Kai Asakura is one of Japan’s best-known MMA stars, and he remains a major name in the UFC flyweight division in 2026. His career is built on explosive striking, fast finishes, and a strong run in RIZIN before moving to the UFC.
Kai Asakura’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Kai Asakura |
| Nickname | N/A |
| Date of Birth | October 31, 1993 |
| Age | 32 years |
| Birthplace | Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan |
| Religion | N/A |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Height | 5’8″ (173 cm) |
| Weight Class | Flyweight |
| Reach | 69 in (175 cm) |
| Gym / Team | Japan Top Team |
| Professional Debut | 2013 |
| Current Ranking | N/A |
| MMA Record | 22-6 |
| Net Worth | $1 million to $3 million |
| Relationship Status | Currently single |
| Spouse / Partner | N/A |
| Children | N/a |
| Instagram Profile | @kai_asakura_ |
Kai Asakura keeps most of his private life off the public record, so only a few personal details are confirmed by public sources. His official UFC bio says he is currently single, while other family details are not publicly available.
Early Career
Asakura turned pro in 2013 after starting MMA training as a teenager. The UFC says he was inspired after a fight challenge from his brother, and his early work included building a reputation in Japan for aggressive striking and quick finishes.
Professional Career
Asakura became a star in RIZIN, where he won championships and beat several high-level opponents. He later moved to the UFC, where he challenged for the flyweight title against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 310 in December 2024 and continued competing in 2025 and 2026.
Kai Asakura’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Kai Asakura’s estimates net worth hits $1.5-3 million. This stacks from UFC/Rizin purses, PPV cuts like $700k from UFC 310, YouTube (1.3M subs, $15k-238k yearly), merch via En Mer brand, and sponsors. Factory job pre-fame grounded him before millions rolled in.
Fight Purses
| Fight/Event | Opponent | Purse (Guaranteed) | Total (w/ Bonuses/PPV) |
| UFC 310 (Dec 2024) | Alexandre Pantoja | $500k | $1.3M |
| UFC 319 (Aug 2025) | Tim Elliott | $200k-300k est | $400k-600k est |
| Rizin 45 (Dec 2023) | Juan Archuleta | $300k est | $500k+ est |
| Rizin 42 (May 2023) | Yuki Motoya | $200k est | $350k est |
| Rizin 33 (Dec 2021) | Hiromasa Ougikubo | $250k est | $400k est |
Career Earnings
| Year/Period | Earnings Source | Amount (Est) |
| Pre-UFC (2012-2023) | Rizin purses + bonuses | $2-3M total |
| 2024 (UFC debut) | UFC 310 purse + PPV | $1.3M |
| 2025 | UFC 319 + other | $500k-800k |
| YouTube (2019-2026) | Ads + views (600M+) | $500k-1M total |
| Career Total Est | All sources | $5-7M |
Endorsements
Kai Asakura pulls big endorsement cash from Japanese brands thanks to megastar status—TV guest spots, 1.3M YouTube subs, and 553k Instagram followers. His En Mer apparel line sells fight gear direct to fans.
Partnerships hit sports drinks, training supplements, and local Tokyo spots, adding $500k+ yearly beyond fights. UFC Venum deal nets extra promo bonuses like $32k at debut. No global giants like Nike yet, but Rizin fame opened doors pre-UFC.
Achievements
| Achievement | Details/Event | Year |
| Rizin Bantamweight Champion (1st) | Def. Hiromasa Ougikubo (DEC) | 2021 |
| Rizin Bantamweight Champion (2nd) | Def. Juan Archuleta (TKO R2) | 2023 |
| Outsider Bantamweight Champion | Amateur tourney win vs. Oi | 2014 |
| MMA Sucka Breakout Star | Non-UFC award | 2019 |
| MMA Sucka Upset of Year | KO over Kyoji Horiguchi | 2019 |
| eFight.jp Fighter of Month | August performance | 2019 |
| Rizin Bantamweight GP Runner-up | Lost final | 2021 |
Fight Record
| Date | Opponent | Result | Method/Method | Rd/Time | Event | Notes |
| Aug 2025 | Tim Elliott | Loss | Sub (Guillotine) | 2/4:39 | UFC 319 | UFC main card opener |
| Dec 2024 | Alexandre Pantoja | Loss | Sub | 2/2:05 | UFC 310 | Title challenge debut |
| Dec 2023 | Juan Archuleta | Win | TKO | 2/3:20 | Rizin 45 | Won Rizin title |
| May 2023 | Yuki Motoya | Win | TKO | 3/2:25 | Rizin 42 | |
| Dec 2021 | Hiromasa Ougikubo | Win | DEC | 3/5:00 | Rizin 33 | Won vacant Rizin title |
| Dec 2020 | Kyoji Horiguchi | Win | KO | 1/2:48 | Rizin 26 | Title defense fail prev |
| Aug 2019 | Kyoji Horiguchi | Win | KO | 1/1:08 | Rizin 18 | Upset of year |
| Oct 2019 | Ulka Sasaki | Win | TKO | 1/0:54 | Rizin 19 | UFC vet |
| Dec 2019 | Manel Kape | Loss | TKO | 2/0:38 | Rizin 20 | Title fight |
FAQs
1. Who is Kai Asakura?
Kai Asakura is a Japanese mixed martial artist competing in the UFC Flyweight division. He previously was a two-time Rizin Bantamweight Champion with a professional record of 21 wins and 6 losses.
2. What is Kai Asakura’s professional MMA record?
Kai Asakura holds a 21-6 record, with 13 knockouts, 3 submissions, and 5 decisions. He has faced top competition in Rizin and UFC.
3. When did Kai Asakura debut in the UFC?
Kai Asakura debuted in the UFC on December 7, 2024, challenging for the Flyweight title against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 310. He lost via rear-naked choke in round 2.
4. What are Kai Asakura’s major accomplishments in Rizin?
Asakura won the Rizin Bantamweight Championship twice, first in 2020 against Hiromasa Ougikubo and again in 2023 against Juan Archuleta. He was runner-up in the 2021 Bantamweight Grand Prix.
5. Does Kai Asakura have a famous brother in MMA?
Yes, Kai is the younger brother of Mikuru Asakura, a fellow Japanese MMA fighter. They trained together from a young age and fought in amateur bouts.
6. What is Kai Asakura’s fighting style and strengths?
Asakura fights orthodox with knockout power, known for striking including knees, soccer kicks, and punches. He has 13 KO/TKO wins, showcasing explosive finishes.
7. What was Kai Asakura’s most notable upset win?
In 2019 at Rizin 18, Asakura knocked out former champion Kyoji Horiguchi in the first round with punches and knees. It earned him 2019 Upset of the Year honors.
8. Why did Kai Asakura move to the UFC?
Asakura vacated his Rizin title in June 2024 to sign an exclusive UFC contract. He transitioned from Bantamweight to Flyweight for his promotional debut.
9. What are Kai Asakura’s recent UFC fights?
Asakura lost his UFC debut to Alexandre Pantoja by submission at UFC 310 on December 7, 2024. He then lost to Tim Elliott by guillotine choke at UFC 319 on August 16, 2025.
10. What is Kai Asakura’s background before pro MMA?
Asakura trained in karate, sumo, volleyball, and boxing as a child. He started MMA at his brother’s insistence in high school, compiling an 8-2 amateur record.