Can Kai Asakura Save the Flyweight Division?
Photo from MyMMANews.com
On October 12 the UFC announced that recently signed phenom from Japan, Kai Asakura would be fighting current flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja for the belt on December 7th at UFC 310.
Kai Asakura is a fighter out of Japan and is a part team Tri-Force MMA. He has a professional record of 21-4-0. He has been fighting in the Rizin Fighting Federation since 2017 and is a 2 time Rizin bantamweight champion. Asakura has also defeated and knocked out number 9 ranked UFC fighter in the flyweight division Manuel Kape. His last win was over former Bellator champion Juan Archuleta. He vacated his belt on June 8th announcing he would sign with the UFC and on October 12th for the Flyweight belt.
Does Asakura have the intangibles to beat Pantoja?
If you have watched Asakura, especially his last couple fights, you would say yes. His striking is lethal and his understanding of distance and being able to time punches is elite. His Muay Thai is quick with Asakura often blitzing forward and throwing multiple shots. Pantoja had trouble with those bitzing shots with Erceg who has arguably worse striking than Asakura. Asakura should look to establish that heavy striking early. The biggest thing in this fight will be the ground game which Asakura does possess as well. He would often use the fear of his powerful striking to shoot for takedowns to transition into ground and pound. Weβll have to wait and see how he deals with ground control with a cage opposed to a ring in which Pantoja can impose his strong grappling and top game using the cage.
Photo from MMAMania.com
Pantoja has essentially cleared the division beating former champion Brendan Moreno and challengers like Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg which many fans seemed to be split on whether or not Erceg won the fight.
Implications for the Flyweight Division
This fight is bigger than most think and can save the 125 division if all the stars are aligned. For a long time the UFC has had trouble marketing the flyweight division even with champions like Demetrius Johnson who is arguably the best fighter of all time due the depth and talent that the division lacked for many years. If Asakura can win at UFC 310 this can open a lot of doors and opportunities for the UFC with them always hinting at the idea of having a card in Japan where Asakura could headline. Asakura has a large following with over 3 million followers just in his YouTube page and would sell out arenas during his Rizin days. There is also another Japanese flyweight Tatsuro Taira who is 16-1-0 that could be a potential matchup for Asakura if he does win.
The scary alternative to this coin is the elimination of the flyweight division especially if Pantoja wins. With the lack of talent and competition in the flyweight division outside the top 5, it is hard for them to keep the 125 division alive especially with the fact that most companies donβt have a 125 pound division even Rizin where Asakura came from did not have a 125 division. There are no definite claims right now that the division will shut down but this would be one of many reasons due to the closure.
Whatever may happen it will most definitely be a fight to look out for with big implications for the UFC moving forward.
