Tag: Editorials

If you consider yourself an MMA and UFC enthusiast, you are in luck because the next big event organized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship is coming in thick and fast. This upcoming weekend, all eyes in the realm of mixed martial arts and fighting sports in general will be pointed at Las Vegas, the unofficial home of the biggest fights in the world. With UFC 310 coming our way on Saturday, there are so many reasons to be excited. It did not take long to get right back to it as 309 has recently finished after some amazing bouts in multiple divisions and cards. Now, it is a new selection of 14 fights that will grace the screens of ESPN as well as thousands in attendance in the City of Sin.

Fans of the sport do not need a lot of introduction, but a guide is quite important at this time for those looking to place a few bets on these bouts. MMA is one of the best sports to wager on as it is straightforward, engaging, exciting, and above all full of suspense. Despite certain fighters being the favorites in their respective fights, all it takes is a single good punch or kick for a total knockout to take place. Therefore, it is important to get all the facts on your side as well as to examine the latest predictions and odds. What is more, why not take your attention to the Alexandre Pantoja exclusive interview with Stake where he reveals his predictions as well as talk about the sport in general?  

UFC 310 Pantoja vs. Asakura Details

The online gambling and sports betting platform Stake is already famous for its exclusive interviews with major sports stars. They always go out of their way to bring their users and players the latest and freshest information on upcoming events so that they can make better bets on their services and get a higher chance of winning. This time around, they got the fighter whose bout is headlining the whole event. The official name is UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura so the defending champion and favorite sat down with the sportsbook’s representatives for an insightful talk you need to know about.

As mentioned, it is once again Las Vegas as the home of the biggest fights in the world. The famous T-Mobile Arena in Paradise will host the 14 fights on Saturday, December 7, 2024. Pantoja is fighting the promotional newcomer, Rizin Bantamweight Champion Kai Asakura out of Japan. Their fight was supposed to be the co-headliner but it is now the main event as the other one, between Belal Muhammad and Shavkat Rakhmonov, was canceled. Muhammad, the current welterweight champion, was supposed to fight the undefeated contender Rakhmonov but suffered a bone infection in his foot. Nevertheless, we are still getting a great fight in the main card. 

As the defending champion and an experienced UFC fighter, Alexandre “The Cannibal” Pantoja Passidomo being the favorite makes sense. He stands at 5 ft 5 in (165 cm), weighs 125 lb (57 kg), and has a reach of 68 in (173 cm). His team is American Top Team and he has a black belt in Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu. He has been active since 2007 and has so far had 33 fights. In his 28 wins, there were 8 knockouts, 10 submission wins, and 10 wins by decision. He has lost only 5 times in the meantime, all by decision. Pantoja is a much more experienced and well-known fighter and should have advantages in certain areas. 

Out of Japan, Kai Asakura is a former two-time Rizin bantamweight champion and a promotional UFC newcomer, and therefore the underdog on paper. Fighting out of Tokyo, his team is Japan Top Team and he has been active since 2012. He stands at 5 ft 8 in (173 cm), weighs 134 lb (61 kg), and has a reach of 69 in (175 cm). This makes him taller and heavier and gives him a slightly longer reach. Asakura fought in 25 duels so far, winning 21 and losing 4. He won 13 by knockout, 3 by submission, and 5 by decision. Among his losses, there were 3 knockouts and 1 by decision. Apart from these MMA pro fights, he fought in 10 amateur fights, winning 8 (5 KOs, 1 submission, 2 decisions) and losing 2 (decision). 

What Was Said in the Interview?

When Stake.com sat down to talk with the current UFC Flyweight Champion, there were many topics discussed. First off, he was asked about the current state of his division, especially after Dana White wanted to shut it down in 2019. Now, it is among the most popular divisions and Pantoja knows exactly why. 

“The flyweight division is the best it has ever been. The fighters before me such as Demetrious Johnson were the best fighters in the world for so many years.” Indeed, it was the big names that made the flyweight what it is today. He continued, saying, “Right now, everyone can tell you 5 or 10 names in the Flyweight division. If you go back to 2019, you wouldn’t be able to. Now everyone knows Brandon Moreno, Deiveson Figueiredo, Muhamad Mokaev, Kai Kara France, and even my opponent Kai Asakura.” 

Commenting on how UFC crossed over with other MMA talent and championships like with Japan’s Rizin and his opponent Kai Asakura. Of course, he agrees it is very good for the sport as he commented on being open to fighting Rodtang from One Championship or someone else from another franchise. “The Rodtang fight would be a great fight. However, we have rankings for a reason. Currently, we are already bringing another champion Kai Asakura to the UFC to fight me. After that, I think it will be better for me to fight someone within the rankings and give them a title shot too.” 

It makes sense for him to want to clash with other fighters from his championship, even though he has beaten a lot of them. The champ then added, without being too modest about his success, “I know I have beaten everyone in the division already, and the guys I haven’t beaten have been beaten by the guys I beat. Right now, I focus on UFC 310 with a great opponent.” This bold statement is sure to guarantee him a few upcoming fights, don’t you think? 

Touching on the legend of the division, Demetrious Johnson, Pantoja revealed that he was his dream fight. “If I can choose one fight to have it would be him. It’s a different time now. To fight me would be a great opportunity for him to test himself against the best Flyweights of the world.” However, he knows it is impossible as Johnson is enjoying his retirement, “ I understand he has a good life in retirement and the Flyweight division is much bigger now, it’s time for the new Flyweights to have that opportunity.” 

Pantoja also commented on the next potential challenger for his title and whether Brandon Royval or Brandon Moreno deserves the chance. Both have won since fighting Pantoja, so he gave his insight into who is currently in the front. “This is a hard question. It was meant to be Royval who has just come off two victories. Then you have Moreno who is a big star and the former champion doing a great job with Amir Albazi.” He then joked, “Maybe you have to bring back Demetrious Johnson and maybe the next will make sense.”

Finally, the Brazillian star commented on the success of his fellow countrymen and the whole of Brazil being so good and famous in the MMA and UFC communities. Charles Oliveira has recently beaten Michael Chandler and Alex Pereira looks to be fighting Jon “Bones” Jones soon, so he had to talk about it of course. Speaking about Pereira and Jones, he said it “will be a great fight,” adding, “Dana White doesn’t want to make that fight because one of them will lose, but that’s the fight to make [right now]. Jones looked incredible against Stipe Miocic and Pereira’s last three fights have been amazing.” 

When picking the potential winner, he did give Jones the advantage, saying, “I think Jon Jones has a 60-40 advantage over Pereira because of his long experience, wrestling, and very good striking too.” He then moved to Charles Oliveira and a rematch with Islam Makhchaev, saying he “had an easy job against Michael Chandler. Chandler and Islam Makhachev are two very different fighters. When Makhachev steps into the Octagon, he is ready for war and is coming to kill or die. You can see it in his eyes, if Charles can have these eyes too, he can beat whoever he wants.” High praise from one Brazillian to another. 

The interview came to a close as Pantoja reflected on being a Brazillian fighter right now, “It’s great to be a part of Brazil’s greatest fighters. When you talk about Oliveira, Minotauro Nogueira, Fabricio Werdum, Anderson Silva, and Jose Aldo, you see that we are the country of fighters.” He really enjoys it, as he explains, “We know how to fight and have the mentality to absorb every war, we have the ability to absorb Muy Thai, Jou-Jitsu from Japan, and now in America to train wrestling.” With one final piece of advice, Pantoja reveals, “I say to my fellow Brazilian fighters that you need to travel and find yourself and that is how you evolve.” 

UFC 310 Odds and Predictions

To Bet on UFC successfully and win money in the process, you have to know the latest odds that Stake gives the players. Between the 14 fights awaiting you, there is no shortage of action to be had. Starting with the headline event, it should be no surprise that Alexandre Pantoja is the clear favorite according to the experts. They give him the odds of 1.38 to beat Kai Asakura, who is stuck at 3.15 at the moment. The Japanese hopeful is hardly without a chance, but newcomers often come with slightly worse odds and big chips on their shoulders. 

In the other fights, Vicente Luque is the underdog with 2.35 odds against Themba Gorimbo with 1.63. A very lopsided fight will take place when Kennedy Nzechukwu faces off against Lukasz Brzeski, as their odds are 1.18 and 5.20, respectively. Still, that is not the most one-sided matchup. That would be Chase Hooper with 1.10 odds against Clay Guida with 7.40, as it is literally a sparring match for Hooper based on the odds. 

A more balanced bout will happen with Max Griffin and Michael Chiesa, as Griffin is at 1.79 odds at the moment while Chiesa is at 2.08. These are good odds for both which should mean a good fight. There is a slightly less even matchup between Joshua Van and Cody Durden with 1.66 and 2.28 odds, respectively. In case you are a fan of coin toss fights where anyone can win, then the Eryk Anders versus Chris Weidman bout is the right one for you. Weidman is at 1.91 odds and Anders is at 1.94. It can hardly get any closer than this. 

Bryan Battle has 1.44 odds against Randy Brown with 2.85 while Movsar Evloev is the heavy favorite against Aljamain Sterling with 3.15. Between Dominick Reyes with 1.30 and Anthony Smith with 3.65, it is clear who should take the bout according to the bookies. Similarly, Nate Landwehr is the favorite against Doo Ho Choi who is at 2.19 at the moment. In another lopsided affair, Bryce Mitchel (1.14) should have a walk in the park in his fight against Kron Gracie (6.00). 

In a battle of well-known names and experienced veterans, Alexander Volkov does not fair too well with 3.70 odds against Ciryl Gane who is at 1.30. Much the same can be said for Ian Garry and his odds of 3.90 once he steps into the Octagon for his duel with Shavkat Rakhmonov with 1.28. From the names alone it is easy why the odds difference is so large in this fight, but then again, UFC has surprised us many times before.

Rejoice fighting sports fans, it is time for another edition of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, which means another spectacle. Mixed martial arts are more popular than ever, evident by the ecstasy surrounding every primetime event the company does. The latest one is coming up quickly as it is mere days before we are glued to our screens, the lucky ones watching in the stands, as some of the best MMA fighters look for glory. 

A lot will be on the line as some exciting fights await. Most importantly for this article, Alexa Graso will be fighting Valentina Shevchenko in their third duel, another championship match to either keep the title or relinquish it to its previous owner. The fans and sports betting enthusiasts are eager for their upcoming third matchup. In this article, we take a closer look at what Grasso, the reigning champion of the women’s Flyweight category Alexa Grasso, had to say in her exclusive interview with Stake.com. 

The fight is the second main card bout, just after the titular Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili. The two ladies met for the first time in March of 2023 at UFC 285 when Grasso won the title. Then they fought at the aforementioned UFC Fight Night in September of the same year, a split draw. Fans are hungry for a win this time around, but who will prevail? Let us see what she had to say and what kind of predictions we can draw from it. 

What Was the Interview About?

Stake sat down with the MMA legend, who is also a Stake UFC Ambassador, to talk the upcoming event as well as her career and life in general. It is a big moment in her sports career and the perfect moment for her to share what has been going through her mind in recent months. The Mexican talked in detail about the rivalry she has with her Kyrgyzstani/Peruvian colleague, as well as what an honor it is to again be part of the Noche night. An inspiration for the next generation of aspiring Mexican girls, she knows what she represents and how much of a role model she can be. 

Speaking of her home country and the MMA growth in Mexico, Grasso claimed that “Right now Jiu-Jitsu tournaments are full […]. Some even have main events fights which feature women.” Of course, this is great for the sport, for the fans, and for the fighting sports betting in the country. The more diverse the sport is and the more markets it is dominant in, the better and more frequent the events can be. 

When it comes to her rivalry with her upcoming fighter and what she expects from the fight, Grasso revealed that she always wanted to be successful like her, fight her, and beat her. “Even when I was […] in the flyweight division, Valentina Shevchenko was always the goal”. This speaks volumes and shows us how she looks at her role model turned rival. Interestingly, she does not agree with the decision that their second match was a draw. “I thought I won the rematch,” she says. Commenting on their current relationship outside of the ring and what can the fans expect during the fight, the Mexican shared the following: “We are both very professional […]. The day of the fight will be different […] we are going to kill each other.” Exactly what can be expected from two champion competitors, wouldn’t you agree? 

Other fighters and potential fights also came up during the Stake interview. The interviewer wanted to know if Grasso had plans or wishes to go up against Weili Zhang anytime soon. The answer is spot on, a treat for every fan of the sport: “Weili Zhang is my dream fight. […] I would love to welcome her”, said Alexa. This is eerily similar to how she would fantasize about fighting Shevchenko as a pattern can clearly be seen. As Grasso eyes this superfight, it is up to Dana to make it happen. Everyone else is on board already! 

The ever-interesting GOAT debate sprung up of course, with the fighter remaining humble and letting others lead that debate. She did share that it is her ultimate goal of course to be the greatest Flyweight of all time, saying, “I’m not the one who chooses that title, but to be the greatest is the goal.”

The interviewer also asked her what she expected from the headline event of Sean O’Malley versus Merab Dvalishvili. Grasso stated, “[Sean O’Malley] will have the power to hurt Merab badly, but Merab is also a very good wrestler.” Does that sound like a first-hand prediction from a legend of the sport commenting on her fellow fighters’ matchup? Sure seems like it! Make sure to read the entire Alexa Grasso exclusive interview with Stake and learn what else the legendary fighter had to say. 

Who is Alexa Grasso?

Now that you know about the latest about her fights and what she expects from the future, how about a quick look back? What do you know about Grasso and do you know enough to place a quality bet on her fights? If not, don’t worry as we have you covered. Here in this section, we explore her life, most important fights, fighting style, and record.

Born on August 9, 1993 (31 years old) in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Karen Alexa Grasso Montes is the current champion of the UFC’s Flyweight category for women. Apart from her fighting, she also does fight analyses as a broadcaster for UFC Espanol. This makes her one of the best sources of valuable, accurate information regarding the sport as a whole and a trusty voice for all of your bets. 

From the start of her career in 2012 until 2020, her division was Strawweight. For the last four years though, she has been dominating in Flyweight. She is 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) tall and weighs 57 kg (125 lbs). Her reach is 168 cm or 66 inches. Grasso’s team is Lobo Gym and her trainers are Francisco Grasso and Diego Lopes. Alexa has a brown belt in Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu, her main fighting style and the basis of her success. 

The Mexican has been in 20 fights so far. Regarding her career record, it currently stands on 16 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw. By knockout, he beat 4 opponents and 2 by submission. The remaining 10 were by decision. She lost 1 match by submission and 2 by decision. Overall, it is an amazing record worthy of a title belt holder. Her previous two fights, both against Shevchenko and both in 2023, were the highlights of her career. She first beat her by submission (face crank) to win the championship in the performance of the night. Then she retained the belt with a split draw half a year later. If she beats her for the second time and avoids a loss for the third, she will arguably cement her status in the division forever. 

UFC 306 Details

So when does the event take place and what is the location? The upcoming MMA event under the umbrella of the UFC takes place on Saturday, September 14, 2024. As for the location, it will take place at the magnificent modern technological marvel that is the Sphere in Paradise, Las Vegas, Nevada. It will be the first time the Sphere has hosted an Ultime Fighting Championship event. The building, if it can be called that anyway, was literally made for premier events like UFC main events. Las Vegas is entertainment, it is the home of this sport, so it makes sense to hold it here. 

The official name of this iteration is UFC 306: O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili, or for sponsorship reasons, Riyadh Season Noche UFC. It is the second time that it bears the name “Noche” as it doubles as a celebration of Mexican Independence Day. The first time around was two years ago for the UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2. What better way to mark the third fight between the two fighters than to recall the last time they faced off?

According to the CEO of Ultimate Fighting Championship Dana White, the event is going to take us through the history of combat sports in Mexico. There are going to be film clips shown as well as tributes. It is bound to be a visual spectacle since the LED screens inside the arena are to be used for this. Make sure to check out Stake UFC predictions to prepare for these fights and get all the information about the fighters’ odds. 

Other UFC 306 Fights

The headline bout of this event is the battle between the current Bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili. In the men’s Featherweight, it will be Brian Ortega against Diego Lopes, while the Lightweight matchup is headlined by Daniel Zellhuber versus Esteban Ribovics. Finally, the men’s Flyweight main card bout will see Ronaldo Rodriguez take on Ode’ Osbourne. This is not all, however. There are 5 more fights planned for this amazing Vegas event that has all it needs to be one for the ages. 

In the preliminary card round, there are going to be 2 more women’s matchups. In the Bantamweight Irene Aldana will fight Norma Dumont, and in the Straightweight, Yazmin Jauregui faces off against Ketlen Souza. The men’s preliminary card will see a Lightweight duel between Ignacio Bahamondes and Manuel Torress, as well as a Flyweight fight where Edgar Chairez battles Joshua Van. Finally, an early preliminary card Bantamweight matchup is also scheduled between Raul Rosas Jr. and Aori Qileng. 

Interesting Facts about Grasso

She was the first Mexican woman to win a UFC championship which instantly made her a hero not just in Mexico, but in the whole Latin America. She currently holds one Fight of the Night honor, for her match vs Carla Esparza. If you need more proof that 2023 was her year, know that she won Submission of the Year and Upset of the Year, both against Valentina Shevchenko in their first matchup. Grasso also won Fighter of the Year in 2023 at the World MMA Awards. 

At one time during her career, she contemplated leaving the sport due to rigorous training regimes and a lack of success in her mind. However, with her family as her biggest support, she got through it. Speaking of the family, her parents were supportive all the way from the start. Mothers and fathers do not always want their precious, beautiful daughters to fight for a living, literally, but her parents own a gym and her uncle is her head coach. What a lucky break to have family members understand your love for the cage! 

She once revealed that Joanna Jedrzejzyk is someone she admires, a fighter from her own division. There is nothing wrong with admiring one of your rivals of course, especially when they went 14 – 0 to start the career. Considered the best pound-for-pound female fighter in the sport for a while, she is a great role model to base your fighting on, no doubt about it. 

But what about other people comparing her to some of the best in the sport? Well, she was good enough for that too. Julie Kedzie, former fighter and analyst, compared her to none other than Fedor Emelianenko regarding her matchup with Mizuki Inoue. Considering how much of a turning point the win over the Japanese fighter was, it makes sense that Grasso looked like one of the best fighters in the history of the sport. A high praise indeed, but evidently a justified one. 

Last but not least, do you know that she was interested in natural sciences and morphology while she was at school? A far cry from her life and professional career, she enjoyed morphology classes in college and natural sciences were her favorite in high school. Still, sports took over and she made the right decision ad a crucial time. Her academic career was put on hold but it did not take long for her to became one of the household names in her newfound profession.