Kai Asakura

RIZIN 42 was a combat sports event that took place on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at the Tokyo Ariake Arena in Tokyo, Japan.

RIZIN 45 live from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The main event will be a bantamweight title showdown between Juan Archuleta and Kai Asakura. American athlete “The Spaniard” Archuleta picked up the RIZIN title earlier this year and is now looking to add his first title defense. Additionally, the 36-year-old athlete is a former Bellator MMA world champion. Japan’s Kai Asakura is a fan favorite. He and his brother are known for their exciting and tactical style of fighting. Throughout his career, the majority of his wins were captured by way of knockout or TKO. Asakura is coming off a of knockout by way of a knee to the body to earn his title shot.

After his devastatingly fast, samurai-style combat approach sets filmmakers against him, a legendary action star films his own movie—on turf claimed by feuding yakuza gangs, including Japan’s deadliest martial arts assassin.

RIZIN 26 live from the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. The bill is topped by a highly anticipated rematch between current Rizin bantamweight kingpin Kai Asakura and former titleholder Kyoji Horiguchi. The two first met in a non-title affair when Horiguchi held both the Rizin and Bellator gold. Asakura finished the former UFC flyweight in just over a minute. The rivals were set to fight again at the New Year’s Eve show last year, but a leg injury forced Horiguchi to the sidelines and set the table for a title bout between Asakura and Manel Kape. Kape left with the strap, but it eventually found its way back to Asakura. Now, Horiguchi hopes to not only avenge his prior loss, but regain the belt he was forced to vacate.