Japanese MMA star Kai Asakura invites Shohei Ohtani to UFC 310

Asakura aims to impress Shohei Ohtani with his “explosive” fighting style.

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Japanese mixed martial artist Kai Asakura has invited Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani to attend his flyweight title bout against Brazilian Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 310, set to take place on December 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Asakura, making his debut on American soil, extended the invitation during an interview with TMZ Sports. "I have never met Ohtani, but I would love for him to come and see my fight," he said. "They will realise that I have an explosive fighting style, and I think they will see something they have never seen before. I want them to be my fans after this fight and also in the future."

Despite the enthusiastic invitation, it remains unclear if Ohtani, a two-way superstar and World Series winner with the Dodgers, has received the message. His personal interests, particularly regarding mixed martial arts, are largely unknown.

Asakura, 30, is confident about his chances in the title fight against Pantoja, nicknamed “The Cannibal,” but he insists this is not his most challenging opponent to date. The Japanese fighter is known for his aggressive and entertaining style, which he hopes will captivate fans in the U.S., much like he has done in Japan.

The flyweight title bout is expected to be a closely contested match, with Pantoja bringing significant experience and a strong grappling game to the octagon.

Shohei Ohtani, one of Major League Baseball’s most valuable players, recently led the Dodgers to a World Series victory. While his focus remains on the MLB off-season, fans and media alike are eager to see if he will accept Asakura's invitation and make a surprise appearance at the high-stakes UFC event.