Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura 12/7/24 – The wait is finally over as the fans are looking forward to tuning into the broadcast of UFC 310 which will see a title fight at flyweight between Alexandre Pantoja, who has a record of 28-5-0, and Kai Asakura with a record of 21-4-0. This fight appears to be a great fight on this occasion as the stakes are really high which is the flyweight title championship. The fans would be able to watch the match at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday starting at 10:00 PM ET in ESPN+ or UCF fight pass. Moreover, there is a low margin of loss when it comes to betting as this fight provides good value in addition to impeccable fight skills.
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura 12/7/24
| When: | Saturday, December 7, 2024 | Time: 10:00 PM ET |
|---|---|
| Where: | T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |
| TV: | ESPN+ |
| Stream: | UFC Fight Pass |
Alexandre Pantoja is currently favored with odds of 225 over Asakura which gives weight to Pantoja’s chances of keeping his flyweight title. However, there are prospects worth taking if anyone believes Kai Asakura can prove his critics wrong. There is a certain degree of bias present, which favors Pantoja as an established and more consistent performer as compared to the other two fighters. Nevertheless, Asakura’s unique background, along with his marketability makes him appealing to potential bettors as well.
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura 12/7/24 Odds
| Fighter | Odds | Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandre Pantoja | -225 | Kai Asakura | +185 |
Main Card
Alexandre Pantoja
Alexandre “The Cannibal” Pantoja takes 28 wins against five losses into the octagon, having recently performed impressively during fights with Erceg, Moreno, and Royval. With a fight time of slightly over 13 minutes on average, Pantoja has demonstrated his stamina and tactical skills in long fights. He is great in a striking game, scoring 4.41 Significant Strikes landed per Minute (SLpM) which he achieves at 49 percent accuracy. On his back, he is quite effective as well, blocking 50 percent of all his opponents’ significant strikes. Pantoja has an active ground game and averages 2.61 takedowns per 15 minutes at 47 percent accuracy. The title wins as well as his ability to strike and grapple assures he has fully prepared for title defense at UFC 310.
Kai Asakura
The former Rizin bantamweight champion Kai Asakura left his Rizin career with a record of 21-4-0 to make his debut in the UFC. His transition to the UFC had already been fueled by his success and recognition in the Japanese market which is a beneficial region for the UFC. This history made it possible to offer a title bout in his first UFC fight. Even though there is no evaporation of statistics of Asakura’s UFC fights, he has and is expected to have height and reach advantage in this contest. At 5’8” and a reach of 69 inches, he will use those to create distance and counter from various angles against Pantoja. The title shot handed to Asakura upon entering the UFC does indicate that the expectations for him shooting straight to the top are extremely high and that for his backers, this is a potential banana peel for a major upset.
Pantoja vs. Asakura Betting Numbers
| Record | 28-5-0 | 21-4-0 |
| Last Fight | Win | Win |
| Country | Brazil | Japan |
| Height | 5′ 5″ | 5′ 8″ |
| Weight (lbs) | 125 | 125 |
| Reach (in) | 67″ | 69″ |
| Win by KO/TKO | 29% | 62% |
| Win by Submission | 36% | 14% |
| Decisions | 36% | 24% |
| Strikes landed per minute | 4.41 | 0.0 |
| Striking accuracy | 49% | 0% |
| Striking absorbed per minute | 3.97 | 0.0 |
| Striking defense | 50% | 0% |
| Takedown average | 2.61 | 0.0 |
| Takedown accuracy | 47% | 0% |
| Takedown defense | 68% | 0% |
| Submission average | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura Summary
Alexandre Pantoja’s record in the UFC makes him the preferred choice given his overall diverse skill set. He is the better of the two fighters on paper owing to his tactics in striking as well as grappling. On the other hand, Kai Asakura’s status as a previous champion in Japan as well as his physical advantages make him out to be a competent opponent who can potentially dethrone Pantoja. This fight also serves as a clash between two skilled fighters which promotes the growth of the UFC. It may seem to be safer to bet on Pantoja, however, looking for a greater return on investment clearly indicates Asakura’s possibility of an upset. It will be interesting to see how the bout plays out with Pantoja potentially cementing his position or Asakura rising to a whole new level.
