UFC champion Alexandre Pantoja is set to defend his title against Kai Asakura at UFC 310, now the main event after Belal Muhammad withdrew due to a foot infection, and he anticipates an exciting fight to close out the year.
UFC champ Alexandre Pantoja is gearing up for a thrilling title defense against Kai Asakura. He believes their fight deserves the spotlight at UFC 310’s main event.
Scheduled for Dec. 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, this bout was initially a co-main event. It followed the Belal Muhammad vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov welterweight title clash. However, Belal had to withdraw due to a severe bone infection.
Rakhmonov is open to staying on the card for an interim title fight. Still, as it stands, there’s no main event set.
“I heard about Belal’s injury just two days ago,” Pantoja shared with MMA Fighting. “I was skeptical until I saw him in the hospital. It’s a real issue, infections like these are common in MMA gyms.”
Reflecting on his past experiences, Pantoja added, “I’ve only headlined once before in Brazil at UFC 301. There’s definitely more pressure and responsibilities in that spot.”
He continued, “Selling the pay-per-view and promoting the fight is part of the job. I took a break after my last fight in May, which was much needed for me and my family.”
Feeling rejuvenated, Pantoja said, “I’m fresh and ready now. My family supports me wholeheartedly. I promise to put on a great show without making bold claims of finishing my opponent.”
Pantoja claimed his title after a decision win over Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 in July 2023. Since then, he’s defended it twice against Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg.
His next challenger, Asakura, is the former RIZIN bantamweight champion. Asakura signed with the UFC earlier this year after defeating Juan Archuleta at RIZIN 45.
Pantoja suggests that the UFC should let them headline the pay-per-view finale of the year. “I’m thrilled to be the main event,” he said. “Even though I’m not a big talker, I believe this will be one of the year’s best fights.”
He appreciates the crossover appeal of facing Asakura, a Japanese star. “Fans want to see champions from different promotions face off,” Pantoja noted.
“I’m delighted with this matchup,” he concluded. “Asakura’s popularity in Japan means more eyes on our fight, which is fantastic.”