VIDEO: UFC 310 Countdown Episode Ahead Of Pantoja vs. Asakura & Rakhmonov vs. Garry

Fight week for the UFC 310 pay-per-view this Saturday has kicked off with the release of the promotion’s latest Countdown episode. Under the spotlight in this edition is the headliner between Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Asakura and the co-main event between Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Garry. Saturday’s UFC 310 lineup is topped by a championship clash, with flyweight kingpin […]

Fight week for the UFC 310 pay-per-view this Saturday has kicked off with the release of the promotion’s latest Countdown episode.

Under the spotlight in this edition is the headliner between Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Asakura and the co-main event between Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Garry.

Saturday’s UFC 310 lineup is topped by a championship clash, with flyweight kingpin Pantoja (28-5) looking to add a third successful defense to his reign, which got underway with a memorable victory over Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 in July 2023.

If “The Cannibal” is to continue his rule atop the 125-pound mountain, he must stall the title ambitions of a UFC newcomer in Asakura (21-4). The former Rizin bantamweight champ marks a rare example of a debuting fighter competing for gold inside the Octagon, which he’ll enter off the back of consecutive knockouts of Yuki Motoya and Juan Archuleta.

Before those two collide in the main event at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, the stakes will also be high for a crucial five-round welterweight clash.

After an infection resulted in UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad’s withdrawal from his scheduled defense against Rakhmonov (18-0), some matchup shuffling has seen Garry (15-0) drafted in to face his fellow undefeated contender.

While “Nomad” recently got the better of Stephen Thompson by way of submission, “The Future” outpointed Michael “Venom” Page during International Fight Week this past summer. They’ll now look to secure top contender status heading into 2025 to ensure they’ll be standing across from champ Muhammad following his recovery.

Ahead of those two contests in “Sin City,” fans can catch previews in the full episode of UFC 310 Countdown on the promotion’s YouTube channel.

Kai Asakura Promises a Knockout at UFC 310: ‘One Shot Is All I Need’ Against Alexandre Pantoja

Kai Asakura Promises a Knockout at UFC 310: ‘One Shot Is All I Need’ Against Alexandre PantojaUFC newcomer Kai Asakura plans to put his knockout power on display against flyweight titleholder Alexandre Pantoja. After making…

Kai Asakura Promises a Knockout at UFC 310: ‘One Shot Is All I Need’ Against Alexandre Pantoja

UFC newcomer Kai Asakura plans to put his knockout power on display against flyweight titleholder Alexandre Pantoja.

After making a name for himself under the RIZIN FF banner, capturing the promotion’s bantamweight title on two separate occasions and stacking bodies with a slew of highlight-reel knockouts, Asakura makes his UFC debut at the promotion’s final pay-per-view event of the year on December 7.

But he’s not just fighting on the card — he’s headlining it.

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Asakura steps into the main event spotlight in his first UFC outing and plans on bringing the flyweight championship back home to Japan, becoming the first Japanese-born fighter to do so in the UFC’s modern era.

Looking ahead to their highly anticipated clash at UFC 310 in Las Vegas, Asakura made a rather bold prediction for his promotional premiere.

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“I don’t see him [Pantoja] representing any problems for me anywhere,” Asakura told the UFC during a recent interview. “He’s someone I don’t think I’ll have any problem dealing with. The advantage I hold over Pantoja is that I have one-shot knockout power, so it only takes one shot and I’m expecting this fight to be over with one shot…

“I know in the history of the UFC, there have been many famous knockout scenes, but I’m hoping that at UFC 310, I can add my finish to those highlight reels.”

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Kai Asakura warns fans to not blink during final UFC title fight of 2024

Asakura, 31, is 21-4 in his mixed martial arts career with 13 of his victories coming by way of knockout. His last appearance came at RIZIN 45 when he scored a second-round TKO against former Bellator champion Juan Archuleta. Asakura also holds victories over Manel Kape and Kyoji Horiguchi.

“Since I started fighting, I always wanted to be the best in the world [and] to me, it would all be meaningless unless I reached the very top,” Asakura said in a promo hyping his clash with Pantoja. “I’m here to become UFC champion, I have a stronger will than anybody else. I know how to achieve my goals and that’s all I’m focused on.”

‘He’s Not Special’ – Alexandre Pantoja Slammed by UFC 310 Title Challenger Kai Asakura

'He's Not Special' - Alexandre Pantoja Slammed by UFC 310 Title Challenger Kai AsakuraAlexandre Pantoja is good. Maybe even great, but he’s not special. Coming off a successful albeit challenging defense against…

'He's Not Special' - Alexandre Pantoja Slammed by UFC 310 Title Challenger Kai Asakura

Alexandre Pantoja is good. Maybe even great, but he’s not special.

Coming off a successful albeit challenging defense against Steve Erceg in May, ‘The Cannibal’ will put his flyweight world title on the line when he welcomes two-time RIZIN champion Kai Asakura to the Octagon at UFC 310.

Kai Asakura

Asakura getting a title shot in his first career fight under the UFC banner came as quite a surprise to many fight fans, but anyone familiar with Asakura’s work can certainly understand why Dana White and Co. handed him the instant opportunity.

Primarily competing in RIZIN, Asakura is 21-4 with 13 of his victories coming via KO/TKO, and held the promotion’s bantamweight belt on two separate occasions.

Some would say that the 31-year-old veteran is a special kind of athlete. Too bad he can’t say the same about Pantoja.

“Pantoja is great at everything, but he’s not special at anything; he doesn’t have a unique skill in one area that makes him better than anyone else,” Asakura told E. Spencer Kyte of UFC.com. “What makes him better than anyone else is his heart — he’s got great heart, and that’s what makes him a great champion, but I don’t see him representing any problems for me anywhere. He’s someone I don’t think I’ll have any problem dealing with.

The advantage I hold over Pantoja is that I have one-shot knockout power, so it only takes one shot. And I’m expecting this fight to be over with one shot. I know in the history of the UFC, there have been many famous knockout scenes, but I’m hoping that at UFC 310, I can add my finish to those highlight reels.

Kai Asakura

Kai Asakura plans on beating Pantoja to become the uFC’s first Japanese World champion

Over the UFC’s 31+ years of existence, the promotion has hosted a slew of top-tier talent from The Land of the Rising Sun — Kyoji Horiguchi, Yushin Okami, Takanora Gomi, Yoshihiro Akiyama, and Tatsuro Taira, to name a few.

However, none of them ever held UFC gold. In fact, no fighter from Japan has ever become a UFC champion in the modern era — something Asakura plans to remedy on December 7.

Kai Asakura

“Until now, there have been many fighters In the UFC from Japan who have fought and tried to win a title, and none of them have been successful,” Asakura said. “I feel like there is an impression amongst fight fans that Japanese fighters aren’t that strong, so my goal is to go there and prove that the Japanese fighters are amongst the best fighters in the world.

“I want to bring back MMA’s popularity in Japan, and provide a place where my friends, teammates, and other fighters are able to earn a living in Japan. I feel like someone has to bring the MMA scene back to Japan, and I’m very proud that I’m part of the Japanese generation that will bring MMA popularity back to Japan.”

Kai Asakura Explains Why Title Win Over Alexandre Pantoja Would Be Good For UFC

UFC flyweight newcomer Kai Asakura believes the promotion should be rooting for him when he challenges for gold in his very first Octagon outing. Asakura, a former champion under the Rizin banner in Asia, has a rare chance to reach a UFC throne in his very first fight for the promotion. After signing earlier this […]

UFC flyweight newcomer Kai Asakura believes the promotion should be rooting for him when he challenges for gold in his very first Octagon outing.

Asakura, a former champion under the Rizin banner in Asia, has a rare chance to reach a UFC throne in his very first fight for the promotion. After signing earlier this year, the Japanese star’s debut was announced for UFC 310 next month.

Inside T-Mobile Arena, the 31-year-old will challenge the reign of Alexandre Pantoja in the pay-per-view main event. The pair were elevated to headline status after the withdrawal of Belal Muhammad from his scheduled welterweight title defense.

While he may be an unknown entity to much of the UFC fanbase, Asakura is bringing over a sizable following from his native Japan. But beyond just that, the incoming fighter sees another reason why a victory on Dec. 7 would be beneficial for his new employer.

During a recent interview with MMA Junkie‘s Mike Bohn, Asakura suggested that a title crowning in his debut would be “good business” for the UFC.

Though some might point to his stardom in the East as the grounds for that, the ex-Rizin kingpin instead labeled his entertaining style and the first-time matchups that would await him as UFC flyweight champion.

“Let’s be honest: It’s good business for the UFC if I win,” Asakura said. “I’m here to make it exciting, for people to have interest in the flyweight division and have a whole bunch of new matchups ready to have on future shows.

“I’m a little bit different than the other fighters in the flyweight division, I have the ability to capitalize on one of (Pantoja’s) misses and put him to sleep. That’s what I’m aiming for, and I think that’s what makes my challenge for this title fight different than anyone else,” Asakura continued. “I hope one day Dana White will turn to the audience and say, ‘This kid is a special KO artist, a KO machine.’”

Before looking to prove as much by enjoying an exciting rule over the flyweight division, Asakura must first unseat Pantoja. That will be no easy feat given how “The Cannibal” has turned away challenges from Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg since dethroning Brandon Moreno in July 2023.

Askaura, though, is high in self-belief and plans on making sure his name is known by the MMA masses come fight night at T-Mobile Arena on Dec. 7.

Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura – Odds Shift and Match Preview

Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura - Odds Shift and Match PreviewThe upcoming UFC flyweight title fight between champion Alexandre Pantoja and challenger Kai Asakura is generating significant interest in…

Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura - Odds Shift and Match Preview

The upcoming UFC flyweight title fight between champion Alexandre Pantoja and challenger Kai Asakura is generating significant interest in the MMA world. This bout is scheduled to take place at UFC 310 on December 7, 2024, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura

The odds have shifted slightly since they were first released. Initially, Alexandre Pantoja opened as a -210 favorite, with Asakura as a +180 underdog. The current odds show a slight movement in Asakura’s favor, suggesting that some bettors see value in the challenger or believe he has a better chance than initially thought. Play the odds with online pokies right here.

It’s worth noting that while Alexandre Pantoja is favored, the odds aren’t overwhelmingly in his favor. This could be due to Asakura’s impressive record and finishing ability. The current odds for the UFC flyweight title fight between Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Asakura reflect Pantoja’s status as the favorite to retain his championship. Pantoja is listed at 4/9 odds, while Asakura is the underdog at 7/4.

Brazil’s Alexandre Pantoja is the reigning UFC flyweight champion and has successfully defended his title twice already. He has an impressive record of 28 wins and only 5 losses, with a strong track record in the UFC. Pantoja’s experience in five-round championship fights and his familiarity with the UFC’s competition level give him a significant advantage.

Alexandre Pantoja UFC 310

He’s known for his well-rounded skillset, combining excellent Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with effective striking. Pantoja has been on a remarkable run in the UFC with wins over fighters such as Steve Erceg, Steve Erceg, Manel Kape, and Brandon Moreno.

Kai Asakura, while a talented fighter with a 21-4 record, is making his UFC debut in this title fight. He’s moving up from the Japanese promotion Rizin, where he was a bantamweight champion. However, transitioning to the UFC and dropping down to flyweight for the first time in years presents challenges that likely contribute to his underdog status.

The Japanese striker is known for his aggressive, finish-focused style, with 13 of his 21 wins coming by knockout. he trained in Karate when he was younger but would cut his teeth in street fights alongside his brother where the two were prepared to die. Eventually, he would go into boxing and transitioned to professional MMA. Most recently, he is coming off of a knockout win against Bellator champion Juan Archuleta.

Pantoja’s grappling ability and well-rounded game will be pitted against Asakura’s explosive striking and knockout power. While Pantoja has the advantage of UFC experience and a proven track record against top-tier competition, Asakura brings knockout power in his hands.

This fight is particularly significant as it represents a fresh challenge in the flyweight division. Pantoja has already defeated several top contenders, and Asakura’s entry into the UFC brings new blood to the weight class. It’s also a historic opportunity for Asakura, as a win would make him the first Japanese fighter to hold a UFC title since Kazushi Sakuraba captured a tournament crown in 1997.

This matchup promises to be an exciting clash between an established UFC champion and a dangerous newcomer.

Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura – Odds Shift and Match Preview

Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura - Odds Shift and Match PreviewThe upcoming UFC flyweight title fight between champion Alexandre Pantoja and challenger Kai Asakura is generating significant interest in…

Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura - Odds Shift and Match Preview

The upcoming UFC flyweight title fight between champion Alexandre Pantoja and challenger Kai Asakura is generating significant interest in the MMA world. This bout is scheduled to take place at UFC 310 on December 7, 2024, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura

The odds have shifted slightly since they were first released. Initially, Alexandre Pantoja opened as a -210 favorite, with Asakura as a +180 underdog. The current odds show a slight movement in Asakura’s favor, suggesting that some bettors see value in the challenger or believe he has a better chance than initially thought. Play the odds with online pokies right here.

It’s worth noting that while Alexandre Pantoja is favored, the odds aren’t overwhelmingly in his favor. This could be due to Asakura’s impressive record and finishing ability. The current odds for the UFC flyweight title fight between Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Asakura reflect Pantoja’s status as the favorite to retain his championship. Pantoja is listed at 4/9 odds, while Asakura is the underdog at 7/4.

Brazil’s Alexandre Pantoja is the reigning UFC flyweight champion and has successfully defended his title twice already. He has an impressive record of 28 wins and only 5 losses, with a strong track record in the UFC. Pantoja’s experience in five-round championship fights and his familiarity with the UFC’s competition level give him a significant advantage.

Alexandre Pantoja UFC 310

He’s known for his well-rounded skillset, combining excellent Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with effective striking. Pantoja has been on a remarkable run in the UFC with wins over fighters such as Steve Erceg, Steve Erceg, Manel Kape, and Brandon Moreno.

Kai Asakura, while a talented fighter with a 21-4 record, is making his UFC debut in this title fight. He’s moving up from the Japanese promotion Rizin, where he was a bantamweight champion. However, transitioning to the UFC and dropping down to flyweight for the first time in years presents challenges that likely contribute to his underdog status.

The Japanese striker is known for his aggressive, finish-focused style, with 13 of his 21 wins coming by knockout. he trained in Karate when he was younger but would cut his teeth in street fights alongside his brother where the two were prepared to die. Eventually, he would go into boxing and transitioned to professional MMA. Most recently, he is coming off of a knockout win against Bellator champion Juan Archuleta.

Pantoja’s grappling ability and well-rounded game will be pitted against Asakura’s explosive striking and knockout power. While Pantoja has the advantage of UFC experience and a proven track record against top-tier competition, Asakura brings knockout power in his hands.

This fight is particularly significant as it represents a fresh challenge in the flyweight division. Pantoja has already defeated several top contenders, and Asakura’s entry into the UFC brings new blood to the weight class. It’s also a historic opportunity for Asakura, as a win would make him the first Japanese fighter to hold a UFC title since Kazushi Sakuraba captured a tournament crown in 1997.

This matchup promises to be an exciting clash between an established UFC champion and a dangerous newcomer.