Without a doubt, 2024 was an extraordinary period for aficionados of Mixed Martial Arts, marked by a series of unexpected outcomes, the emergence of new talent, and a multitude of memorable battles. The UFC presented many noteworthy incidents and pioneering events, one of which was the illustrious Sphere event. As we approach the end of the year, one more dramatic clash is being organized by Dana White’s enterprise: the UFC 310, set to take place this weekend.
Gracing the event as the main highlight is an intense flyweight championship fight, featuring the reigning champion Alexandre Pantoja and the newcomer, Kai Asakura. Let’s take a sneak peek into this matchup, which is set to be the highlight of an exhilarating evening chock full of combat.
Alexandre Pantoja has undeniably cemented his superiority in the flyweight category, holding a commendable professional record of 28-5-0. This is all the more remarkable considering that his journey has been mostly on the biggest stage of MMA, UFC. He’s had an illustrious career boasting triumphs over top-notch names like Brandon Moreno, Brandon Royval, and Manel Kape.
Pantoja exhibits great versatility as a fighter with a 64% finish rate, demonstrating a danger to contenders in all aspects of the sport. His record reflects his domineering presence in the ring, with 8 knockouts and 10 submissions, signifying his power in both striking out rivals and in ground combat.
Meanwhile, Kai Asakura has accrued an imposing reputation in the course of his time in Rizin Fighting Federation, becoming known as a formidable adversary. Although he has yet to prove himself to UFC viewers on this grand platform, dismissing him would be a risky oversight. Asakura has outperformed several revered competitors such as Juan Archuleta, Kenta Takizawa, and Shooto Watanabe.
Boasting a whopping 76% finish rate, Asakura is renowned for his prowess in striking. His formidable record includes 13 knockouts and 3 submissions, emphasizing his preference for standing combat and explosive force. He steps into this championship challenge as a powerful, yet unexpected factor, capable of introducing turbulence into the flyweight lineup.
Asakura may stand a fair chance at a win, as age begins to take a toll on Pantoja. If he manages to cope with the immense pressures of the big fight, there exists a likelihood of an upset in the upcoming flyweight contest.
The main card of UFC 310 is set to commence at 10 p.m. ET / 3 a.m. GMT. The Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura main event is anticipated to start at 12:30 a.m. ET / 5:30 a.m. GMT. Although the flyweight title fight is the centerpiece of the event, fans can’t afford to miss other potential thrillers.
One such intriguing matchup involves Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Garry, where the stakes are high with unbeaten records up for the challenge. Another must-watch bout for the fans features Ciryl Gane taking on Alexander Volkov.
On the card, we have Alexandre Pantoja face off against Kai Asakura for Pantoja’s UFC flyweight title. The welterweight fight will see Shavkat Rakhmonov take on Ian Machado Garry. For the heavyweight bout, Ciryl Gane will battle against Alexander Volkov.
The evening will also witness some featherweight action, seeing Bryce Mitchell up against Kron Gracie, and Nate Landwehr squaring off against Choi Doo-ho. In the light heavyweight prelims, Dominick Reyes will face Anthony Smith, while Vicente Luque will clash with Themba Gorimbo in a welterweight showdown.
Additional featherweight action for the night will feature Movsar Evloev battling against Aljamain Sterling along with a welterweight matchup between Randy Brown and Bryan Battle. The early prelims manifest a catchweight fight where Chris Weidman will face Eryk Anders.
The flyweight contest sees Cody Durden pitted against Joshua Van. In the welterweight category, Michael Chiesa will take on Max Griffin while the lightweight bout showcases Clay Guida fighting against Chase Hooper. Lastly, Kennedy Nzechukwu and Lukasz Brzeski will clash in the heavyweight division.