Tasked with welcoming promotional newcomer, Kai Asakura to the Octagon this weekend, flyweight champion, Alexandre Pantoja seems to be linking up with a previous fighter to beat the previous Rizin FF titleholder — within the type of ex-UFC title challenger, Kyoji Horiguchi.
Pantoja, the present undisputed flyweight champion, will make his return subsequent weekend within the headliner of UFC 310 in Las Vegas, taking up former Rizin FF gold holder, Asakura — because the Japanese star makes his first outing below the banner of the promotion.
Most lately that includes at UFC 301 again in Might in his return to a local Brazil, Pantoja would rack up his second profitable protection of the flyweight throne in a hard-fought unanimous choice win over Australian title challenger, Steve Erceg.
Claiming he has all of the instruments to beat Alexandre Pantoja in his first-ever journey to the Octagon — patricularly if he elects to face and strike with the defending champion, Asakura enters the UFC off the again of a formidable two-fight successful run over each Yuki Motoya, and former Bellator MMA gold holder, Juan Archuleta.
Alexandre Pantoja trains with Kyoji Horiguchi forward of Kai Asakura battle
Notably dropping losses to the likes of Manel Kape, and Hiromasa Ogikubo up to now — Japanese star, Asakura holds a win over the above-mentioned, Horiguchi — and has additionally misplaced to his compatriot, with Alexandre Pantoja seeking to make use of the information of the UFC veteran to one-up his opponent earlier than they even battle.
That includes on the UFC 310: Countdown characteristic this weekend, Pantoja was noticed coaching with the above-mentioned former UFC flyweight title challenger, Horiguchi, who stopped Asakura with a primary spherical blistering KO win again in 2020 within the pair’s Rizin FF bantamweight title battle in Japan.
Previous to Pantoja’s title battle with Asakura, UFC 310 incorporates a large co-headliner over the course of 5 rounds as unbeaten welterweight stars, Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Garry meet in an officially-billed title eliminator.
