Asakura vs Motoya

Who won Asakura vs Motoya?

Kai Asakura beat Yuki Motoya by knockout in the 3rd round during the main event of RIZIN 42, on Saturday 6th May 2023 at Tokyo Ariake Arena in Tokyo.

The fight was scheduled to take place over 3 rounds in the Asakura vs Motoya division, which meant the weight limit was pounds (0 stone or 0 KG).

Asakura vs Motoya stats

Kai Asakura stepped into the octagon with a record of 19 wins, 4 losses and 0 draws, 11 of those wins coming by the way of knock out and 3 by submission.

Yuki Motoya made his way to the cage with a record of 33 wins, 9 losses and 0 draws, 7 of those wins coming by knock out and 12 by submission.

This was Kai Asakura's 16th fight in Rizin, having made his debut for the promotion in 2017.

Kai Asakura's Rizin record stood at 13-3-0, while Yuki Motoya's came in at 10-6-0.

The stats suggested Asakura had a massive power advantage over Motoya, boasting a 58% knock out percentage over Motoya's 21%.

If the fight went to the ground, their records suggested Motoya had an advantage over Asakura, with a 36% submission rate over Asakura's 16%.

Kai Asakura was the younger man by 4 years, at 31 years old.

Asakura had a height advantage of 1 inch over Motoya.

Asakura was the less experienced professional fighter, having had 19 fewer fights, and made his debut in 2012, 2 years and 6 months later than Motoya, whose first professional fight was in 2010. He had fought 47 less professional rounds, 47 to Motoya's 94.

Asakura vs Motoya form

Asakura had beaten 3 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 2 of them, going to the judges once.

In his last fight leading up to this contest, he had lost to Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 310 on 7th December 2024 by submission in the 2nd round in their UFC Flyweight championship fight at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, United States.

Previous to that, he had won against Juan Archuleta at RIZIN 45 on 31st December 2023 by knockout in the 2nd round in their Rizin Bantamweight championship fight at Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan.

Going into that contest, he had beaten Yuki Motoya at RIZIN 42 on 6th May 2023 by knockout in the 3rd round at Tokyo Ariake Arena, Tokyo.

Before that, he had defeated Kenta Takizawa at RIZIN 33 on 31st December 2021 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at Saitama Super Arena(さいたまスーパーアリーナ), Saitama.

He had been beaten by Hiromasa Ougikubo at RIZIN 33 on 30th December 2021 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at Saitama Super Arena(さいたまスーパーアリーナ), Saitama.

Motoya had won all 5 of his most recent fights, stopping 1opponent and going the distance 4 times.

In his last fight before this contest, he was victorious against Rogerio Bontorin at RIZIN 40 on 31st December 2022 by knockout in the 2nd round at Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan.

Previous to that, he had won against Kazuma Kuramoto at RIZIN LANDMARK Vol.4 on 6th November 2022 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at Dolphins Arena, Nagoya.

Going into that contest, he had beaten Shinobu Ota at RIZIN 37 on 31st July 2022 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at Saitama Super Arena, Saitama.

Before that, he had defeated Alan Yoshihiro Yamaniha at RIZIN 35 on 17th April 2022 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at Musashino Forest Sport Plaza, Chofu.

He was victorious against Yuto Hokamura at RIZIN 33 on 31st December 2021 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at Saitama Super Arena(さいたまスーパーアリーナ), Saitama.

Activity check

In terms of activity leading into the fight, Yuki Motoya had been fighting more than Kai Asakura.

Going to this contest, Kai Asakura had last fought 14 days ago, while Yuki Motoya's last outing had been 1 year, 11 months and 20 days ago.

Asakura's last 5 fights had come over a period of 2 years, 11 months and 21 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 7 months and 5 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 13 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2.6 rounds on average.

Motoya's last 5 fights had come over a period of 2 years, 11 months and 20 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 7 months and 5 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 14 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2.8 rounds on average.

What were the odds on Asakura vs Motoya?

Kai Asakura was a 4/9 (-230) favourite going into the contest, while Yuki Motoya made his way into the ring at 13/8 (+170) with oddsmakers.