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RIZIN 23 results: Kai Asakura wins title with first-round soccer-kick KO

Much like the first show on Sunday, the second leg of the RIZIN post-pandemic doubleheader featured a series of highlight-reel finishes in Yokohama, Japan, and finally crowned Kai Asakura the bantamweight king.

With the 135-pound division left without a champion after Manel Kape signed with the UFC, Asakura took on Hiromasa Ougikubo in the headlining attraction of RIZIN 23 and finally put his hands on the gold.

After knocking out then-champion Kyoji Horiguchi in a non-title bout back in 2019 and then coming up short in his first title bout versus Manel Kape four months later, Asakura put on a flawless performance against Ougikubo on Monday.