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‘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 Asakura Alexandre Pantoja is good. Maybe even great, but he’s not special. Coming off a successful albeit challenging defense against…

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.

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 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.

“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.”

Former UFC Champion Points Out Huge Difference Kai Asakura Will Have To Adapt To At UFC 310

One of the most exciting elements of the UFC’s final PPV event of 2024 is the introduction of a new superstar who is going right into a main event title fight. Kai Asakura has already become a huge name in Japan through the time he has spent in RIZIN. Though the 31-year old has fought […]

Though the 31-year old has fought some names that UFC fans will recognise, not to mention some of the acclaim he has received during his time in Japan, December 7 is when we all get to find out how he will fare in the UFC’s flyweight division when he challenges Alexandre Pantoja for the 125-pound title.

Asakura’s highlight reel, which fans will become used to seeing in the promos for UFC 310, paints a good picture of who he is as a fighter. He does his best work on the feet and has some signature finishes to go with his striking skills.

That then opens up the question of how he will perform when facing a very high-level grappler in Pantoja who is usually so dominant on the ground. In a recent YouTube video, UFC commentator and former champion Michael Bisping added another question mark to this debate.

He pointed out that just like when the UFC and PRIDE fighters would crossover back in the day, fighters would have to adapt to fighting in a ring or a cage and that could be a factor in Las Vegas’ main event clash because it changes the way that you defend takedowns.

“The big difference between PRIDE and the UFC is that they are competed in a ring and the reason why this is going to be interesting is because has he adapted his style to the UFC, has he been training in a cage? In his fights, for example his last one against Juan Archuleta, Juan Archuleta was trying to take him down. Up against the ring, under the ropes, he was sprawling and his legs were all the way past, they were right past the end of the ropes on the apron of the ring… obviously, in a cage, you can’t do that. So if you’re pushed up against it, your feet are perpendicular to your body and that makes it easier for somebody like Alexandre Pantoja to get a hold of a leg.”

Former UFC Champion Points Out Huge Difference Kai Asakura Will Have To Adapt To At UFC 310

“The big difference between PRIDE and the UFC is that they are competed in a ring and the reason why this is going to be interesting is because has he adapted his style to the UFC, has he been training in a cage? In his fights, for example his last one against Juan Archuleta, Juan Archuleta was trying to take him down. Up against the ring, under the ropes, he was sprawling and his legs were all the way past, they were right past the end of the ropes on the apron of the ring… obviously, in a cage, you can’t do that. So if you’re pushed up against it, your feet are perpendicular to your body and that makes it easier for somebody like Alexandre Pantoja to get a hold of a leg.”

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.

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— ?? ? Kai Asakura (@kai_1031_) November 25, 2024

Read More: Kai Asakura Reveals UFC’s Original Plan For Him Fell Through

Kai Asakura Reveals UFC’s Original Plan For Him Fell Through

Fight fans were very surprised to see that Kai Asakura would be fighting for the UFC flyweight title on his Octagon debut at UFC 310. The former RIZIN bantamweight champion is a big star in Japan so it would make sense why the UFC would want to showcase him. That being said, plenty of big […]

That being said, plenty of big signings have arrived in the promotion before and not gone straight into a title shot. Fighters like Michael Chandler, Ji?í Procházka, Kayla Harrison and Michael “Venom” Page all entered the UFC and went straight into a fight within the top 15 rankings of their divisions.

When it was announced that Asakura has signed with the MMA leader, it was reported that he would be jumping right into the top five of the flyweight division after deciding to move down from bantamweight which he plans on returning to in the future. In a recent interview with MMA Junkie, the title challenger was asked whether his discussions with the UFC always involved him facing Alexandre Pantoja for the gold.

He revealed that the original plan that was put in place was for him to face a top three guy in the division in his debut. Asakura said that once it became clear that this wasn’t happening, an offer he couldn’t refuse landed on his lap instead.

“We as a team had discussed with them about fighting somebody in the top three and they had agreed to provide a top three challenger for me and we had a fight. It unfortunately fell through and then after that fight fell through, I was given this opportunity to fight for the title and of course, we took it right away.”

The proposed fight that Asakura may be referring to was a match-up with Brandon Royval that “Raw Dawg” said he was offered for UFC 305 this past August. Royval instead went on to face Asakura’s fellow Japanese standout, Tatsuro Taira, in October.

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 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.

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.