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Mikuru Asakura

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Mikuru Asakura
Born (1992-07-15) July 15, 1992 (age 32)
Toyohashi, Aichi, Japan
Native name朝倉 未来
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight145 lb (66 kg; 10 st 5 lb)
DivisionFeatherweight
Reach70 in (178 cm)
StanceSouthpaw
Fighting out ofTokyo, Japan
TeamJAPAN TOP TEAM[1]
RankPurple belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Years active2012–2024
Kickboxing record
Total1
Losses1
By knockout1
Mixed martial arts record
Total23
Wins17
By knockout8
By submission1
By decision8
Losses5
By knockout1
By submission2
By decision2
No contests1
Amateur record
Total10
Wins9
By knockout5
By submission2
By decision2
Losses1
By submission1
Other information
Notable relativesKai Asakura (brother)
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog
YouTube information
Channel
Years activeMay 13, 2018–present
Genreentertainment
Subscribers3.42 million[2]
Total views2.02 billion[2]
100,000 subscribers2019
1,000,000 subscribers2020
Last updated: 4 September 2024

Mikuru Asakura (朝倉 未来, Asakura Mikuru, born 15 July 1992) is a Japanese retired mixed martial artist who competed in the featherweight division of Rizin Fighting Federation. He also competed for Road Fighting Championship, Fighting Network Rings and DEEP.

He is a former Fighting Network Rings 143-pound and 154-pound champion. Along with his mixed martial arts career, he is also a popular YouTuber in Japan.[3]

He is the older brother of Kai Asakura.[4]

Early life

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Mikuru started his interest in martial arts training karate in elementary school, however he also played volleyball for three years.[5]

Mikuru, along with his brother Kai Asakura, were involved in numerous street fights in their childhood, even fighting each other. As they got older, a therapist suggested to their mother to enroll them into boxing classes.[6]

While studying at the Aichi Prefectural Toyohashi Technical High School, the Asakura brothers went to Zen Dokai Toyohashi Dojo, where they were first introduced to mixed martial arts.[7][8]

Mixed martial arts career

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Amateur career

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Mikuru Asakura, as well as his brother Kai, fought their first amateur MMA fights under the Outsider brand of Fighting Network Rings. The Outsider brand was geared towards problematic youth, with focus on rehabilitating delinquents, criminals and gang members with MMA.[9] He would later fight professionally with Outsider.

After winning his first amateur bout, against Kohei Shimada, with a first round rear-naked choke, Asakura put together a 6-1 record with 5 stoppages, only losing to Takehiro Higuchi.

Early career

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Mikuru Asakura began his professional career in 2012 under the DEEP promotion, where he faced a fellow debutante Kavinesh Raviendaran . Asakura won the bout via TKO within 53 seconds.[10] After a three-year hiatus, Mikuru returned to fight under the Outsider promotion, a spin off of the Fighting Network Rings promotion. He faced Keinosuke Yoshinaga, whom he defeated TKO in the first round to claim the Outsider 154 lbs Championship in just his 2nd professional bout at The Outsider 26.[11] Four months later in his very next bout at The Outsider 38, Asakura beat Takehiro Higuchi (the sole man to defeat him to that point) to claim the 143 lbs Championship.[12] Asakura would defend his 143-lb title 9 months later at The Outsider 42 against Hiroyuki Furuta before competing in ROAD FC. Under the banner off Road Fighting Championship at Road FC 37, Asakura fought Doo Seok Oh, who he beat by TKO in the first round.[13]

Asakura would suffer his first career loss in a surprising unanimous decision to journeyman Kil Woo Lee during Road FC 43.[14] However, he rebounded with a unanimous decision victory over Kosuke Terashima six months later at DEEP 83 Impact.[15]

Rizin Fighting Federation

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Mikuru Asakura made his Rizin debut on 12 August 2018, during Rizin 12. Asakura faced former Shooto featherweight champion and Japanese MMA legend, Hatsu Hioki.[16] Mikuru won the fight in at 3:45 of the first round after knocking Hioki down with a head kick and following up with punches.[17]

Asakura next faced Karshyga Dautbek at Rizin 13.[18] Asakura employed an effective use of grappling and striking to outpoint the Kazakh fighter, and won a unanimous decision.[19]

During Rizin: Heisei's Last Yarennoka!, Mikuru Asakura fought another former Shooto Featherweight Champion - this time being Takeshi Inoue. Asakura finished the bout with a well-timed knee that floored the former champion.[20]

Mikuru Asakura's next fight was to be at Rizin 15 against Luiz Gustavo. He defeated Gustavo via unanimous decision.[21]

At his next bout at Rizin 17 against fellow Rizin standout, Yusuke Yachi - in his first main event for RIZIN.[22] Uniquely, this bout was prefaced with intensity and heated comments direct at one another, with both fighters saying that they couldn't stand one another. Yachi said that Asakura was afraid of him, while Mikuru told Yachi that he was not intelligent and that his YouTube content was 'crap'.[23] Asakura scored a knockdown with seconds left in the bout en route to a unanimous decision victory.[24]

After compiling a five-fight winning streak, Asakura was given a chance to represent Rizin against one of Bellator's fighters in the upcoming Rizin 20 event.[25] In a match against former TUF Brazil Team Wanderlei contestant, John Macapa, Asakura won a unanimous decision to hand the veteran just his 5th loss of his 30-fight career.[26]

At Rizin 21, Asakura faced TUF LA 2 Team Gastelum contestant, Daniel Salas as the main event.[27] At 2:34 of the second round, Asakura landed a head kick and followed up with punches to end the contest.[28]

Title shot

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After going 7–0 in the promotion and increasing in popularity, Rizin set up a title match for the inaugural Featherweight title between Asakura and reigning Shooto Featherweight Champion, Yutaka Saito at Rizin 25 on November 21, 2020.[29] Asakura lost via unanimous decision in his 3rd main event bout.[30]

Despite having suffered his first loss, Asakura quickly turned around and fought at the annual NYE show at Rizin 26.[31] He faced Satoshi Yamasu, and won by TKO in the first round, after landing his patented head kick, and following up with punches.[32]

Mikuru faced Kleber Koike Erbst at Rizin 28.[33] He lost the bout after being choked unconscious via triangle choke.[34]

Winning streak and return to title contention

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Mikuru faced Kyohei Hagiwara on October 10, 2021 at Rizin Landmark Vol.1.[35] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[36]

Asakura rematched Yutaka Saito at Rizin 33 - Saitama on December 31, 2021.[37] He won the bout via unanimous decision.[38]

Mikuru faced the former Rizin FF Featherweight champion Juntaro Ushiku at Rizin Landmark 5 on April 29, 2023.[39] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[40]

Second title shot

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Asakura next faced Vugar Karamov for the vacant Rizin Featherweight Championship at Bellator MMA x Rizin 2 on July 30, 2023.[41] He lost the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the first round.[42]

Boxing

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Asakura vs Mayweather

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On June 13, 2022, Asakura announced he would be competing in a boxing exhibition bout against former world champion and boxing hall of famer, Floyd Mayweather. The fight would be at the Rizin event scheduled on September 25, 2022 at the Saitama Super Arena.[43] Asakura lost the bout by 2nd round TKO.[44]

Kickboxing career

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Asakura made his professional kickboxing debut against YA-MAN at the inaugural "Fight Club" event. The fight was contested in open-finger gloves, under kickboxing rules and at the lightweight (-70 kg) limit.[45] He lost the fight by a first-round knockout.[46]

In other media

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Asakura makes a cameo appearance as himself in the game Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth[47] He provides the voice in the Japanese language, while John Choi provides his English language voice.[48]

Championships and achievements

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Mixed martial arts

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Mixed martial arts record

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Professional record breakdown
23 matches 17 wins 5 losses
By knockout 8 1
By submission 1 2
By decision 8 2
No contests 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 17–5 (1) Ren Hiramoto KO (punches) Super Rizin 3 July 28, 2024 1 2:18 Saitama, Japan For the symbolic Rizin "Last Man Standing" title.
Loss 17–4 (1) Vugar Keramov Submission (rear-naked choke) Super Rizin 2 July 30, 2023 1 2:41 Saitama, Japan For the vacant Rizin Featherweight Championship.
Win 17–3 (1) Juntaro Ushiku Decision (unanimous) Rizin Landmark 5 April 29, 2023 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 16–3 (1) Yutaka Saito Decision (unanimous) Rizin 33 December 31, 2021 3 5:00 Saitama, Japan
Win 15–3 (1) Kyohei Hagiwara Decision (unanimous) Rizin Landmark Vol.1 October 2, 2021 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan Catchweight (150 lb) bout.
Loss 14–3 (1) Kleber Koike Erbst Technical Submission (triangle choke) Rizin 28 June 13, 2021 2 1:49 Tokyo, Japan
Win 14–2 (1) Satoshi Yamasu KO (head kick and punch) Rizin 26 December 31, 2020 1 4:20 Saitama, Japan Catchweight (150 lb) bout.
Loss 13–2 (1) Yutaka Saito Decision (unanimous) Rizin 25 November 21, 2020 3 5:00 Osaka, Japan For the inaugural Rizin Featherweight Championship.
Win 13–1 (1) Daniel Salas KO (head kick and punches) Rizin 21 February 22, 2020 2 2:34 Hamamatsu, Japan Catchweight (150 lb) bout.
Win 12–1 (1) John Macapá Decision (unanimous) Rizin 20 December 31, 2019 3 5:00 Saitama, Japan
Win 11–1 (1) Yusuke Yachi Decision (unanimous) Rizin 17 July 29, 2019 3 5:00 Tokyo, Japan Lightweight bout.
Win 10–1 (1) Luiz Gustavo Decision (unanimous) Rizin 15 April 21, 2019 3 5:00 Yokohama, Japan Catchweight (150 lb) bout.
Win 9–1 (1) Takeshi Inoue TKO (flying knee and punches) Rizin: Heisei's Last Yarennoka! December 31, 2018 2 2:39 Tokyo, Japan Catchweight (150 lb) bout.
Win 8–1 (1) Karshyga Dautbek Decision (unanimous) Rizin 13 September 30, 2018 3 5:00 Saitama, Japan
Win 7–1 (1) Hatsu Hioki TKO (head kick and punches) Rizin 12 August 12, 2018 1 3:45 Nagoya, Japan
Win 6–1 (1) Kosuke Terashima Decision (unanimous) DEEP 83 Impact April 28, 2018 2 5:00 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 5–1 (1) Kil Woo Lee Decision (unanimous) Road FC 43 October 28, 2017 3 5:00 Seoul, South Korea
Win 5–0 (1) Doo Seok Oh TKO (punches) Road FC 37 March 11, 2017 1 4:06 Seoul, South Korea
Win 4–0 (1) Hiroyuki Furuta TKO (punches) The Outsider 42 September 4, 2016 1 1:32 Toyokawa, Japan Defended the RINGS 65 kg Championship. Return to Featherweight.
NC 3–0 (1) Ryo Asami NC (result overturned) The Outsider 39 March 27, 2016 2 2:12 Tokyo, Japan Defended the RINGS 70 kg Championship. Lightweight bout.
Win 3–0 Takehiro Higuchi Submission (rear-naked choke) The Outsider 38 December 13, 2015 1 3:17 Tokyo, Japan Won the RINGS 65 kg Championship. Featherweight debut.
Win 2–0 Keinosuke Yoshinaga KO (punch) The Outsider 36 July 19, 2015 1 2:53 Tokyo, Japan Won the RINGS 70 kg Championship.
Win 1–0 Morikazu Itagaki KO (punch) DEEP Cage Impact 2012 September 16, 2012 1 0:53 Hamamatsu, Japan Lightweight debut.
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 1–0 Hikaru Saito TKO (punches) E.P.W. Heroes November 24, 2019 1 0:25 Matsuyama, Japan

Amateur mixed martial arts record

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Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 7–1 Hiroki Takahashi KO (punch) The Outsider 34 March 21, 2015 1 0:23 Tokyo, Japan
Win 6–1 Kazunari Kimura TKO (punches) The Outsider 33 December 7, 2014 1 2:27 Yokohama, Japan
Win 5–1 Rikuto Shirakawa Decision (unanimous) The Outsider 30 April 6, 2014 2 3:00 Tokyo, Japan
Win 4–1 Jamal Morgan TKO (punches) The Outsider 29 February 16, 2014 1 1:57 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 3–1 Takehiro Higuchi Submission (ankle lock) The Outsider 28 December 7, 2013 1 1:06 Kadoma, Japan
Win 3–0 Musashi TKO (punches) The Outsider 26 June 9, 2013 2 0:21 Yokohama, Japan
Win 2–0 Ryuma Anno TKO (punches) The Outsider 25 April 21, 2013 1 2:35 Tokyo, Japan
Win 1–0 Kohei Shimada Submission (rear-naked choke) The Outsider 24 February 10, 2013 1 1:56 Tokyo, Japan

Exhibition boxing record

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1 fight 0 wins 1 loss
By knockout 0 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
1 Loss 0–1 Floyd Mayweather Jr. TKO 2 (3), 2:59 Sep 25, 2022 Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan

Kickboxing record

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Kickboxing record
0 wins, 1 loss, 0 Draw, 0 No Contest
Date Result Opponent Event Location Method Round Time
2023-11-19 Loss Japan YA-MAN Fight Club Tokyo, Japan KO (Punches) 1 1:17

Bibliography

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  • 『強者の流儀』Kyōsha no ryūgi（KADOKAWA、2020)
  • 『路上の伝説』Rojō no densetsu（KADOKAWA、2020)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Tri-Force Jiu-Jitsu Academy". Tapology. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b "About 朝倉未来 Mikuru Asakura". YouTube.
  3. ^ "朝倉未来 Mikuru Asakura". YouTube. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  4. ^ Blaine Henry (December 23, 2020). "Kyoji Horiguchi: The Inevitable Return". Fight-Library.com.
  5. ^ 新極真会 山本健策支部長の道場に入門後、極真空手と交流のある北斗会館で稽古を積む。「Kaminoge 93」P.53
  6. ^ "Are Rizin's brutal brothers its next native stars?". Bloody Elbow. 29 December 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  7. ^ "Rizin ファイター朝倉海選手を育てた先生 宮野勝吉【禅道会豊橋支部長】インタビュー". Zen Dokai. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  8. ^ Blaine Henry (December 22, 2020). "Kai Asakura: Seizing Opportunity". Fight-Library.com.
  9. ^ Shupe, Cody (27 August 2019). "Rizin's Asakura Bros. emerging as Japan's answer to UFC's Diaz Bros". World Combat Report. Retrieved 21 April 2020.[permanent dead link‍]
  10. ^ "Kai Asakura vs. Tomoya Suzuki". Tapology. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Keinosuke Yoshinaga vs. Mikuru Asakura". Tapology. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Takehiro Higuchi vs. Mikuru Asakura II". Tapology. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Doo Seok Oh vs. Mikuru Asakura". Tapology. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  14. ^ "Kil Woo Lee vs. Mikuru Asakura". Tapology. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  15. ^ "Kosuke Terashima vs. Mikuru Asakura". Tapology. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  16. ^ Mike Skytte (June 19, 2018). "Yusuke Yachi, Hatsu Hioki, and King Reina among 7 new additions to RIZIN 12 in August". mmasucka.com.
  17. ^ "RIZIN 12 Results and Recap". cagesidepress.com. August 11, 2018.
  18. ^ Mike Skytte (August 23, 2018). "Mikuru Asakura to reportedly fight Karshyga Dautbek at RIZIN 13". mmasucka.com.
  19. ^ "Rizin 13 Results: Kyoji Horiguchi Loses Kickboxing Debut; 'Cro Cop' Wins 9th Straight". Sherdog. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  20. ^ Zach Aittama (December 29, 2018). "Rizin Heisei's Last Yarennoka! Results". combatpress.com.
  21. ^ "Mikuru Asakura vs. Luiz Gustavo". Tapology. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  22. ^ Jay Anderson (June 5, 2019). "Initial RIZIN 17 Bouts Announced As Promotion Teases Lightweight Grand Prix". cagesidepress.com.
  23. ^ "【番組】Rizin Confessions #40". Youtube. Retrieved 26 May 2021.[permanent dead link‍]
  24. ^ "Yusuke Yachi vs. Mikuru Asakura". Tapology. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  25. ^ David Tees (November 14, 2019). "Two Rizin vs. Bellator MMA Bouts Added To Rizin 20". fightful.com.
  26. ^ "Mikuru Asakura vs. John Teixeira". Tapology. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  27. ^ Mike Skytte (January 31, 2020). "Mikuru Asakura, Roque Martinez, and Marcos de Souza added to RIZIN 21". thebodylockmma.com.
  28. ^ "Mikuru Asakura vs. Daniel Salas". Tapology. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  29. ^ Guilherme Cruz (October 25, 2020). "RIZIN set to crown inaugural featherweight champion on Nov. 21". mmafighting.com.
  30. ^ "Mikuru Asakura vs. Yutaka Saito". Tapology. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  31. ^ Jay Pettry (December 10, 2020). "Rizin Adds 4 Fights to Dec. 31 Rizin 26 Card, Places Both Asakura Brothers on Event". Sherdog.
  32. ^ "Mikuru Asakura vs. Satoshi Yamasu". Tapology. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  33. ^ "Mikuru Asakura faces Kleber Koike Erbst at Rizin 28". asianmma.com. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  34. ^ Cruz, Guilherme (2021-06-13). "Rizin 28 results, videos: Roberto Satoshi wins lightweight belt with 72-second submission". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  35. ^ "Rizin 朝倉未来、10・２無観客配信マッチで萩原京平と対戦". nikkansports.com. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  36. ^ "朝倉未来、「Rizin Landmark」旗揚げ戦で萩原京平に貫禄勝利 エグい攻撃に戦慄（Encount）". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2021-10-03. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
  37. ^ "斎藤裕、朝倉未来を返り討ちだ 10月右目上負傷も「問題ない」". nikkansports.com. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  38. ^ "【ＲＩＺＩＮ】斎藤裕、朝倉未来に判定負け 右カウンター浴び劣勢に - 格闘技 : 日刊スポーツ". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  39. ^ "平本蓮が65.75kgで計量クリア「ばっちり。2～3時間で落ちた」、斎藤裕「めちゃくちゃきつそうな感じはした」【RIZIN】". tokyoheadline.com. 28 April 2023. Retrieved 30 April 2023.
  40. ^ "【RIZIN】朝倉未来が引き込む牛久に判定勝ち「男はやるときやりゃあいいでしょう」、斎藤が打撃も当ててテイクダウンし平本にスプリット判定勝ち、太田が倉本を1R KO、グスタボ..." ゴング格闘技 - GONKAKU. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  41. ^ Anderson, Jay (2023-05-27). "Kai Asakura vs. Juan Archuleta, Mikuru Asakura vs. Vugar Karamov Announced for Bellator X RIZIN 2". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  42. ^ "【超RIZIN】ケラモフが朝倉未来に一本勝ちでフェザー級王者に！ アーチュレッタがバンタム級王者に、伊澤星花が一本勝ち防衛、緊急参戦の鈴木千裕がパトリシオをKO、ムサエフがア..." ゴング格闘技 - GONKAKU. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
  43. ^ Andrew Karlov (August 3, 2022). "Mayweather-Asakura September 25 in Japan". ringside24.com.
  44. ^ "Mayweather cops heavy hits, then turns up the heat in huge KO of Japanese street fighter". Fox Sports. 25 September 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  45. ^ "【FIGHT CLUB】YA-MANvs.朝倉未来が-70kg契約で正式決定、木村ケルベロスvs.白川陸斗、山口裕人vs.西谷大成と3vs.3マッチ". ゴング格闘技 - GONKAKU. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  46. ^ "朝倉未来、ＫＯ負け！ ＹＡ－ＭＡＮが強打で２度のダウン奪い勝利「平本バーカ」". スポーツ報知 (in Japanese). 19 November 2023. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  47. ^ 『龍が如く８』朝倉未来（アサクラ 役）インタビュー映像, retrieved 2024-01-26
  48. ^ Choi, John (Jan 25, 2024). "john "spuuky" choi on X". x.com.
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