Kai Asakura, UFC 310 pre-fight press convention Credit score: Youtube/UFC
Say what you’ll about President Elect Donald Trump, however the man is aware of easy methods to embed a catchphrase within the public consciousness.
Simply weeks after Trump secured his second presidency, incoming UFC flyweight Kai Asakura was fast to borrow considered one of Trump’s finest recognized slogans. No, not “you’re fired!” however quite “make America great again.” Or, in Asakura’s case, quite than America, he plans to make the UFC flyweight division nice once more.
Asakura stated as a lot throughout Thursday’s UFC 310 pre-fight press convention.
“Listen. First of all, I’m here to make the UFC flyweight division great again,” Asakura proclaimed, the Japanese fighter talking on to struggle followers and media in attendance in English. “First, I want to say thank you to everybody at the UFC, UFC audience, Japanese people, and my team. Everyone gave me great opportunities. Thank you so much.”
If it was unclear simply why Asakura thinks the flyweight division must be nice once more – for a lot of, it’s one of many hottest divisions the UFC has to supply, and nearly definitely vastly improved from 5 – 6 years in the past – the previous RIZIN champ clarified issues moments later.
Requested about champ Alexandre Pantoja, who Asakura will try and dethrone this Saturday, he admitted that “he’s a great, he’s a great. But in my opinion, his fighting style is not good. Champion has to do a more exciting fight. And you should do more promotion.”
Promotion appears to be one thing Kai Asakura is prepared to do. He’s been taking advantage of a right away title shot in his first struggle with the UFC, a transfer practically unprecedented within the trendy period. You must return to the acquisition of Strikeforce, and Gilbert Melendez getting then-UFC light-weight champ Benson Henderson proper out of the gate, to discover a related state of affairs.
Even then, the UFC owned Strikeforce. Asakura joins the corporate from RIZIN Preventing Federation, which continues to be very a lot in enterprise.
Regardless, Asakura had extra to say moments later. “I promise everyone, I will beat him. By knockout.” He did his finest at selling once more moments later, requested what U.S. followers may anticipate from the Japanese import. “I will put on a show. One hundred percent.”
Kai Asakura faces Alexandre Pantoja for flyweight gold in the principle occasion of UFC 310 on the T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas, NV on Saturday, December 7, 2024.
