Alexandre Pantoja successfully defended his flyweight title Saturday night with a technical submission of Kai Asakura, using a rear naked choke to put his challenger to sleep at the 2:05 mark of the second round.
Pantoja (29-5) was making his third title defense since winning a split decision over Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 on July 8, 2023.
Asakura (21-5) was making his UFC debut, but was no match for Pantoja, who closed a -275 favorite at BetMGM Sportsbook.
Pantoja punches Asakura in the first round of a flyweight title fight during UFC 310 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images via AFP
Pantoja punches Asakura in the first round of a flyweight title fight during UFC 310 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images via AFP
”This is the UFC level, so high,” said Pantoja, 34, who has won his last seven bouts, including three via rear naked choke. ”You think some Japanese (fighter) going to come here and take my belt? No!
“But, awesome kid, very tough warrior, everybody sees the highlights. But it doesn’t matter. When the Octagon is locked, this is my town, this is my city. I feel freedom when I’m fighting here.”
Pantoja’s far superior skills on the mat outweighed Asakura’s hard-hitting reputation. After a brief scramble to better position himself, Pantoja got Asakura’s back, put him in a body triangle, and then choked him out.
Originally scheduled to fight in the main event until welterweight champion Belal Muhammad pulled out because of a bone infection in his foot, No. 3 Shavkat Rakhmonov (19-0-0) defeated seventh-ranked replacement fighter Ian Machado Garry (15-1-0) by unanimous decision in the co-main event. Rakhmonov, who closed as a -400 favorite, was taken to a decision for the first time in his career.
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After a three-round heavyweight bout, No. 2 contender Ciryl Gane (13-2-0), who went off as a 4-to-1 favorite, earned a split decision over No. 3 Alexander Volkov (38-11-0).
In a featherweight bout, No. 13 Bryce Mitchell (17-3-0) stopped Kron Gracie (5-3-0) 39 seconds into the third round after he followed a powerful body slam with a thunderous forearm to the head. Mitchell closed a massive -1000 favorite.
Bryce Mitchell, center left, stands in the octagon after defeating Kron Gracie in a UFC 310 mixed martial arts featherweight bout.
| Photo Credit:
AP
Bryce Mitchell, center left, stands in the octagon after defeating Kron Gracie in a UFC 310 mixed martial arts featherweight bout.
| Photo Credit:
AP
After the betting market drove the closing price down to +115 on underdog Dooho Choi (16-4-1), he delivered with a stoppage at 3:21 of the third round after putting Nate Landwehr (18-6-0) in a crucifix, and referee Chris Tognoni stopped the scheduled three-round featherweight bout.
Two notable matches earlier in the night included former champions bantamweight Aljamain Sterling and middleweight Chris Weidman.
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Sterling (24-5-0) lost by decision to Movsar Evloev (19-0-0), who has the longest active streak in the UFC featherweight division at eight.
Eryk Anders (18-8-0) topped Chris Weidman (16-9-0) by way of TKO at 4:51 of the second round.
