UFC 310 delivered a night of unforgettable action, capped by a thrilling main event where Alexandre Pantoja retained his flyweight title with a second-round submission victory over Kai Asakura. The Brazilian champion showcased his aggressive and well-rounded skill set, submitting Asakura with a rear-naked choke at 2:05 of Round 2 to extend his winning streak and strengthen his claim as the best 125-pound fighter in the world.
Entering his third title defense, Pantoja faced a dangerous opponent in Kai Asakura, a Japanese striker making his highly anticipated UFC title debut. Pantoja set the tone early, pressuring Asakura with relentless forward movement and heavy exchanges. His aggression stung the challenger in the opening round, forcing Asakura to fight off his back foot.
In the second round, Pantoja’s relentless approach paid off. The Brazilian took Asakura’s back during a scramble, dragged him to the canvas, and quickly locked in a rear-naked choke. Asakura had no choice but to tap, solidifying Pantoja’s position as the reigning king of the flyweight division.
This marks Pantoja’s seventh consecutive victory and third successful title defense. His performance at UFC 310 was arguably his most impressive to date, further separating him from the competition at 125 pounds.
The UFC 310 preliminary card set the stage with a mix of electrifying finishes and competitive battles:
•Dooho Choi delivered a masterclass performance, stopping Nate Landwehr via strikes from a mounted crucifix in the third round.
•Bryce Mitchell dominated Kron Gracie in a grappling showcase, putting the Brazilian to sleep with vicious elbows from inside his guard.
The preliminaries featured six finishes and three hard-fought decisions, creating a buzz that carried into the main card.
The UFC 310 main card lived up to the hype with dramatic performances across the board:
•Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov: Two heavyweight contenders collided in a close, technical battle. Gane’s speed and footwork earned him a split-decision victory, reaffirming his status as a top contender.
•Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Machado Garry: In a highly anticipated welterweight clash, Rakhmonov handed Garry his first professional loss. The Kazakh standout’s superior pace and grappling secured him the unanimous decision and a future shot at welterweight champion Belal Muhammad.
With UFC 310 in the books, the spotlight remains firmly on Alexandre Pantoja. Riding a seven-fight winning streak and continuing to evolve, the American Top Team standout appears untouchable in the flyweight division. The question now is who will step up to challenge the Brazilian’s reign in 2025.
For fans, UFC 310 will be remembered as a night where stars shone brightly, rising contenders emerged, and champions like Pantoja proved why they sit atop the MMA world.
