Rei Tsuruya UFC Profile
Rei Tsuruya has quickly become one of the most interesting young fighters in the UFC flyweight division. The Japanese prospect entered the promotion after winning the Road to UFC flyweight tournament and has continued to develop into a dangerous grappler.
As of August 29, 2026, Tsuruya owns an 11-1 professional MMA record. His only professional defeat came against Joshua Van, who has since become the UFC flyweight champion. Tsuruya bounced back from that setback with victories over Luis Gurule and Kevin Borjas in 2026.
His latest performance came at UFC Shanghai on August 29, 2026, where Tsuruya submitted Kevin Borjas in the first round. The UFC recorded the finish at 4:14 of Round 1, giving the Japanese fighter another impressive victory.
Rei Tsuruya vs Joshua Van
The most important fight of Tsuruya’s UFC career before his recent winning streak was his matchup with Joshua Van at UFC 313 on March 8, 2025.
Tsuruya entered the bout unbeaten at 10-0, while Van was already establishing himself as one of the division’s promising young fighters. The fight went the full three rounds, with Van winning by unanimous decision.
All three judges scored the contest 30-27 for Joshua Van. Sherdog reported that Van’s takedown defense and superior stand-up striking prevented Tsuruya from establishing the grappling-heavy game that had produced many of his earlier victories.
The defeat remains significant because it is still the only loss on Tsuruya’s professional record. The UFC also notes that Van is the only fighter to defeat Tsuruya as a professional.
What happened in Tsuruya vs Van?
Tsuruya repeatedly attempted to take the fight to the mat, but Van defended the takedowns effectively. Once the fight remained standing, Van was able to use his striking advantage to control the action.
UFC Stats recorded Tsuruya landing 32 of 59 significant-strike attempts and scoring four takedowns, while Van defended all four of Tsuruya’s takedown attempts.
The result exposed an important area for Tsuruya to improve: his ability to create offense when an opponent can neutralize his wrestling.
Interestingly, the loss has not stopped his progress. Instead, Tsuruya has responded with two consecutive submission victories in 2026.
Rei Tsuruya vs Kevin Borjas
Tsuruya’s latest UFC matchup was against Peruvian flyweight Kevin “El Gallo Negro” Borjas at UFC Shanghai.
The fight took place on August 29, 2026, at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium as part of UFC Fight Night 286, also known as UFC Shanghai.
Tsuruya entered the bout with an 11-1 record, while Borjas was 11-5. The matchup represented an important opportunity for both fighters to move forward in the competitive UFC flyweight division.
Tsuruya made the most of it.
He secured a first-round submission at 4:14, defeating Borjas and adding another finish to his UFC résumé. The UFC identified the victory as a submission, while reports from the event described the finish as a rear-naked choke.
The victory was particularly impressive because Tsuruya returned to his strongest weapon: grappling.
Rei Tsuruya’s Latest UFC Win
Before facing Borjas, Tsuruya competed against Luis Gurule at UFC Macau on May 30, 2026.
Tsuruya won that contest by submission at 3:19 of the first round. The UFC lists the result as a submission victory, while Sherdog records the finish as a neck crank.
That win was important for Tsuruya because it marked his first victory after losing to Van.
He then followed it with the submission of Borjas in Shanghai, making 2026 a major comeback year for the Japanese fighter.
Rei Tsuruya Sherdog Record
Sherdog lists Tsuruya at 11-1-0 following his victory over Borjas. His profile shows an impressive finishing record, with four wins by KO/TKO and five by submission, alongside two decision victories.
Rei Tsuruya record
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| Professional record | 11-1-0 |
| KO/TKO wins | 4 |
| Submission wins | 5 |
| Decision wins | 2 |
| Professional losses | 1 |
| Submission losses | 0 |
| Decision losses | 1 |
Tsuruya’s record demonstrates why he is regarded as a dangerous prospect. Nine of his 11 victories have come inside the distance.
His five submission wins are especially notable because grappling remains the foundation of his fighting style.
Rei Tsuruya UFC Stats
The UFC lists Tsuruya as an active flyweight with a professional record of 11-1-0. The promotion credits him with four knockout victories, five submission wins and five first-round finishes.
His UFC profile also lists:
- Age: 24
- Birthplace: Japan
- Height: 5 feet 6 inches
- Reach: 68 inches
- Leg reach: 36 inches
- Division: Flyweight
- Fighting style: MMA
- Gym: The BLACKBELT Japan
- Pro since: 2021
The UFC’s profile identifies Tsuruya as one of the youngest flyweights on the roster.
Sherdog lists his height as approximately 5 feet 7 inches, illustrating a small database discrepancy. UFC Stats lists him at 5 feet 6 inches with a 68-inch reach.
Rei Tsuruya Fighting Style
Tsuruya’s biggest strength is his grappling.
He has repeatedly demonstrated an ability to take opponents down, control them and search for submissions. His five professional submission victories highlight how dangerous he can become once he gets the fight to the canvas.
The UFC currently lists his career submission average at 2.01 submissions attempted per 15 minutes and his takedown average at 5.03 per 15 minutes.
His striking has also improved during his UFC career. However, the Joshua Van fight showed that opponents who can keep the Japanese fighter standing and defend his takedowns can create significant problems.
That makes Tsuruya’s continued striking development particularly important.
Rei Tsuruya Road to the UFC
Tsuruya earned his UFC opportunity through the Road to UFC tournament.
He defeated Ronal Siahaan by submission in the quarterfinal stage, beat Mark Climaco by unanimous decision in the semifinal and defeated Jiniushiyue by first-round TKO in the final.
The tournament victory secured his place in the UFC flyweight division.
He subsequently defeated Carlos Hernandez by unanimous decision in his UFC debut at UFC 303 before losing to Van at UFC 313.
Rei Tsuruya Career Timeline
Road to UFC success
Tsuruya established himself as a serious flyweight prospect during Road to UFC Season 2. His combination of wrestling, grappling and submission ability made him one of the tournament’s standout competitors.
UFC debut
At UFC 303, Tsuruya defeated Carlos Hernandez by unanimous decision. The victory moved his professional record to 10-0.
First UFC loss
Joshua Van handed Tsuruya his first professional defeat at UFC 313. Van won by unanimous decision after successfully defending Tsuruya’s takedown attempts and controlling the fight with striking.
Return to winning
Tsuruya returned in May 2026 against Luis Gurule and earned a first-round submission.
Latest victory
On August 29, 2026, Tsuruya submitted Kevin Borjas in Round 1 at UFC Shanghai.
How Good Is Rei Tsuruya?
Tsuruya remains one of the UFC’s intriguing young flyweights.
His record is particularly impressive because his only loss came against a fighter who has since reached the top of the division. Rather than allowing that defeat to derail his career, Tsuruya has responded with consecutive finishes.
His grappling remains his biggest weapon. If he can continue improving his striking and takedown entries, he could become a more complete fighter and eventually challenge higher-ranked opponents.
The Kevin Borjas victory was another step in that direction.
Could Rei Tsuruya Fight Joshua Van Again?
A rematch with Joshua Van would be an interesting possibility if both fighters continue winning.
Tsuruya already knows what went wrong in their first meeting. Van’s takedown defense and striking allowed him to prevent Tsuruya from imposing his preferred grappling game.
A second meeting would therefore provide an opportunity for Tsuruya to demonstrate how much he has developed since 2025.
However, Tsuruya will likely need several more victories before a rematch becomes realistic. Van is now positioned at the very top of the flyweight division, while Tsuruya is still building his ranking résumé.
Rei Tsuruya UFC Future
The victory over Borjas gives Tsuruya important momentum heading into the next stage of his UFC career.
At just 24 years old, he has considerable time to improve. His record of 11-1, combined with nine stoppage victories, gives him a strong foundation.
The biggest question is whether he can turn his elite grappling into a complete MMA game against increasingly experienced UFC opponents.
His loss to Van provided a clear blueprint for what he needs to improve. His two 2026 submission victories, meanwhile, show that his best weapon remains extremely difficult to stop.
Final Verdict
Rei Tsuruya has already experienced the highs and lows of UFC competition despite being only 24.
He entered the promotion undefeated, suffered his first career loss to Joshua Van, and then responded with back-to-back submission victories over Luis Gurule and Kevin Borjas.
The latest Rei Tsuruya UFC result is especially encouraging. His first-round submission of Borjas at UFC Shanghai pushed his record to 11-1 and strengthened his case as one of the flyweight division’s rising prospects.
For now, Joshua Van remains the only fighter to defeat Tsuruya professionally. But with his grappling, finishing ability and youth, Tsuruya has plenty of time to close that gap.
FAQs
Who did Rei Tsuruya lose to?
Rei Tsuruya’s only professional loss came against Joshua Van at UFC 313 on March 8, 2025. Van won by unanimous decision, 30-27 on all three judges’ scorecards.
Did Rei Tsuruya beat Kevin Borjas?
Yes. Tsuruya defeated Kevin Borjas by first-round submission at UFC Shanghai on August 29, 2026. The official UFC result lists the finish at 4:14 of Round 1.
What is Rei Tsuruya’s UFC record?
Following his win over Borjas, Tsuruya’s professional record is 11-1-0. The UFC lists him as an active flyweight.
What is Rei Tsuruya’s Sherdog record?
Sherdog lists Tsuruya at 11-1-0, with four KO/TKO victories, five submission wins and two decision victories.
How old is Rei Tsuruya?
Tsuruya is 24 years old. The UFC lists his date of birth as June 22, 2002.
What is Rei Tsuruya’s fighting style?
Tsuruya is particularly known for his grappling and submission game. The UFC credits him with five professional submission victories and five first-round finishes.
Who is the only fighter to beat Rei Tsuruya?
Joshua Van is the only fighter to defeat Tsuruya professionally. Their UFC 313 fight ended in a unanimous decision victory for Van.
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