Chicago — After making his promotional debut in a title fight against flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja late last year, Kai Asakura (21-5) makes the walk to the octagon for the second time at UFC 319 this Saturday.
That first UFC outing didn’t go his way. Still, Asakura’s arrival to the promotion came with considerable fanfare as a reigning RIZIN champion; the Japanese star had hoped to return for the chance to bounce back sooner, rather than eight months on.
“I wanted to return sooner, but I used this time to improve and deal with my weakness, and I’m more ready, and I’m here,” he said on Wednesday, speaking via translator with media outlets including Cageside Press.
When it comes to his debut, and how things might differ this time around, Asakura admitted that “last match was my first time, so I was not really getting used to how UFC style works. But I’ve experienced it now, I’m all ready, and I’m here to return.”
One of those style differences was the difference between the ring and the cage, where the walls come into play, Asakura noted.
Asakura has done his scouting of Tim Elliott, his UFC 319 opponent, and is ready for the former title challenger and TUF vet. When one journalist mentioned Elliott’s tendency to keep his hands low, Asakura responded saying “if he does it to me, he’d better be careful. I’m just going to give him a KO, and knock him down.”
Watch the full UFC 319 media day appearance by flyweight Kai Asakura above. The card takes place this Saturday, August 16, 2025 at the United Center in Chicago, IL.
