Tim Elliott spoiled Kai Asakura’s sophomore promotional appearance, securing a slick second-round submission victory over the Japanese star in the UFC 319 main card opener.
Asakura largely dominated the opening round with his striking, but an ill-advised body kick from the former RIZIN champion allowed Elliott to secure a late takedown. Elliott quickly got into side control, but was unable to capitalize on the position before the bell.
The late takedown appeared to cause some hesitancy in Asakura as his volume dipped significantly in the second stanza.