"This is some Naruto backstory type sh*t" - Fans left stunned as Kai Asakura recalls violent street fight with brother that got him into MMA

Japanese fighter recently shared shocking footage of the encounter, which shows the siblings exchanging fierce punches.

Unlike most fighters who start their careers in a gym, Asakura’s older brother, who was a street fighter, challenged him to a fight when there was no one left to face. In the video, the two squared off at night, with Asakura donning boxing gloves and his brother seemingly intent on landing decisive blows.

However, Asakura dodged his brother’s strikes and realized for the first time that he had a natural talent for fighting. Speaking about the incident on the UFC 310 countdown video, he said:

"My older brother was fighting on the street every day. He beat everyone, and there was no one left to fight. So, one day, my older brother called me out into the street in the middle of the night. Suddenly, he gave me some boxing gloves to wear. He was really trying to kill me with each strike. I was able to dodge everything. It was the first time I ever had a real fight. That’s when I realized I had serious potential as a fighter.”

Check out the X post below:

Fans were blown away by the backstory that paved the way for Asakura's rise in MMA. They wrote:

"This is some Naruto backstory-type sh*t"

"That’s a wild relationship. However, it helped Kai discover his calling, so there's somehow a positive that came from it."

"No Brazilian will ever understand the streets of Japan."

"Insane! I guess you could say their relationship is a bit of a mixed MMA match."

"This is some Anime stuff"

Check out some of the fan reactions below:

Fans react to video of Kai Asakura and his brother's street fight. [Screenshots from @ChampRDS on X]

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Kai Asakura is fighting for all of Japan in upcoming clash against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 310

Kai Asakura is ready to make history at UFC 310 when he squares off against Alexandre Pantoja for the flyweight title. The Japanese MMA star aims to be the first fighter from his country to claim UFC gold.

Asakura’s rise has been fueled by a desire to prove that Japanese fighters are among the best in the world. Despite Japan’s long history in martial arts, no fighter from the nation has succeeded in UFC title challenges. Asakura feels a responsibility to restore MMA's popularity in Japan and inspire future generations.

Speaking in an interview with UFC ahead of the high-stake clash, Asakura said:

“Until now, there have been many fighters In the UFC from Japan who have fought and tried to win a title, and none of them have been successful. I feel like there is an impression amongst fight fans that Japanese fighters aren’t that strong, so my goal is to go there and prove that the Japanese fighters are amongst the best fighters in the world. I want to bring back MMA’s popularity in Japan, and provide a place where my friends, teammates, and other fighters are able to earn a living in Japan." [H/t: ufc.com]