Flyweight

Rei Tsuruya

11-1

Age
24
Height
5'6"
Reach
5'8"
Stance
Orthodox
Camp
Paraestra Matsudo
Out of
Japan
Style
wrestler
Fight IQ
B+ · 80
Finish rate
46%
Win rate
92%

Career methods

KO/TKO
2
Sub
5
Dec
4

FightMetric

SLpM

2.40

SApM

3.93

Str Acc

65%

Str Def

39%

TD Avg

5.03

TD Acc

37%

TD Def

65%

Sub Avg

2.01

Tape read

Chain-wrestling grappler — high-IQ problem solver, porous pocket

Fight IQ

80B+

Built from FightMetric rates, method shares, and 6 loaded UFC rows. Timing and agility are tape proxies, not lab measurements.

IQ

B+

Ground

A

Defense

D

Counter

D

Reaction

proxy

D

Agility

proxy

D

TD react

C+

Chin

B+

What they do well

  • Ground game

    Chain wrestling and submissions are a primary weapon. 5 tapouts and 5.0 TD/15 put opponents on the fence or the mat.

  • Fight IQ

    Knows the assignment. Game plans hold up for 15 minutes; the adjustments are incremental, not chaotic.

  • Durability

    Standard UFC durability. Can be hurt, usually recovers if the shot is not clean.

Where they leak

  • Timing & reaction

    Late on the read. High absorb or a leaking TD defense suggests the first move often belongs to the opponent.

  • Striking defense

    Defensive liability. Opponents land at a clip that turns every exchange into a finish window.

  • Counter punching

    Limited counter threat. Opponents can miss without paying a finishing tax.

Scouting report

Rei Tsuruya is a 24-year-old Orthodox flyweight out of Japan, camped at Paraestra Matsudo. The tape read: chain-wrestling grappler — high-iq problem solver, porous pocket. Career mark 11-1-0 — 2 by KO/TKO, 5 by submission, 4 by decision. Fight IQ grades B+ (80).

What works. Ground game is the standout at 86 (A). Chain wrestling and submissions are a primary weapon. 5 tapouts and 5.0 TD/15 put opponents on the fence or the mat. Ground game A on 5.03 TD/15 and 2.01 sub attempts. Striking defense D at 39% / 3.93 SApM. Counter punching D; punching agility D (output × accuracy × age curve). Takedown reaction C+ on 65% TD defense. These are tape proxies — not lab reaction times — built from FightMetric rates, finish shares, and 6 loaded UFC rows.

Where it breaks. Timing & reaction is the soft spot (33, D). Late on the read. High absorb or a leaking TD defense suggests the first move often belongs to the opponent. Opponents who take away their first look and make them solve a second problem have historically been the ones who make this résumé leak. Losses lean decision more often than a highlight — the issue is usually control of minutes, not a glass jaw.

Recent tape (6 bouts): W 5218137 (Submission R1) · L Van (Decision - Unanimous R3) · W 3249894 (Decision - Unanimous R3) · W 5135132 (KO/TKO R1) · W 4836247 (Decision - Unanimous R3). Form index positive over the last 5. 2 of those wins reached the championship minutes — cardio and late IQ are real.

Ground game

86 A

Chain wrestling and submissions are a primary weapon. 5 tapouts and 5.0 TD/15 put opponents on the fence or the mat.

  • 5.03 takedowns / 15 at 37% accuracy
  • 2.01 submission attempts / 15 · 5 career sub wins

Striking defense

39 D

Defensive liability. Opponents land at a clip that turns every exchange into a finish window.

  • 39% striking defense · 3.93 SApM
  • 0 KO/TKO losses in 1 defeats

Counter punching

44 D

Limited counter threat. Opponents can miss without paying a finishing tax.

  • 65% accuracy on 2.40 SLpM
  • 0.00 knockdowns / 15 · 2 KO/TKO wins

Timing & reaction

33 D

Late on the read. High absorb or a leaking TD defense suggests the first move often belongs to the opponent.

  • Str def 39% · TD def 65% — the two read-and-react rates
  • 3.93 shots absorbed / min (lower = sees it earlier)

Punching agility

48 D

Heavy or economical. Combinations are chosen, not sprayed — opponents can time the entries.

  • 2.40 SLpM at 65% — output with cleanliness
  • Throws without paying full retail: 3.93 SApM

Takedown reaction

62 C+

Hips arrive late. A committed wrestler will get them down; the question is what happens next.

  • 65% takedown defense — the live reaction to level changes
  • 0 submission losses (once the fight hits the mat)

Durability

76 B+

Standard UFC durability. Can be hurt, usually recovers if the shot is not clean.

  • 0 times finished by strikes in 1 losses
  • 4 decision wins — proof they last and still score

Next

UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs. Song

vs Kevin Borjas · model 79%

Fight history

DateOpponentResMethodRndSig
May 30, 2026Fighter 5218137WSubmission1 3:1917/27
Mar 9, 2025Joshua VanLDecision - Unanimous3 5:0032/84
Jun 29, 2024Fighter 3249894WDecision - Unanimous3 5:0017/32
Feb 4, 2024Fighter 5135132WKO/TKO1 4:590/0
Aug 27, 2023Fighter 4836247WDecision - Unanimous3 5:000/0
May 27, 2023Fighter 5135134WSubmission (Kimura)2 1:190/0