The Black Combat bantamweight champion, Jae Woong Kim, joins Japan Top Team as Kai Asakura prepares for his UFC return against Aoriqileng, earning high praise for his complete MMA skill set.
As Kai Asakura prepares for his return to the Octagon against Aoriqileng at UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs. Song on August 29, one of the key figures helping sharpen his training camp isn’t a UFC veteran or Japanese contender, it’s Black Combat bantamweight champion Jae Woong Kim.
Kim recently traveled to Japan Top Team (JTT) to spend several weeks serving as one of Asakura’s primary training partners, giving the former RIZIN champion a high-level test ahead of his UFC matchup.
According to the interview, Asakura’s camp specifically sought out Kim through a mutual connection after identifying him as the ideal sparring partner. Having followed Kim’s career since his days competing in ONE Championship and later capturing Black Combat gold, Asakura already knew he possessed dangerous striking. What surprised him, however, was how complete Kim’s overall MMA game proved to be.
“I thought he was mainly a striker,” Asakura explained. “But once we started training, I realized his wrestling and grappling were also incredibly strong.”
Throughout the interview, Asakura repeatedly praised Kim’s ability to push the pace in training. He described every sparring session as intense and said Kim’s aggressive, finish-oriented style forces him to stay sharp throughout camp.
Asakura also noted that Kim’s reputation extends beyond highlight-reel knockouts. While many fans recognize the Black Combat champion for his striking power, training together revealed a well-rounded fighter capable of controlling every phase of mixed martial arts.
The Japanese star even joked that Kim was making camp more difficult than expected, adding that training against the Korean champion provided exactly the kind of challenge he wanted before stepping back into UFC competition.
The conversation also touched on Jae Woong Kim’s own career. The Black Combat champion explained that he typically walks around at approximately 73 kilograms before beginning his weight cut, eventually reducing around five to six kilograms before fight week. He also confirmed that he has another Black Combat title defense planned later this year, although an opponent had not yet been finalized at the time of filming.
Beyond the technical discussions, the interview highlighted the growing relationship between Korea and Japan’s MMA scenes. Kim spoke about enjoying his return to Japan, having previously competed there during his early career, while Asakura expressed interest in visiting Korea to train ahead of Kim’s next championship bout.
For HanPunch readers, perhaps the biggest takeaway wasn’t simply that Jae Woong Kim trained at Japan Top Team. it was why he was invited.
One of Japan’s biggest MMA stars specifically requested the Black Combat champion to help prepare for a UFC fight, a reflection of the respect Kim has earned across Asia. As Black Combat continues to gain international attention, moments like this reinforce that Korea’s top fighters are increasingly being recognized as world-class training partners capable of helping elite athletes prepare for the sport’s biggest stages.
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