Former RIZIN commentator Joe Ferraro weighed in on Kai Asakura’s immense popularity in Japan. Asakura returns to the octagon at UFC 319, which is scheduled to take place on Aug. 16.
He will face Tim Elliott in the opening bout of the pay-per-view main card, providing him a chance to redeem himself. UFC 319 marks Asakura’s second bout in the octagon after his unsuccessful flyweight title attempt at UFC 310.
Alexandre Pantoja submitted Asakura with a rear-naked choke in the 2nd round, successfully defending his title for the third consecutive time.
Initially, many were surprised by the former RIZIN champion’s immediate title shot upon joining the UFC. However, his popularity during his time with RIZIN made it a logical decision for the UFC to capitalize on.
During an appearance on The Game Plan, Ferraro discussed Asakura’s remarkable fame in his native Japan. To help illustrate the level of popularity, he compared him to Conor McGregor.
“Kai [and his brother] Mikuru, they’re rock stars in Japan. Think Conor McGregor. He’s a global phenomenon,” Ferraro said. “He’s transcended the sport, he’s bigger, he’s got a massive YouTube following…Him and his brother can’t go anywhere.”
Ferraro also drew a parallel between the former RIZIN champion and UFC legends Nick and Nate Diaz. He highlighted Asakura’s rapid rise and street-fight mentality, which made them successful in Japan.
“I once described them as the Japanese Diaz brothers,” Ferraro recalled. “They took this savage skillset of being street fighters and learned how to fight professionally with technique, stamina, patience, timing, and ascended up the Japanese rankings very quickly.”
Kai Asakura Achieved Success in RIZIN
Asakura’s was successful in RIZIN, where he became the most popular fighter on the roster. He joined the promotion in 2017 with a solid 9-1 professional record and departed as a champion in 2024.
The Japanese star built a strong reputation by showcasing his incredible knockout power. He ascended the rankings and became a two-time RIZIN bantamweight champion.
His first title win came in 2020, after defeating Hiromasa Ougikubo by 1st round knockout to capture the vacant title. However, his title came to an end that same year. He lost to Kyoji Horiguchi by knockout at the promotion’s annual New Year’s Eve event.
After going 4-1 in his next five bouts, he earned another title opportunity, this time against Juan Archuleta. He seized the opportunity, securing a 2nd round TKO victory to regain the bantamweight championship.
The victory marked the end of his tenure with RIZIN. During the RIZIN 47 broadcast, Asakura vacated the title and announced his signing with the UFC.
How Many Subscribers Does Asakura Have on YouTube?
Asakura has also built a massive following on YouTube. channel boasts 1.39 subscribers, a number that rivals or even surpasses some of the UFC’s biggest stars.
The former RIZIN champion’s YouTube success is even more remarkable considering his relatively small video library. Some of his latest videos have even surpassed a million views. His growing YouTube presence further highlights his popularity and impact in both MMA and entertainment.
With only 684 videos, his subscriber count is impressive when compared to other fighters. Israel Adesanya has 363 videos, while Sean O’Malley and Demetrious Johnson have 1.4k and 1.1k videos respectively.
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