Joe Rogan found himself stepping in as an impromptu ‘translator’ for Kai Asakura, leaving fans seething over the obvious and bad oversight by the UFC. Ahead of his highly anticipated fight with Alexandre Pantoja, the Japanese fighter was found trying his best to speak in English, till Rogan’s quick thinking saved the day.
The incident sparked a wave of criticism from MMA enthusiasts who expected and demanded better from the sport’s premier promotion.
One fan praised Asakura for trying to speak in English after realizing the UFC had messed up. “A for effort on his English”. Another one criticized the UFC and wrote, “Billion dollar company btw”.
One user didn’t mince his words, saying, “Billion dollar company can’t even get a translator ready for their main event fighter”.
The faux pas occurred after the final weigh-ins for UFC 310 in front of the fans. Once the fighters finished facing off, Rogan asked them for their final thoughts before the fight 24 hours later.
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When Asakura started talking in Japanese, Rogan had to step in, using whatever understanding of the language he has to determine and translate what Asakura would have said.
Asakura came out the victor in the whole fiasco though, winning over the fans even before his debut thanks to his immaculate ‘rizz’.
Asakura compared to Conor McGregor
Asakura is already a superstar in Japan, and his arrival in the UFC has created a buzz similar to the likes of McGregor or the Diaz brothers in their prime. At least that’s what former Rizin commentator Joe Ferraro believes.
During an appearance on The Game Plan, Ferraro highlighted the massive stardom of Kai and his brother Mikuru, and compared them to rockstars in their homeland.
“They’re like the Japanese Diaz brothers,” Ferraro explained, pointing at their journey from street fighters to skilled professionals. He praised their rapid rise through Japan’s MMA ranks, and attributed it to their stamina, patience, and technique.
Ferraro also emphasized that their fame is also due to their personalities and appeal outside the ring. In fact, Kai’s YouTube channel boasts more subscribers than UFC stars like Israel Adesanya and Alex Pereira.
Ferraro also described Asakura as a game-changing addition to the UFC roster, poised to captivate North American audiences. Hopefully, this charisma translates into a win over the weekend.
