Kai Asakura silenced those who claimed his meeting with Kyoji Horiguchi was nothing but a squash match by stopping the legendary Japanese bantamweight in a little over a minute into the main event of RIZIN 18 on Sunday in Nagoya, Japan.
A piston right hand put Horiguchi down around 45-seconds into the contest. 15 seconds later he ate a flush knee that sent him reeling. The Japanese prospect followed the Bellator and RIZIN champion to the ground before the referee waved off his onslaught to end the non-title bout.
Speaking after the contest, the fan-favorite praised Horiguchi for taking the fight.