UFC 310: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura Preview – Best Fights & Fighters to Watch

The penultimate UFC event of 2024 is set to go down this Saturday (December 7) when UFC 310 takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV.
The Main Event
The main event will see Alexandre Pantoja attempt to defend his UFC flyweight title for the third time when he meets promotional newcomer and RIZIN star Kai Asakura.
THE CHAMP IS READY 😤 @PantojaMMA looks for his third title defense this weekend at #UFC310!
— UFC (@ufc) December 4, 2024
[ LIVE DEC 7 on @ESPNPlus PPV | 10pmET ] pic.twitter.com/g3hMhAbuDy
“The Cannibal” has beaten most of the UFC’s top flyweight talent during his current six-fight winning streak, but if Asakura is able to upset the champion in Las Vegas it would be arguably the most impressive debut performance in UFC history.
One shot from him can end it all 😮💨@Kai_1031_ is coming for flyweight gold at #UFC310! pic.twitter.com/9aaA2gVTiJ
— UFC (@ufc) December 2, 2024
‘Straight Dog to Me’ - Alexandre Pantoja Praised for Fighting Debutant at UFC 310
The Co-Main Event
The night’s co-main event is a pivotal welterweight matchup between undefeated contenders Shakvat Rakhmonov and Ian Machado Garry.
In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death, taxes and @Rakhmonov1994 putting his traditional Kazakh headdress on @JoeRogan after a win.
— UFC (@ufc) December 4, 2024
[ #UFC310 is LIVE on @ESPNPlus PPV | SAT | 📺: https://t.co/SPiHQrFfAc ] pic.twitter.com/9EJ8U9nN0J
Rakhmonov was set to challenge Belal Muhammad for the welterweight belt before Muhammad
was forced off of UFC 310 due to a bone infection, and now Machado Garry will try to spoil the 30-year-old’s title aspirations and secure his own shot at “Remember the Name” in the process.
His rise has been undeniable 😤@IanGarryMMA looks for his biggest victory yet in the #UFC310 co-main event!
— UFC (@ufc) December 4, 2024
[ LIVE DEC 7 on @ESPNPlus PPV | 10pmET ] pic.twitter.com/mcIRulrSNg
Fights You Don’t Want To Miss
Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling
Featherweight is arguably the UFC’s most exciting weight class at the moment, and the winner
of this matchup could be in line for a crack at divisional kingpin Ilia Topuria.
A master on the ground 😤@FunkmasterMMA looks to close out the year with a W Saturday night! #UFC310
— UFC (@ufc) December 4, 2024
[ LIVE on @ESPNPlus PPV | 10pmET/7pmPT ] pic.twitter.com/kVixwSNpyl
Sterling impressed in his featherweight debut at UFC 300 when he defeated Calvin Katter, but if “Funk Master” wants to try and claim a UFC title in a second division then he’ll have to hand Evloev the first loss of his career.
Nate Landwehr vs. Doo Ho Choi
Fans know what to expect when these two men enter the Octagon, and on paper this looks like the clear pre-event pick for Fight of the Night honors at UFC 310.
Nate Landwehr is pure entertainment on the mic 🚂
— UFC (@ufc) November 30, 2024
Don't miss @NateTheTrain fight on #UFC310!
[ LIVE DEC 7 on @ESPNPlus PPV ] pic.twitter.com/mvw25PnBxm
Landwehr had a three-fight win streak snapped by Dan Ige but returned to the win column by stopping Jamall Emmers in March, while Choi is riding the momentum of his first victory since 2016 after he knocked out Bill Algeo in July.
Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov
This is another fight at UFC 310 with serious title implications, as both men are ranked in the heavyweight Top 5 and Volkov is currently on a four-fight win streak.
Delivered a masterpiece his last time in the Octagon 🎨@Ciryl_Gane returns to action at #UFC310!
— UFC (@ufc) December 3, 2024
[ LIVE DEC 7 on @ESPNPlus PPV | 10pmET ] pic.twitter.com/1soFh9SGLg
A win over a former interim champion in Gane could secure Volkov a title shot once the UFC decides what it wants to do with Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall, but “Bon Gamin” will be eager to hand the Russian another loss after taking a unanimous decision when the pair first met in 2021.
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Fighters to Watch
Chris Weidman
Weidman was originally set to face Eryk Anders at UFC 309 before Anders withdrew due to food poisoning, but the UFC worked quickly to rebook the matchup in Las Vegas.
He just never stopped pouring it on 🤯@ChrisWeidman looks to add another win to his incredible resume at #UFC310!
— UFC (@ufc) December 1, 2024
[ LIVE DEC 7 on @ESPNPlus PPV ] pic.twitter.com/K8xN7885Yi
Many fans expected that a fight at Madison Square Garden could be the perfect send off for Weidman, and now it remains to be seen if UFC 310 will be the last time “The All-American” steps into the UFC Octagon.
Dominick Reyes
Reyes famously came up short in a controversial light heavyweight title fight against Jon Jones at UFC 247 before suffering three-straight knockout losses, but after taking some time off the 34-year-old returned in June and stopped Dustin Jacoby in the first round.
Dominant in his last performance out 😮💨
— UFC (@ufc) December 1, 2024
Catch @DomReyes in the #UFC310 featured prelim Saturday night! pic.twitter.com/FqIPuUX8lZ
Now set to meet longtime UFC veteran and former title challenger Anthony Smith at UFC 310, Reyes will try to score back-to-back wins and prove to fans that he’s still one of the top fighters in the light heavyweight division.
Bryce Mitchell
Mitchell’s only career losses came at the hands of current UFC Featherweight Champion Ilia Topuria and former interim title challenger Josh Emmett, but the loss to Emmett last December was one of the nastier knockouts of 2023.
Still haven't forgotten when he pulled off the TWISTER 🌪@ThugNastyMMA is back at #UFC310!
— UFC (@ufc) December 3, 2024
[ LIVE DEC 7 on @ESPNPLUS PPV | 10pmET ] pic.twitter.com/piInmBAo9j
Set to return after just under a year on the sidelines, Mitchell will look to get back on track in a grappler vs. grappler matchup with Kron Gracie, who started his MMA career at 5-0 but is currently on a two-fight skid and hasn’t competed since May of 2023.
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UFC 310 Main Card
• Main Event: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura – For the UFC Flyweight Championship
• Co-Main Event: Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Machado Garry
• Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov
• Bryce Mitchell vs. Kron Gracie
• Nate Landwehr vs. Doo Ho Choi
UFC 310 Preliminary Card
• Dominick Reyes vs. Anthony Smith
• Vicente Luque vs. Themba Gorimbo
• Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling
• Randy Brown vs. Bryan Battle
UFC 310 Early Preliminary Card
• Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders
• Cody Durden vs. Joshua Van
• Michael Chiesa vs. Max Griffin
• Clay Guida vs. Chase Hooper
• Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Lukasz Brzeski
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