Kai Asakura is fighting for the first time at bantamweight in the UFC and is cutting less weight than usual, which leaves him feeling better. He entered the UFC in 2024 and was quickly placed into a flyweight title fight against Alexandre Pantoja, losing by submission. He later lost again to Tim Elliott at UFC 319. After those experiences, he decided bantamweight felt more natural because the flyweight cut proved more severe than expected. Despite a two-fight skid, he remains confident. He views Cameron Smotherman as an excellent opponent but believes his career against elite fighters has prepared him, and he says he is ready for the matchup at UFC Macau.
"“This is my first time fighting at bantamweight in the UFC and I'm not cutting as much weight as usual,” Asakura told reporters through a translator on Wednesday. “So I'm feeling a lot better than usual.”"
"“As I thought my weight wasn't that far off from flyweight, but after fighting at flyweight twice and realizing how severe the weight cut was for me, it just felt more natural to go to bantamweight.”"
"“After I was offered the opportunity to fight for the UFC I was in the rare position of being able to have a title match at flyweight very quickly. I wanted to take advantage of that opportunity,” he said."
"“I think Cameron's an excellent fighter, but in my career I have fought many excellent fighters,” said Asakura. “And some of them have been much better than Cameron so I am ready for this fight. I'm prepared.”"
Read at Cageside Press
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