Tale of the Tape
Result Summary
Rei Tsuruya defeated Kevin Borjas by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:14 of the first round at UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs. Song in Shanghai on August 29, 2026. Tsuruya landed a takedown inside the opening minute and controlled top position, landing ground strikes before Borjas had any chance to establish his footing. When Borjas attempted to stand, Tsuruya quickly secured his back and returned him to the canvas. From there, the 24-year-old Japanese prospect worked methodically until the rear-naked choke forced the tap. The finish was his second consecutive first-round submission victory in three months, marking another strong step forward in Tsuruya's rise through the flyweight division.
Fight Overview
Undefeated Japanese prodigy Rei Tsuruya continues his rapid ascent in the flyweight division, bringing his elite grappling pedigree to bear against the heavy-handed Peruvian striker Kevin Borjas.
Keys to Victory
Rei Tsuruya
- Instigate early, frantic scrambles to force Borjas to expose his back for quick submission attempts.
- Chain takedowns continuously against the fence, refusing to let Borjas settle into a striking rhythm.
- Maintain suffocating top control to entirely neutralize Borjas's explosive standup capabilities.
Kevin Borjas
- Exploit Tsuruya's predictable level changes with stepping knees and well-timed uppercuts.
- Maintain a wide, low base to defend the initial takedown shot, focusing entirely on immediate get-ups if grounded.
- Let the hands fly freely in the center of the Octagon, utilizing his distinct knockout power advantage.
Last 5 fights
Rei Tsuruya
- W Luis Gurule
- L Joshua Van
- W Carlos Hernandez
- W Niushiyue Ji
- W Mark Climaco
Kevin Borjas
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AI-generated This analysis was generated with AI and may contain errors.