The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) hosted its 310th event on Saturday, featuring a stacked main card that did not disappoint. The highly-anticipated flyweight bout between Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Asakura headlined the event, with Pantoja looking to bounce back from a recent loss and Asakura aiming to make a statement in his UFC debut.
Pantoja, a top-ranked flyweight contender, entered the bout with a record of 24-5-0, having lost his previous fight to Brandon Moreno. Asakura, on the other hand, boasted a record of 18-3-0, with 14 of his wins coming by way of knockout or submission. The Japanese fighter was making his UFC debut, having previously competed in the Rizin Fighting World Grand Prix.
The fight got off to a slow start, with both fighters feeling each other out in the opening round. Pantoja, known for his grappling skills, looked to take the fight to the ground, but Asakura’s takedown defense proved to be effective. Asakura, meanwhile, looked to keep the fight standing, using his quickness and footwork to evade Pantoja’s attacks.
As the fight wore on, Pantoja began to take control, using his superior grappling skills to take Asakura down to the mat. From there, Pantoja was able to transition into dominant positions, landing several strikes and attempting a number of submissions. Asakura, however, refused to back down, using his submission defense to survive the rounds.
In the end, Pantoja’s grappling skills proved to be too much for Asakura, as he secured a unanimous decision victory, winning 30-27 on all three judges’ scorecards. The win marked Pantoja’s 25th professional victory and moved him one step closer to a potential title shot.
The co-main event of the evening featured a welterweight bout between Geoff Neal and Shavkat Rakhmonov. Neal, a veteran of the UFC, entered the bout with a record of 14-4-0, having won his previous two fights. Rakhmonov, on the other hand, boasted a record of 17-0-0, with 12 of his wins coming by way of knockout or submission.
The fight was an exciting one, with both fighters giving it their all. Neal, known for his striking skills, looked to keep the fight standing, using his quickness and footwork to evade Rakhmonov’s attacks. Rakhmonov, meanwhile, looked to use his grappling skills to take Neal down to the mat.
In the end, Rakhmonov’s grappling skills proved to be too much for Neal, as he secured a submission victory in the third round, winning via rear-naked choke. The win marked Rakhmonov’s 18th professional victory and moved him one step closer to a potential title shot.
The event also featured a number of other exciting matchups, including a bantamweight bout between Umar Nurmagomedov and Said Nurmagomedov, and a middleweight bout between Paulo Costa and Dricus du Plessis. In the bantamweight bout, Umar Nurmagomedov secured a unanimous decision victory, winning 30-27 on all three judges’ scorecards. In the middleweight bout, Paulo Costa secured a split decision victory, winning 29-28 on two of the three judges’ scorecards.
Overall, the main card of UFC 310 featured a range of exciting matchups, with a number of fighters making statements and moving one step closer to potential title shots. The event was a success, with a number of fights going the distance and several fighters showcasing their skills in the Octagon.
In addition to the fights, the event also featured a number of other notable moments, including a post-fight interview with Pantoja, in which he called out current flyweight champion, Deiveson Figueiredo. Pantoja stated that he was ready for a title shot and was confident that he had the skills to become the new champion.
The event also featured a tribute to former UFC fighter, Kevin Randleman, who passed away in 2016. Randleman was a pioneer of the sport and was known for his exciting fighting style. The tribute featured a video package highlighting Randleman’s career, as well as a moment of silence in his honor.
In conclusion, the main card of UFC 310 was a success, featuring a range of exciting matchups and a number of fighters making statements. The event was a testament to the skill and dedication of the fighters, as well as the popularity of the sport. The UFC will return to action in the coming weeks, with a number of other events scheduled to take place.
