MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in-depth to interrupt down the largest fights within the UFC. At the moment, he takes a better take a look at the UFC 310 principal occasion between flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja and promotional newcomer Kai Asakura.
Alexandre Pantoja preview
Staple information:
- Document: 28-5 MMA, 12-3 UFC
- Peak: 5’5″ Age: 34 Weight: 125 lbs. Attain: 68″
- Final struggle: Determination win over Steve Erceg (Could 4, 2024)
- Camp: American High Crew (Florida)
- Stance/placing type: Orthodox/muay Thai
- Danger administration: Honest
Supplemental information:
+ UFC flyweight champion
+ Regional MMA titles
+ Novice muay Thai accolades
+ Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
+ 8 KO victories
+ 10 submission wins
+ 10 first-round finishes
+ KO energy
+ Aggressive tempo and stress
+ Counters nicely together
+ Arduous leg kicks
+ Strong clinch fighter
^ Good knees and strikes off the breaks
+ Underrated wrestling capability
+ Very good transitional grappler
^ Slick submissions, good ground-and-pound
Kai Asakura preview
Kai Asakura def. Juan Archuleta at Rizin 45
Staple information:
- 21-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC
- Peak: 5’8″ Age: 31 Weight: 125 lbs. Attain: N/A”
- Final struggle: TKO win over Juan Archuleta (Dec. 31, 2023)
- Camp: Japan High Crew (Japan)
- Stance/placing type: Orthodox/kickboxing
- Danger administration: Honest
Supplemental information:
+ 2x RIZIN bantamweight champion
+ Regional MMA title
+ Zeno-kai karate black belt
+ Jiu-jitsu purple belt
+ 13 KO victories
+ 3 submission wins
+ 12 first-round finishes
+ KO energy
+ Aggressive tempo and stress
+ Correct shot choice
^ Works nicely to the physique/in boxing vary
+ Harmful and dynamic knees
+ Robust contained in the clinch
+ Improved wrestling capability
^ Robust first-layer protection
+ Pressing scrambler
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura focal point: Flyweight energy
Kai Asakura def. Juan Archuleta at Rizin 45
As his nickname “The Cannibal” would counsel, Pantoja is an offensive marauder who isn’t afraid to shed blood as a way to feed himself.
An inherent stress fighter, Pantoja is often at his finest when coming ahead and trying to corrall opposition towards the cage. Though Pantoja’s method and protection can generally depart a lot to be desired, the Brazilian bruiser can circulation by means of offensive phases like second nature and counters nicely together.
In truth, Pantoja has quietly developed his counter-striking savvy in his latter years, which, in flip, provides him each extra respiration room and choices to function from on the toes.
Demonstrating glorious instincts within the clinch, Pantoja has a very good really feel for physique knees and strikes off the break. Nonetheless, Pantoja might want to respect the knees coming again his approach when dealing with a fighter like Kai Asakura.
A devastating striker from Japan, Asakura is extra within the mildew of a karate-boxing archetype.
Solely unlucky factor about Kai Asakura coming to the UFC is that we wont get to see him shatter any individual’s jaw after which knee them within the head once they turtle up pic.twitter.com/MAjIC9quNG
— Motion Martials (@MVMNTMartials) November 30, 2024
Embracing the candy science – whereas coming from a karate background – Asakura demonstrates the inherent distance administration one would affiliate together with his type. Whether or not Asakura is feinting or prodding together with his lead hand, the 31-year-old challenger seems to maintain his rear hand on a hair-trigger.
From intercepting uppercuts to overhands, Asakura will supply loads of energy threats which can be able to placing out opponents, whatever the weight class. And although Asakura is sweet about going to the physique with punches, the Japanese standout retains some nasty knees in his again pocket for anybody attempting to vary ranges on him.
朝倉海
Kai Asakura’s boxing abilities organising Knee to the physique.
When Kai had Motoya within the nook, he landed a body-head combo and Motoya’s protection was less than par. This value him a Knockdown.
Later within the struggle, Kai works within the clinch and retains Motoya’s proper arm excessive in… pic.twitter.com/HCTnM9RwNC
— Candy Punch Recollections (@SPM_staff) June 11, 2024
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura breakdown: Potential grappling threats
Alexandre Pantoja (crimson gloves) fights Brandon Royval (blue gloves) throughout UFC 296 at T-Cell Enviornment. (Stephen R. Sylvanie, USA TODAY Sports activities)
Contemplating the place the largest on-paper disparity is on this struggle, nobody needs to be shocked if the champion tries to take this get together to the ground.
Nonetheless, as alluded to within the earlier part, Asakura – exterior of some strong first-layer takedown protection – presents some potent threats together with his knees at a number of ranges.
Not solely can Asakura catch opponents coming in with reactionary lifting or flying knees, however the RIZIN champion can also be good about punishing opponents within the clinch.
Fortunately for Pantoja, he appears to desire virtually chest-level takedown entries and works nicely from bodylock positions (that are nice for avoiding front-headlock situations and shutting the house wanted for knees).
Regardless of not formally engaged on his wrestling till teaming up with Henry Cejudo post-“TUF,” Pantoja has at all times been a harmful risk from the bodylock.
Parlaying off of his beforehand talked about clinch placing, Pantoja is fast to lock his palms round his opposition and shuck them off to a aspect every time potential.
Displaying good cage consciousness, Pantoja wastes little time with regards to wedging himself in between the fence and the again of his opposition. And as soon as Pantoja is ready to get the slightest chew on a place, the Shooto Brazil vet will leap on the alternative to shift the struggle’s dynamic.
In victory or defeat, seldom will you see anybody get to Pantoja’s again for extended durations or put him in precarious submission threats. In truth, the 17-year professional has a knack for turning damaging positions round by means of his excellent legwork and scrambling capability.
Forgot how good the legwork was between Pantoja and Royval all through the preliminary minutes of the first spherical… the leg lock try/entanglement from Royval is enjoyable, however man do I recognize what Pantoja is attempting to do prior with influential insteps and vines as he goes for the again pic.twitter.com/yNnwqvBPtc
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) January 13, 2022
Pantoja, who has unbelievable transitional instincts and chair sits, may have an edge with regards to discovering the again. And if Pantoja finally ends up on high, the American High Crew rep has some implausible floor placing that’s not talked about sufficient.
Like a snake placing its prey on the character channel, Pantoja possesses unbelievable accuracy and pop to the punches that barely arc round his opponent’s guard.
Alexandre Pantoja ground-and-pound 🤌 pic.twitter.com/2zBacuyt9I
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) July 5, 2023
Asakura, to his credit score, has a strong butterfly guard and is an pressing scrambler who seldom accepts damaging positions. That mentioned, I’m unsure how his propensity to turtle will stack up with the champion’s back-taking sensibilities.
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura odds
The oddsmakers and the general public are presently favoring the sitting champion, itemizing Pantoja -280 and Asakura +210 by way of FanDuel.
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura prediction, choose
Regardless of the betting public usually disrespecting Pantoja, I can’t say that I disagree with the unfold listed above.
Though Pantoja is the deserved favourite, you may argue that respect remains to be being proven to Asakura’s possibilities – and rightfully so.
Pantoja has to this point confirmed to be unfinishable over his 17-year profession, however Asakura will arguably be the toughest hitter the champ has seen since his 2019 loss to Deiveson Figueiredo. And if Asakura may be the one to crack Pantoja’s chin, then he’ll be making historical past in additional methods than one this Saturday.
Nonetheless, as a lot as I might like to see Japan lastly get a UFC title, there are in the end too many checkmarks in Pantoja’s favor to choose in opposition to him right here.
Except for this being Asakura’s first skilled competitors abroad, this can even be the primary time Asakura has needed to make the flyweight restrict since 2017 (the place he formally weighed in at 126 lbs.). And so far as the placing goes, Pantoja may have some quiet benefits there, as nicely.
Not solely does Asakura’s lack of head motion and protection are inclined to crumble on the again foot, however Pantoja – who has a background in muay Thai – has a knack for dictating the knee site visitors in his fights (which shall be essential in opposition to this opponent).
Couple all that with the truth that Pantoja’s takedown chains alongside the fence will seemingly be much more efficient in opposition to an opponent who’s used to preventing in a hoop, and I can’t assist however see the UFC champion grounding Asakura and thriving inside scrambles given the challenger’s propensity to turtle.
I’ll choose Pantoja to outlive some early scares and lock up a submission by the top of Spherical 2.
Prediction: Pantoja inside the space
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