A matchup pitting a former
Rizin Fighting Federation champion from Japan against a Chinese
135-pounder is confirmed for the
Ultimate Fighting Championship’s upcoming visit to
Shanghai.
Kai Asakura seeks back-to-back UFC wins against Qileng Aori in
Shanghai
After a stellar run in Rizin, Kai Asakura
suffered back-to-back defeats at flyweight upon joining the UFC. He
then moved up to bantamweight and picked up his first win in the
promotion. Asakura will now look to compile a win streak when he
takes on Qileng Aori
at
UFC Shanghai on Aug. 29.
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Aori enters the bout with a 4-5-1 UFC record. He has struggled for
consistency, with just two wins in his last six outings. The
33-year-old is coming off a TKO defeat to Cody Haddon
in May.
Meanwhile, Asakura will look to build momentum after recording his
maiden UFC win in May. He knocked out Cameron
Smotherman at
UFC Macau, marking his 17th finish in 22 career wins. Flyweight
is firmly in the rear-view mirror for the Japanese star after he
was submitted by former champion Alexandre
Pantoja and Tim Elliott
at 125 pounds.
This isn’t the only bantamweight bout confirmed for UFC Shanghai,
as the Fight Night headliner features Umar
Nurmagomedov against Yadong
Song. Other Chinese fighters confirmed for the card include
former title challenger Xiaonan Yan,
veteran flyweight Su Mudaerji
and UFC newcomer Ce Liu.
Kai Asakura
has his next opponent 👀He faces off against Aoriqileng at
[ LIVE on @ParamountPlus
#UFCShanghai on August 29th! Who wins this matchup?
] pic.twitter.com/g0IH69XInH— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount)
July 14, 2026