Watch Kai Asakura get knocked out by fighter Alexandre Pantoja beat easily ahead of title shot debut at UFC 310

Kai Asakura's road to the UFC wasn't easy.

The Japanese flyweight will make his promotional debut when he takes on 125-pound king Alexandre Pantoja in the main event of UFC 310, which takes place Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Asakura enters the premier division of MMA with a record of 21-4. The former RIZIN bantamweight champion has suffered three defeats by knockout, and footage of one of his KO losses has been shared on social media ahead of the final UFC pay-per-view show of 2024.

That's because Pantoja has scored a victory over one of the men who stopped Asakura, Manel Kape.

Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images

Manel Kape vs Kai Asakura revisited ahead of UFC 310

Manel Kape and Kai Asakura met for the vacant bantamweight title at RIZIN 20 in December 2019.

The UFC 310 star earned a split-decision victory when they first fought a year earlier.

Kape got his revenge in the rematch when he showered Asakura with attacks in the second round.

A wild exchange allowed the Portuguese fighter to connect with a clean straight, dropping his opponent. Asakura wasn't out, but he struggled to defend himself as Kape unleashed a series of ground attacks.

The 31-year-old somehow managed to get back up, but he was immediately dropped again.

More dirty ground and bashing from Kape prompted the referee to wave off the fight.

The impressive victory saw Kape sign with the UFC. Since joining Dana White's league, he has had mixed results, losing three of his seven matches in the Octagon so far.

Pantoja defeated him by unanimous decision with relative ease when they clashed at UFC Vegas 18 in February 2021.

Only time will tell if he can match Kape's success against Asakura at UFC 310.

Kai Asakura explains why the UFC would want him to win his debut

Akasura believes it would be better for the flyweight division if he were to unseat Pantoja of his crown at UFC 310.

The talented forward not only claims it would be beneficial for the company if he became the poster child for the 125-pound division, but also believes he has the perfect style to capture fans' imaginations.

“Let's be honest, it's a good thing for the UFC if I win,” Asakura told MMA Junkie.

“I'm here to make it exciting so that people have an interest in the flyweight division and have a whole bunch of new matchups lined up for future shows.

“I hope one day Dana White will turn to the public and say this kid is a special KO artist, a KO machine.”

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