Kai Asakura has finally delivered the performance UFC fans were eagerly anticipating.
In his bantamweight debut, following a challenging start to his UFC career, the former RIZIN star needed less than two minutes to defeat Cameron Smotherman on Saturday at UFC Macau.
Asakura entered the fight seeking his inaugural UFC victory after suffering consecutive submission losses to former flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 310 and veteran contender Tim Elliott at UFC 319. The move up to the 135-pound division appeared to be an immediate positive for him.
From the opening bell, the Japanese fighter displayed remarkable speed, power, and confidence. He initiated the bout with a series of impactful leg kicks, then transitioned to sharp boxing combinations that consistently pushed Smotherman onto the defensive.
This sustained pressure quickly began to yield results.
A clean right hand momentarily stunned the American fighter, leaving him struggling to find his balance. Recognizing an opportunity to finish, Kai Asakura pressed forward, cornering Smotherman against the fence before unleashing a powerful left hook that sent his opponent crashing to the canvas.
Only a few follow-up strikes were necessary before the referee intervened to stop the fight at the 1:50 mark of the first round.
With this victory, Kai Asakura improves his professional mixed martial arts record to 22 wins and 6 losses. This first-round stoppage marked his 17th career finish and could signify the commencement of a new and successful chapter in his UFC journey.