Kai Asakura seeks back-to-back UFC wins against Qileng Aori in
Shanghai

After a stellar run in Rizin, Kai Asakura
suffered back-to-back defeats at flyweight upon joining the UFC. He
then moved up to bantamweight and picked up his first win in the
promotion. Asakura will now look to compile a win streak when he
takes on Qileng Aori
at
UFC Shanghai on Aug. 29.

Aori enters the bout with a 4-5-1 UFC record. He has struggled for
consistency, with just two wins in his last six outings. The
33-year-old is coming off a TKO defeat to Cody Haddon
in May.

Meanwhile, Asakura will look to build momentum after recording his
maiden UFC win in May. He knocked out Cameron
Smotherman at
UFC Macau, marking his 17th finish in 22 career wins. Flyweight
is firmly in the rear-view mirror for the Japanese star after he
was submitted by former champion Alexandre
Pantoja and Tim Elliott
at 125 pounds.

This isn't the only bantamweight bout confirmed for UFC Shanghai,
as the Fight Night headliner features Umar
Nurmagomedov against Yadong
Song. Other Chinese fighters confirmed for the card include
former title challenger Xiaonan Yan,
veteran flyweight Su Mudaerji
and UFC newcomer Ce Liu.

Ultimate Fighting Championship star Conor
McGregor will host a new Fox Nation original series centered
around
Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship beginning in 2027.

Fox Nation announced on Monday that it has partnered with the Bare
Knuckle Fighting Championship and BKFC co-owner McGregor for a new
original documentary competition series titled “World’s Baddest
Man.” The show is scheduled to premiere in the summer of 2027 and
will culminate with a live championship finale.

World's Baddest Man' brings Conor McGregor and BKFC together
for a combat sports competition

According to Monday’s announcement, McGregor will serve as the host
and a prominent on-screen presence throughout the new Fox Nation
series as fighters from around the world compete in a bracket-style
tournament for the right to be crowned the “World’s Baddest
Man.”

“Conor McGregor is one of the most recognizable figures in combat
sports, and we’re excited to partner with him on a bold new
original series unlike any other,†Fox Nation President Lauren
Petterson said in a statement. “World’s Baddest Man combines
premium documentary storytelling with world-class competition,
providing Fox Nation subscribers unprecedented access to unique
athletes while showcasing the grit, determination and heart
required to compete for one of the biggest prizes in combat
sports.â€

McGregor believes the series will further elevate BKFC’s
profile.

“BKFC has changed the game of combat sports, and I couldn't be more
excited to partner with Fox Nation and unleash The World's Baddest
Man Tournament,†the former two-division UFC champion said. “This
tournament will bring together the toughest fighters on the planet
in a true test of heart, grit, and willpower, and I'm proud to be
part of something that will set a new standard for what it means to
be the baddest man in the world.â€

The series will blend documentary storytelling with “elite
competition†featuring a diverse roster of Bare Knuckle Fighting
Championship athletes who will battle in a winner-takes-it-all live
championship event.

The series will be produced by Kiss Fly Productions, with McGregor
serving as one of the executive producers.

Dana White's Contender Series will return for its 10th season
on Aug. 11, with all episodes set to stream exclusively on
Paramount+.

The long-running talent showcase will once again give aspiring
mixed martial artists the opportunity to earn an
Ultimate Fighting Championship contract by impressing the UFC
President and CEO, as well as the promotion’s matchmakers.

Dana White’s Contender Series returns for Season 10

Season 10 will consist of 10 Tuesday night episodes beginning on
Aug. 11 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Each episode will feature five
bouts, with every episode streaming exclusively on Paramount+.

Since its debut in 2017, DWCS has become one of the UFC’s primary
talent pipelines. Across its first nine seasons, along with Dana
White’s Contender Series: Brazil, the series has awarded more than
300 UFC contracts.

Furthermore, the show has also produced four UFC champions:
Sean
O’Malley, Jamahal
Hill, Jack
Della Maddalena and current light heavyweight king Carlos
Ulberg.

Several current contenders and prominent prospects also broke out
from the series, including Lone'er
Kavanagh, Kevin
Vallejos, Jacobe
Smith, David
Martinez, Ateba
Abega Gautier, Quillan
Salkilld, Payton
Talbott, Jean Silva,
Carlos
Prates, Josh Hokit,
Mauricio
Ruffy, Kevin
Holland, Caio
Borralho, Brendan
Allen and Joe
Pyfer.

Season 10 will feature another wave of hopefuls looking to earn
their place on the UFC roster.