Rei Tsuruya is back in the Octagon after a year-long absence, marking his return against Luis Gurule in Macau this weekend. The Japanese prospect has also undergone a significant change in appearance, trading his long black hair for a shorter, bleached blonde style.
“I just got tired of the long hair,” Tsuruya said. “It’s in the way when I’m training, so I cut it short.”
Flyweight Division Transformation
Tsuruya last fought at UFC 313. Much has changed in the flyweight division since then.
In his previous fight, Tsuruya faced Joshua Van as a short-notice replacement for Bruno Silva. Van won by out-striking Tsuruya and avoiding grappling entanglements, handing Tsuruya his first loss. That fight proved to be the start of Van’s successful 2025, which saw him become the flyweight champion after competing four times.
Tsuruya’s Aims for the Future
Following Joshua Van’s title defence against Tatsuro Taira, Tsuruya is eager to make his mark in the flyweight division. The 23-year-old hopes to join the growing list of promising young talents in the 125-pound weight class.
“Obviously, I didn’t know much about Joshua Van back then with the short-notice fight, but things have changed,” said Tsuruya. “I feel like I don’t want to be left (behind) — I want to catch up with all those top-flight contenders.
“There are a lot of new guys coming in too, so I want to get on that ride,” Tsuruya added. He turned 23 in March, making him the youngest fighter in the division. Van, who is the second youngest, turns 25 in October. “A lot of ranking changes every week as well. I hope I can be one of those rankers and contenders.”
Macau Fight Night Preview
Tsuruya aims to disrupt Luis Gurule’s plans in Macau. Gurule was originally set to face Jesus Aguilar, but Aguilar had to withdraw due to an undisclosed injury after his victory over Daniel Barez on the previous UFC Fight Night event in Las Vegas. Gurule stepped in to take his place.
Tsuruya earned his place on the UFC roster by winning the flyweight tournament on Season 2 of Road to UFC. He then secured a unanimous decision win over Carlos Hernandez in his promotional debut.
- Tsuruya is the youngest fighter in the flyweight division.
- He won the flyweight tournament on Season 2 of Road to UFC.
- His opponent, Luis Gurule, stepped in as a replacement for Jesus Aguilar.
Tsuruya’s fight against Gurule in Macau marks his first step towards joining the emerging contenders in the flyweight division, including Lone’er Kavanagh, Jose Ochoa, Alden Coria, and Imanol Rodriguez.