Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Asakura, UFC 310 ceremonial weigh-in Credit score: Gabriel Gonzalez/Cageside Press
Japan’s Kai Asakura had the chance of a lifetime at UFC 310 on Saturday: making his promotional debut and getting his first publicity in entrance of many North American followers, Asakura was each headlining the cardboard and difficult flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja for gold.
A win may simply usher in a brand new wave of Japanese MMA, with names like Rei Tsuruya and Tatsuro Taira additionally on the rise. It might be no simple job in opposition to the established Brazilian champ Pantoja, nonetheless.
Right away Pantoja bull rushed in and dropped Asakura with a left hand momentarily and than a takedown proper after. Asakura bought his barring again and rapidly bought to his toes. Asakura began to get to work with some arduous outdoors leg kicks. Hr landed a nasty knee to the physique that Pantoga simply took. Pantoja responded along with his palms proper again. You possibly can see the velocity of Asakura early as he was masking numerous house when he threw his palms. Not simply the palms as Asakura was throwing some kicks as properly. Pantoja was additionally inching again in with some kicks of his personal. Pantoja did job throwing the kick following a punch. Asakura appeared high-quality however Pantoja did outland him in strikes and had the numerous moments.
In spherical two Pantoja had Asakura backing up with a robust straight jab. When he pressed Asakura in opposition to the cage he tried to leap on the again. He didn’t get there initially however used the cage to regulate to take the again and floor the struggle. Instantly Pantoja locked within the RNC and put Asakura to sleep.
Alexandre Pantoja def. Kai Asakura by submission (RNC), spherical 2 (2:05)
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