UFC Fight Night: Kai Asakura vs Cameron Smotherman Preview & Prediction
A bantamweight clash between two fighters both in desperate need of a win, former RIZIN champion Kai Asakura looks to finally find his place in the UFC against boxer Cameron Smotherman.
Kai Asakura vs Cameron Smotherman facts
What time are Kai Asakura and Cameron Smotherman expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night: Song vs Figueiredo? Galaxy Arena, Macau SAR, China
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Song vs Figueiredo? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 277
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Song vs Figueiredo on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Song vs Figueiredo? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night: Song vs Figueiredo main card
Song Yadong vs Deiveson Figueiredo (Bantamweight)
Zhang Mingyang vs Alonzo Menifield (Light Heavyweight)
Sergei Pavlovich vs Tallison Teixeira (Heavyweight)
Kai Asakura vs Cameron Smotherman (Bantamweight)
Alex Perez vs Su Mudaerji (Flyweight)
UFC Fight Night: Song vs Figueiredo prelims
Lee Yi-sak vs Luis Felipe Dias (Middleweight)
Ding Meng vs Jose Henrique Souza (Welterweight)
Aori Qileng vs Cody Haddon (Bantamweight)
Angela Hill vs Xiong Jingnan (Women’s Strawweight)
Loma Lookboonmee vs Jaqueline Amorim (Women’s Strawweight)
Zhu Kangjie vs Rodrigo Vera (Featherweight)
Rei Tsuruya vs Luis Gurule (Bantamweight)
Jake Matthews vs Carlston Harris (Welterweight)
Kai Asakura: Hyped up former RIZIN champ searching for his first UFC win
Kai Asakura (21-6) arrived in the UFC carrying an enormous amount of hype as a two-time RIZIN bantamweight champion with wins over Manel Kape and Kyoji Horiguchi, but the stardom hasn’t translated. Asakura is 0-2 in the promotion, dropped into a title fight against Pantoja on his debut and then beaten by Tim Elliott, both by second-round submission. The pattern is clear, his striking is well rounded, fast, sharp, and powerful, but the moment the fight hits the floor, he’s in trouble. Now moving back up to bantamweight, his natural home, he badly needs a confidence restoring win after a brutal start to his UFC tenure.
Cameron Smotherman: Ploddy boxer looking to upset against a big name
Cameron Smotherman (12-6) is a 28-year-old Texan who made a strong short-notice debut, outpointing Jake Hadley in October 2024. Since then he’s dropped back-to-back decision to Serhiy Sidey and Ricky Simon, and a planned UFC 324 bout was scrapped after he fainted at the weigh-ins. Smotherman has tidy fundamental boxing, and is at his best pressing forward, backing opponents to the fence and ripping clean combinations to the body and head. He works well of an opponent’s jab, slipping and countering to the body, or catching and shooting his own. He’s very heavy on the feet though, which leaves his legs vulnerable.
Kai Asakura vs Cameron Smotherman prediction
Is Kai Asakura the second coming of Patchy mix? A rivalling organisation legend that just can’t find his footing in the UFC?
I do think Asakura is the better fighter here – more weapons, more speed, and a lot more high-level experience. But I don’t think the odds reflect reality, this could be a closer fight than the market suggests. Asakura is 0-2 now, his confidence has to be fragile, and the pressure is on him to deliver, while Smotherman has only lost competitive decisions to decent bantamweights.
Stylistically, it’s a perfect fight for Asakura, it’s definitely set up for him. His weakness is in the grappling, but Smotherman is a boxer who looks like he only wants to box. Smotherman has the more effective, full-extension jab, and he could realistically outwork the RIZIN legend in stretches. However, Asakura doesn’t just fight a simple jabbing game, he’ll combine his hands with kicks and knees, and that variety, plus his edge in speed and power, should make the difference.
The leg kicks will be there all day on the feet. Asakura’s speed will give him the edge. This is a fight probably worth avoiding at the bookies, the odds aren’t great and don’t give room for any juice to be squeezed.
Prediction: Kai Asakura to win
