Pantoja v Asakura picks & predictions | UFC 310 main event

Reigning flyweight king Alexandre Pantoja will defend his belt against newcomer Kai Asakura at the T-Mobile Arena for the UFC 310 main event this Saturday night. Pantoja has looked resolute in recent title defences but faces an intriguing new test from the Japanese MMA star. Read on for BP’s full fight preview and free betting strategy.

Pantoja vs Asakura fight preview

Alexandre Pantoja vs Kai Asakura

Alexandre Pantoja (28-5-0) secured the UFC flyweight belt in July 2023 with a tough split-decision win over Brandon Moreno. The Brazilian subsequently defended his crown twice with five-round wins over Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg. The 36-year-old is riding a five-fight win streak and enters this bout as a short-priced favourite with leading online bookmakers.

Pantoja is not particularly explosive but finds a way to wear his opponents down, especially during the championship rounds. His relentless takedowns are well timed and can disrupt the strategy of his opponents, who must enter the fray with caution to avoid being taken to the mat. He possesses a well-rounded skillset, but pundits are expecting his grappling and submission talents to be the difference.

Kai Asakura (21-4-0) makes his UFC debut in Las Vegas after carving out a solid career with the Rizin promotion, where he held the bantamweight title. The Japanese fighter has not fought at 125 pounds for many years and is expected to struggle with the weight cut leading up to this contest. The 31-year-old will enjoy a significant size and reach advantage, but he may face cardio issues the longer the bout lasts.

Asakura is a dynamic striker with fast footwork and knockout power. He has never fought beyond three rounds and will be hunting an early finish to avoid the dreaded deep waters. He possesses a devastating step-in knee strike that can stop any opponent, while his boxing is sharp and crisp and will appear superior from the opening bell.

Pantoja vs Asakura betting strategy

Punters are expecting the battle-tested endurance of Pantoja to prevail. If he can avoid the early dangers of Asakura’s striking by landing takedowns in the first and second rounds, the champion should be able to grind down the challenger and earn a decision win or a late submission.

The two obvious potential outcomes are either Asakura by early knockout or Pantoja by late-round dominance. If you are keen on the champion, consider a small saver on the challenger via KO at nice odds around the +350 mark. We are sticking with the proven commodity and tipping Pantoja via submission.

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