I’ll be highly rated and paired with a top-tier opponent? That’s definitely possible.”

Asakura’s UFC record remains a mixed picture. He was submitted by Pantoja in that debut title bout and suffered a second submission loss to flyweight veteran Tim Elliott before opting to move up in weight. The two-fight losing streak at 125 pounds makes his case for elite opposition at bantamweight an unconventional one, but Asakura’s argument rests on the quality of his finishes rather than his overall Octagon ledger.

Both victories at bantamweight have come by knockout, suggesting the extra weight suits his style. Whether the UFC’s matchmakers share his confidence in a rapid step up to top-ten competition remains to be seen, but Asakura has made his intentions clear.