Ushiku vs Asakura

Who won Ushiku vs Asakura?

Mikuru Asakura beat Juntaro Ushiku by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest during the main event of RIZIN LANDMARK 5 in YOYOGI, on Saturday 29th April 2023 at Yoyogi National Stadium in Shibuya.

The scorecards were announced in favor of the winner Mikuru Asakura.

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

Ushiku vs Asakura stats

Juntaro Ushiku stepped into the octagon with a record of 20 wins, 7 losses and 0 draws, 6 of those wins coming by the way of knock out.

Mikuru Asakura made his way to the cage with a record of 16 wins, 3 losses and 0 draws, 8 of those wins coming by knock out and 1 by submission.

This was Juntaro Ushiku's 6th fight in Rizin, having made his debut for the promotion in 2021. Mikuru Asakura marked his 14th fight for them, having made his own debut for the promotion in 2018.

Juntaro Ushiku's Rizin record stood at 3-3-0, while Mikuru Asakura's came in at 11-3-0.

The stats suggested Asakura had an advantage in power over Ushiku, with a 50% knock out percentage over Ushiku's 30%.

If the fight went to the ground, their records suggested Asakura had a slight advantage over Ushiku, with a 6% submission rate over Ushiku's 0%.

Juntaro Ushiku was the younger man by 2 years, at 30 years old.

Asakura had a height advantage of 3 inches over Ushiku.

Ushiku was arguably the more experienced fighter, having had 8 more fights, and made his debut in 2013, 1 year and 3 months later than Asakura, whose first professional fight was in 2012. He had fought 32 more professional rounds, 77 to Asakura's 45.

Ushiku vs Asakura form

Asakura had beaten 3 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 1 of them, going the distance twice.

In his last fight leading up to this contest, he had won against Yutaka Saito 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, Japan.

Previous to that, he had beaten Kyohei Hagiwara at RIZIN LANDMARK Vol.1 on 2nd October 2021 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest.

Going into that contest, he had lost to Kleber Koike Erbst at RIZIN 28 on 13th June 2021 by submission in the 2nd round at Tokyo Dome(東京ドーム), Bunkyo, Japan.

Before that, he had defeated Satoshi Yamasu at RIZIN 26 on 31st December 2020 by knockout in the 1st round at Saitama Super Arena, Saitama.

He had been beaten by Yutaka Saito at RIZIN 25 on 21st November 2020 by unanimous decision in their championship fight at Osaka-Jo Hall, Osaka.

Activity check

Ushiku's last 3 fights had come over a period of 3 years, 7 months and 17 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 1 year, 2 months and 17 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 7 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2.3 rounds on average.

Asakura's last 5 fights had come over a period of 4 years, 6 months and 20 days, meaning he had been fighting on average every 10 months and 28 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 12 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 2.4 rounds on average.

What were the odds on Ushiku vs Asakura?

Juntaro Ushiku was a 7/2 (+350) underdog going into the contest, while Mikuru Asakura made his way into the ring at 1/6 (-590) with oddsmakers.