UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura Fight Card, Predictions, & Odds

Reigning undisputed UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja defends his crown against promotional newcomer Kai Asakura in the main event of UFC 310 on Dec. 7 inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Because of his six-fight win streak and championship experience inside the octagon, Pantoja heads into the match as the favorite with -280 UFC odds.

On the other hand, despite being a champion in his previous organization, Asakura is tagged as the betting underdog with +220 odds at BetMGM’s online sportsbook.

Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura Odds

• Alexandre Pantoja: -280
• Kai Asakura: +220

Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura: Prediction

I predict that Pantoja will submit Asakura in their championship match because his superior grappling skills can neutralize the power and striking precision of the Japanese challenger.

Although Asakura has a height advantage, being 3 inches taller and 2 inches longer in reach, Pantoja could initiate the clinch battle early in the match. This is exactly what the defending champion did against Steve Erceg in his second title defense.

Another factor to consider in this match is the weight cut that Asakura will have because he will cut down 10 more pounds than his usual weight fighting at RIZIN, where he competed as a bantamweight.

This shredding of the extra pounds could affect the mental fortitude of the challenger, which, in turn, influences his performance on fight night. Meanwhile, Pantoja has been competing in the weight class for quite some time now, so cutting the weight will not be an issue for him.

It’ll be another classic battle between a striker and a grappler. I see this match playing out for the Brazilian MMA star to retain his belt with a convincing victory against Asakura and extend his reign in the 125-pound division.

The #UFC310 Artist Series just dropped! 😮‍💨

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— UFC (@ufc) December 3, 2024

Alexandre Pantoja Recent Fight Results

Pantoja signed with the UFC in January 2017 and has only lost three fights in his 15 matches under the promotion. His defeats came against Dustin Ortiz in January 2018, Deiveson Figueiredo in July 2019, and Askar Askarov in July 2020.

Since February 2021, “The Cannibal” has won six straight fights and became the division’s undisputed king in July 2023 when he unanimously beat Brandon Moreno at UFC 290.

Following that championship triumph, Pantoja successfully fended off challenges by Brandon Royval and Erceg to retain his belt at UFC 296 and UFC 301, respectively.

Kai Asakura Recent Fight Results

Asakura has dominated the Japanese MMA scene since his professional debut in September 2012. He finally stayed with the Rizin Fighting Federation in 2017, where he became a top name and a champion.

Before relinquishing the belt and announcing his move to the UFC, Asakura scored notable wins against Manel Kape, Kyoji Horiguchi, and Juan Archuleta. He hopes to become the first UFC champion from Japan.

Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura: Tale of the Tape