Rei Tsuruya

Rei Tsuruya is a 23-year-old Japanese bantamweight prospect who earned his UFC stripes through the Road to UFC Season 2 tournament in 2024. Born and raised in Japan, he developed his wrestling credentials as a junior-level competitor (Junior Olympian finalist, Worlds participant) before turning professional in 2021. He built a strong record in Pancrase, where he captured the Flyweight King title, before winning the Road to UFC flyweight bracket and making his octagon debut with a striking finish at UFC Fight Night on February 3, 2024.

Tsuruya's fighting style is rooted in grappling and submissions. He has secured five of his 11 wins via submission, employing rear-naked chokes, scarf hold armlocks, and front chokes with clinical precision. He has also demonstrated knockout power, recording four KO victories. However, his wrestling has proven less reliable in the UFC than his submission threat - he attempts takedowns at high volume (54 attempts) but lands only 3, suggesting he uses grappling as bait to set up submissions rather than as a foundation for sustained ground control. His striking remains a developing area, with a 43 percent significant strike defense and most of his striking damage occurring on the ground (59 percent of his strikes landed).

His first true test came at UFC 313 in March 2025 against rising star Joshua Van, the soon-to-be UFC Flyweight Champion. Van dominated the bout with superior standup and elite takedown defense, denying 16 of 21 takedown attempts and outstrikering Tsuruya 127-47, resulting in a clean 30-27 unanimous decision sweep. The loss exposed Tsuruya's one-dimensional approach against well-rounded strikers and wrestlers. He rebounded quickly at UFC Fight Night Macau on May 30, 2026, submitting Luis Gurule with a rear-naked choke at 3:19 of the first round, showcasing the finishing ability that defines his profile.

At just 23 and with a professional record dating to 2021, Tsuruya remains a legitimate prospect with time to develop. His submission arsenal and finishing instinct are genuine assets, but refining his striking defense and improving his takedown conversion rate will be critical to his ascent in the competitive bantamweight and flyweight ranks.