Rei Tsuruya
Flyweight · Japan · UFC
Grappler who chains takedowns into top control and back-takes rather than trading at range.
The rear-naked choke off a back-take — 5 of his 11 wins are submissions.
Record & stats
| Division | Flyweight |
|---|---|
| Categories | MMA |
| Promotion | UFC |
| Nationality | Japan |
| Born | Matsudo, Chiba, Japan |
| Team | THE BLACKBELT JAPAN |
| Pro debut | 2021 |
| Height | 5'6" (168cm)0′2″ |
| Reach | 68in (173cm)2′3″ |
| Age | 24 |
| KO rate | 36% |
| Status | Active |
How the wins come
83% Finish rate- 4 KO/TKO · 33%
- 6 Submission · 50%
- 2 Decision · 17%
Recent results
- Wvs Kevin BorjasRei Tsuruya def. Kevin Borjas — submission (rear-naked choke), R1 4:14
Auto-linked from KIAI's event coverage — updated as fights are decided.
Titles & honors
- 8th King of Pancrase Flyweight Champion (2022, later vacated)
- Road to UFC Season 2 flyweight tournament winner (2024)
Biography
Rei Tsuruya is a UFC flyweight with a 12-1 record (6 submissions, 4 KOs). On 29 August 2026 he submitted Kevin Borjas with a rear-naked choke at 4:14 of round one at UFC Shanghai — his second first-round submission in three months. He is 24 and the youngest flyweight on the UFC roster. His only loss came to current UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van.
Born 22 June 2002 in Matsudo, Chiba. 168cm with a 173cm reach, fighting out of THE BLACKBELT JAPAN. He started wrestling and jiu-jitsu at three and won multiple national age-group titles before turning professional with DEEP in February 2021.
Style
A grappler built on wrestling and jiu-jitsu whose path to the finish — takedown, top control, back take, choke — arrives unusually fast. His twelve wins break down as six submissions, four knockouts and two decisions.
The Borjas fight was the template. Tsuruya took him down inside the first minute; when Borjas stood, he took the back and put him down again. He did not rush the choke, waited for the posture to break, and closed the rear-naked choke at 4:14.
Career
In December 2022 he beat Enfuru for the vacant King of Pancrase flyweight title, which he later relinquished. In February 2024 he won the Road to UFC season 2 flyweight tournament to earn his UFC contract.
He beat Carlos Hernandez on the cards at UFC 303 in June 2024, then lost a decision to Joshua Van at UFC 313 in March 2025. Van has since become flyweight champion, so Tsuruya's only defeat is to the man holding the belt.
Since then: Luis Gurule submitted in round one (3:19) in May 2026, and Borjas in round one (4:14) in August. Two straight first-round submissions at 24 is why he is among the most closely watched prospects in the division.
What he still needs
Borjas was not a ranked opponent. The Japanese fighter closest to a UFC title right now is Tatsuro Taira at No. 4 in the flyweight rankings — but Tsuruya has the most room to grow, on both age and finishing rate. See When will Japan get its first UFC champion?
Full details of his most recent fight: UFC Shanghai results.
Fight history
- WKevin BorjasW submission R1 4:14 (rear-naked choke)
- WLuis GuruleW submission R1 3:19 (rear-naked choke)
- LJoshua VanL unanimous decision, 3R
- WCarlos HernandezW unanimous decision, 3R
- WJiniushiyueW TKO R1 4:59
- WEnfuruW submission R2 1:03 (rear-naked choke)
FAQ
- What is Rei Tsuruya's record?
- 12-1 (6 submissions, 4 KOs, 2 decisions), updated by his rear-naked choke of Kevin Borjas at 4:14 of round one at UFC Shanghai on 29 August 2026.
- Who has beaten Rei Tsuruya?
- Only Joshua Van, by unanimous decision at UFC 313 in March 2025. Van has since become UFC flyweight champion, so Tsuruya's sole defeat is to the current titleholder.
- How old is Rei Tsuruya and where does he train?
- He was born 22 June 2002 in Matsudo, Chiba, making him 24, and trains at THE BLACKBELT JAPAN. He is the youngest flyweight on the UFC roster.
- How does Rei Tsuruya usually win?
- By taking the back and finishing with a rear-naked choke, built off wrestling and jiu-jitsu. Six of his twelve wins are submissions, and his last two both ended by first-round rear-naked choke.