Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura December 7 2024 – UFC 310 will witness a stellar clash in the flyweight division where the UFC Flyweight Title is at stake. The fight will see champion Alexandre “The Cannibal” Pantoja defend his title against Kai Asakura. Pantoja currently holds a record of 28-5-0, a very good record which puts him among the best flyweights in the division. Asakura has a record of 21-4-0 and is aiming to win his first title in the UFC and make himself one of the premier fighters. This match is bound to be entertaining as both the fighters have impressive striking and grappling skills and will be looking to finish the fight.
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura December 7 2024 Fight Details
| When: | Saturday, December 7, 2024 | Time: 10:00 PM ET |
| Where: | T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
| Stream: | UFC Fight Pass |
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura Tale of the Tape
| Pantoja | Asakura | |
| Wins/Losses/Draws | 28-5-0 | 21-4-0 |
| Average Fight Time | 13:01 | – |
| Height | 5′ 5″ | 5′ 8″ |
| Weight | 125 lbs. | 125 lbs. |
| Reach | 67″ | 69″ |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Strikes Landed per Min. | 4.41 | 0.0 |
| Striking Accuracy | 49% | 0% |
| Strikes Absorbed per Min. | 3.97 | 0.0 |
| Defense | 50% | 0% |
| Takedowns Average/15 min. | 2.61 | 0.0 |
| Takedown Accuracy | 47% | 0% |
| Takedown Defense | 68% | 0% |
| Submission Average/15 min. | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura Betting Odds
| Moneyline | |
| Pantoja | -225 |
| Asakura | +185 |
The odds indicate that Pantoja is the favorite in this bout and he is the clear odds-on favorite to win. With odds of – 225 , Pantoja is likely to emerge win the bout, as the odds also put Asakura at +185 and claim he is not one to sleep on. Asakura’s striking ability and tendency to catch his opponents absentmindedly make this fight a risky affair for the champion. Predictably, it is those who are looking for an upset who will back Asakura, who has a good chance of scoring a knockout at -185.
Alexandre Pantoja
Alexandre Pantoja, nicknamed “The Cannibal”, fight record speaks for itself, with a 28-5-0. He currently serves as the Flyweight Champion of the promotion, having solid grappling and striking. His most notable strength is his grappling; he is able to average 2.61 takedowns and 0.8 submissions in a 15-minute workout. His global skills are accentuated by a 68% takedown defense and 49% striking accuracy ratio. Well-known in the flyweight division, Pantoja has outclassed Brandon Moreno and Erceg earning both recognition and pride as a fighter who can dictate the pace and flow of the contest. A few of his strengths can be quite dangerous, especially in terms of striking but overall Pantoja prefers closing the distance and taking his opponent to the mat. Undoubtedly Pantoja is heavily favored to defend his title, based on his adaptability but he does have to be careful and on his toes against Asakura’s reach and striking strength.
Kai Asakura
Kai Asakura (21-4-0) comes into this bout with a few career knockouts and a considerable striking skill set. Standing at 5’8′ and having a 69″ reach, he holds a physical advantage over Pantoja (reach of 67″), making him effective in a stance. Pantoja might face problems with the aggressive striking of Asakura and this could cost him the fight if it is kept on the feet. Nonetheless, grappling could be a problem as his takedown defense is not yet tested on the UFC level. Asakura has difficulty with well-rounded opponents who can dictate the fight from the top; a problem since Pantoja’s grappling is a real durability issue. If Asakura can stop the takedown and hand strike precisely in the beginning pockets, he has a chance to win. However, avoiding Pantoja’s ground game will be key for the victory in this bout.
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura Summary
The clash between Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Asakura is expected to be an entertaining one. Pantoja has been tipped to win this match, probably because he cannot be held back. With grappling being one of his best features, it will most probably be overwhelming for Asakura who has never fought an opponent with such high wrestling skills. Pantoja’s striking is also reasonably good for him to be able to maintain his competitiveness on the feet when necessary. Asakura would be well advised to attempt to make the fight stand up, and utilize his reach and striking to try and outpoint Pantoja, but this seems very improbable when faced with an experienced fighter like Pantoja.
With Pantoja’s all-round skill set, one can say that he is the favorite for this tournament. Although Asakura has strength when it comes to potential knockouts, he would need to be extremely focused to counter Pantoja’s ground game. Ultimately because of Pantoja ‘s well diverse set of skills on the feet and on the ground he is the more active fighter and should be able to win this flyweight title fight. Pantoja should not have any problems retaining his title probably either by a decision or by submission in the late rounds.
