UFC head honcho Dana White stirred the MMA world when, back in June, he announced that former two-time Rizin bantamweight champion Kai Asakura would be joining the UFC. Asakura’s debut division was initially kept under wraps, but today, the UFC officially disclosed that he will make his debut in the flyweight division. What’s even more intriguing is that the Japanese sensation’s first fight will be a direct showdown against reigning flyweight king Alexandre Pantoja, who will defend his title for the third time at the year-end UFC 310.

The decision to give former bantamweight fighter Kai Asakura an immediate title shot in the flyweight division has raised eyebrows across the MMA community. Many, including seasoned pundits, are questioning the UFC’s suspicious move. Recently, the Japanese sensation shed light on the reasons behind the UFC’s unusual intentions surrounding the bout.

Kai Asakura discusses his decision to debut in the Flyweight Division

UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja has become a significant challenge for the promotion. The reason? It’s straightforward: ‘The Cannibal’ has ruled the division for over a year now and still stands tall in his position, while Dana White’s every attempt to freshen up the division has remained unsuccessful. The recent example of Steve Erceg illustrates this, which may be good for the champion but is killing the excitement in the division. To revitalize it, White has chosen to bring in a new contender: Japanese sensation Kai Asakura.

While speaking to the “Kai Channel” on YouTube, Asakura echoed this sentiment, stating, “First of all, I want to fight in the flyweight division. Why? Because there’s a champion, (Alexandre) Pantoja, but almost all the ranked fighters have been defeated. I’m going to defeat everyone. It seems that Pantoja is already in his strongest state, but everyone has already been beaten, so it’s not fun anymore.”

Former Rizin champion further stressed his chances of dethroning the current champion, claiming, “I’m ranked 10th, but starting from 10th place, the flyweight division is enough to lead to a title fight. The class is really exciting. I mean, it’s not exciting because everyone has lost to the ranked fighters, so I want to make the flyweights more popular.”

The debut of Asakura in the UFC after a stellar career in Japan is generating significant buzz, even catching the attention of fellow flyweight contender Brandon Royval, who recently shared his thoughts on the upcoming Pantoja vs. Asakura bout.

Brandon Royval expressed his excitement about getting new competition

Today at UFC Vegas 98, Brandon Royval proved himself against Tatsuro Taira when they collided in the octagon. Royval successfully claimed victory by decision; however, the sting of his defeat to Alexandre Pantoja last year is still fresh. In his first title defense, Pantoja managed to avert the danger posed by the American.

‘Raw Dawg’ has now joined forces with Dana White and company to welcome the Rizin legend Kai Asakura. During the post-fight conference, he shared his thoughts on the Japanese sensation’s title shot. Despite his jealousy, Royval offered an honest take, stating, “I’ve been watching Kai Asakura for a while; I think he’s sick. I think there are a lot of cool things about him, and he’s yet to make his mark in the flyweight division. So I’ll be there and ready just in case he doesn’t. That being said, I’ll give the man his roses; I think he brings a lot of excitement to the division.”

He further predicted the outcome of the upcoming Pantoja vs. Asakura fight at UFC 310, emphasizing ‘The Cannibal’s’ wrestling skills and giving him the nod. He explained, “But I think if Pantoja grapples him at all, it’s gonna be over.” What’s your take on Kai Asakura’s remarks? Do you also believe that to shake up the flyweight division, Dana White, and co. are bringing the former Rizin champion into the picture? Drop your opinion below.