UFC 319 adds ex-RIZIN champ to Dricus Du Plessis vs Khamzat Chimaev card

Kai Asakura vs. Tim Elliott confirmed for UFC 319

Kai Asakura will return at UFC 319 on August 16, where he will face UFC veteran Tim Elliott, the No. 11-ranked flyweight contender.

Team Iridium, Elliott's management agency, officially confirmed the news on May 26. It was also first reported by X user KevinK on May 19.

Asakura last competed in the main event of UFC 310 in 2024, where he made his debut with an immediate title shot against Alexandre Pantoja. 'The Cannibal' endured some punishment in the first round but found a submission in the second.

Asakura is a two-time RIZIN bantamweight champion and looks to become one of the few fighters to own belts in both promotions. The last fighter to do this was Jiri Prochazka.

As for Elliott, the American grappler-striker looks to extend his winning streak to two. He's only lost to the elite fighters in the UFC's flyweight division, including Demetrious Johnson, Deiveson Figueiredo, Brandon Royval, and Muhammad Mokaev, so he serves as a great test for Asakura.

Regarding the champion, Pantoja competes again at UFC 317, where he fights Kai Kara-France in what is technically a rematch from their days on The Ultimate Fighter. This marks another opportunity for Pantoja to notch multiple wins against a top-ten opponent.