Kai Asakura on first UFC win: 'This was always my dream'

Kai Asakura says his first UFC victory fulfilled a lifelong ambition. The Japanese fighter secured the win at bantamweight and spoke afterwards about what the result meant to him.

“This was always my dream.”

— Kai Asakura, via Sherdog

What Kai Asakura said

Asakura joined the UFC after a long career in Japanese MMA. The bantamweight division is one of the promotion's deepest, and a debut win puts him in the mix for future matchmaking. Asakura's arrival was watched closely by fans familiar with his work outside the UFC.

What it moves

Asakura will likely remain at bantamweight as he builds a UFC record. The division has several ranked fighters available for his next assignment. A second win would move him closer to the top fifteen and bigger opportunities.

Source: sherdog.com. Full Kai Asakura fight history and recent news at boxingnews.com.