The final UFC Pay-Per-View of the year is finally in sight; a stacked card culminating in a title fight between champion Alexandre Pantoja and a promotional newcomer who could be our next global superstar.
31-year-old Kai Asakura enters the UFC as a former RIZIN bantamweight champion, and you better believe the Japanese phenom will be looking for a “spectacular knockout” when he steps into the cage on December 7 against ' The Cannibal'.
Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC
'Shredded' Kai Asakura is ready to claim UFC gold in his promotional debut
During last weekend's UFC Macau broadcast, the promotion released the latest hype trailer for the final PPV of the year; with Kai Asakura sending an ominous message to his opponent, Alexandre Pantoja.
“Ever since I started fighting, I always wanted to be the best in the world [and] for me it would all be meaningless unless I reached the top.
“I'm here to become a UFC champion, I have a stronger will than anyone else. I know how to achieve my goals and that's all I'm focused on.”
Asakura has 13 career wins by knockout and certainly has the power to finish Pantoja after breaking Ulka Sasaki's jaw in not one, but two places with a vicious combination in 2019.
“My advantage over Pantoja is that I can end the fight with one shot – if he makes even one mistake, the fight could be over… For UFC fans watching me fight for the first time, don't blink! I plan to win with a spectacular knockout.”
The flyweight king meets a challenger from the Far East! 💥
Next week, 🏆@PantojaMMA puts his 125-pound title on the line against Octagon newcomer 🇯🇵@kai_1031_ in the final PPV event of the year for the UFC!
📺📱💻 #UFC310 | 𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐎𝐉𝐀 𝐯𝐬 𝐀𝐒𝐀𝐊𝐔𝐑𝐀 | December 8 pic.twitter.com/0RS1ftpVZv
— UFC_Asia (@UFC_Asia) November 25, 2024
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The 21-4 Japanese star appears to be in great shape ahead of his UFC debut, showing off an insanely ripped physique last week and teasing that: 'I'm here to make the UFC flyweight division very exciting.
'I'm going to put on a show [for the fans]see you soon!”
If you need any more convincing of Asakura's ability to deliver on his promise of a “spectacular knockout,” take a look at some highlights from his career with RIZIN.
UFC 310: The final PPV of the year is stacked from top to bottom
The final PPV of 2024, UFC 310 in December, is a fantastic way to end the year, with multiple former world champions scattered across the card.
As of November 25, and after a quick welterweight realignment with Tampa, this is what the entire UFC 310 card currently looks like.
- Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura – Flyweight
- Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Machado Garry – Welterweight
- Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov – Heavyweight
- Bryce Mitchell vs. Kron Gracie – Featherweight
- Nate Landwehr vs. Dooho Choi – Featherweight
- Dominick Reyes vs. Anthony Smith – Light Heavyweight
- Vicente Luque vs. Themba Gorimbo – Welterweight
- Randy Brown vs. Bryan Battle – Welterweight
- Mosvar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling – Featherweight
- Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders – Catchweight
- Michael Chiesa vs. Max Griffin – Welterweight
- Clay Guida vs. Chase Hooper – Lightweight
- Cody Durden vs. Joshua Van – Flyweight
- Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Lukasz Brzeski – Heavyweight
The event was originally scheduled to feature the return of Nick Diaz, but was canceled shortly after a disturbing video of the UFC icon went viral on social media.
UFC 310: Pantoja vs Asakura airs live from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, December 7.
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