*This content was translated by AI.
Japanese martial arts superstar Mikuru Asakura (33) suffered the worst defeat of his life, sending the entire archipelago into shock. Asakura, who was hit hard on the ring, eventually left the stadium on a stretcher, and critics say that the referee's timing to stop was too late and the player's life was almost in danger.
Japanese media 'NumberWeb' reported on the 5th that the back story of the featherweight title match of the RIZIN Strongest Person Festival held at Saitama Super Arena on December 31st was detailed.
Asakura, the challenger on the day, knelt down to unbeaten champion Sheirajabali Sheidulaev (25, Kyrgyzstan) with a TKO in 2:54 of the first round.
The game was one-sided. Sheidulaev was overwhelmed in both wrestling and hitting, lifting Asakura lightly at the start of the match and slamming him to the floor. In particular, the casting baptism on Asakura's face while occupying the back position was brutality itself.
The 'number web' described the situation at the time as "Sheidulaev struck down an intense foundation as if breaking tiles."
"It was a very easy game," Sheidulaev even said in a post-match interview, "and I purposely played a series of colorful German suplexes and high-angle mechings to heighten the atmosphere on the field and show a powerful performance."
Sheidulaev continued, "Asakura fundamentally lacked wrestling skills."
Asakura, who allowed the strike defenselessly, was unable to stand up for a while immediately after the referee declared the suspension. Wearing a neck brace and being carried off on a stretcher by medical staff, he showed symptoms of vomiting and was taken to a hospital by emergency car. RIZIN CEO Nobuyuki Sakakibara told the urgent moment, announcing the seriousness of the situation at the scene. Tests showed Asakura was diagnosed with an orbital fracture.
Japanese local media "The Answer" and "InCount" strongly criticized the belated referee's stop call, conveying the harrowing atmosphere of the time. On social networking services (SNS), fans also voiced concern, saying, "The referee's stop call was too late to make my life look dangerous," and "It was a brutal game that was scary to watch." Combat expert Shinya Aoki coolly analyzed, "Asakura did everything she could, but the difference in skills was too big."
Asakura, who is RIZIN's flagship along with her younger brother Kai Asakura and is a big YouTuber with 3.5 million subscribers, has realized the world's high wall by losing the second round of TKO in a special match with the undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather.
Asakura, who is also familiar to Korean fans, beat Oh Doo-seok on the Korean ROAD FC stage, won consecutive games after returning to RIZIN, but eventually failed to overcome Sheidulaev. Sheidulaev has won five consecutive games, the same as Nodo, since his debut in June 2024. He is a strong player who has won 15 out of 15 games in his professional career with KO or one round.
Asakura, who came to her senses, said on her SNS, "I was unconscious. There is an orbital fracture, but other places seem fine. I'm sorry to worry you, he said. "I have no regrets because I did everything I could. I will make a comeback for sure," he said, burning his will to extend his active career.
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*This content was translated by AI.
