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411’s UFC 310 Report: Pantoja Strangles Asakura

December 8, 2024 | Posted by Robert Winfree
UFC 310 Image Credit: UFC

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)
(c) Alexandre Pantoja (124.5 lbs.) vs. Kai Asakura (124.5 lbs.) – for flyweight title
#7 Ian Machado Garry (171 lbs.) vs. #3 Shavkat Rakhmonov (171 lbs.)
#2 Ciryl Gane (245.5 lbs.) vs. #3 Alexander Volkov (254.5 lbs.)
Kron Gracie (144.5 lbs.) vs. #13 Bryce Mitchell (146 lbs.)
Dooho Choi (146 lbs.) vs. Nate Landwehr (145.5 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN2, 8 p.m. ET)
#12 Dominick Reyes (205 lbs.) vs. #13 Anthony Smith (205.5 lbs.)
Themba Gorimbo (171 lbs.) vs. #14 Vicente Luque (170.5 lbs.)
#5 Movsar Evloev (145.5 lbs.) vs. #9 Aljamain Sterling (145.5 lbs.)
Bryan Battle (175 lbs.)* vs. Randy Brown (171 lbs.)

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 6 p.m. ET)
Eryk Anders (193 lbs.) vs. Chris Weidman (194.5 lbs.)
#14 Cody Durden (126 lbs.) vs. Joshua Van (126 lbs.)
Michael Chiesa (170.5 lbs.) vs. Max Griffin (170 lbs.)
Clay Guida (155 lbs.) vs. Chase Hooper (155.5 lbs.)
Lukasz Brzeski (234 lbs.) vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu (236.5 lbs.)

Hello everyone and welcome to 411mania’s LIVE coverage of UFC 310, I’m Robert Winfree and I’ll be your host for the event. Well everyone, we’ve made it to the final PPV of 2024, and what a year it’s been. We’ve got a pretty solid card on paper tonight with a flyweight title fight in the main event as Alexandre Pantoja defends against the debuting Kai Asakura. Asakura might be unknown to a lot of the more casual fanbase but he’s been doing quality work in Rizin for a while now and getting a title shot in his UFC debut is hardly an accident. The co-main event should crown the next title challenger at welterweight as two undefeated fighters clash, Shavkat Rakhmonov was supposed to fight for the title here before Belal Muhammad had a bone infection that forced him out and Ian Garry stepped in to fill his place. Dooho Choi vs. Nate Landwehr should be a ton of fun, we’ve also got an important fight between Aljamain Sterling and Movsar Evloev, Cody Durden vs. Joshua Van should be good fun as well. Now we really have to hope the action lives up to how strong the overall card is on paper.

UFC 310 comes to the world from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. We’ve got Jon Anik, Joe Rogan, and Daniel Cormier on commentary. The new rules seem to generally be in effect these days so keep an eye on the new definition of a downed fighter and the formerly illegal 12-6 elbows are starting to make their way into various offensive arsenals. Do keep in mind that we’re using the older gloves for this PPV while the newer gloves are usually used on Fight Night cards until the UFC sorts out the logistical debacle that this has been.

Kennedy Nzechukwu had a couple of setbacks at light heavyweight but in his last fight he moved up to heavyweight and looked pretty good getting a first round stoppage, now he’s trying to continue his heavyweight campaign and set himself up to make a run next year. Lukasz Brzeski has gone 1-4 in the UFC and likely needs a win just to get a little bit of job security at this point because another loss could end his time with the promotion. It’s not surprising to see Nzechukwu as the heavy favorite at -550 to +410 on Brzeski.

Heavyweight Bout: Lukasz Brzeski (9-5-1 1 NC, 234 lbs.) vs. Kennedy Nzechukwu (13-5, 236.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Nzechukwu is an inch taller with five inches of reach advantage. Southpaw for Nzechukwu and they touch gloves to get us going. A bit of feinting from both men as the Godawful “woo’s” begin already. Both men fall a little short with punches. Bit of a left from Nzechukwu. Brzeski lands a right hand. Right to the body from Brzeski. Nzechukwu lands a front kick. Another front kick from Nzechukwu. Brzeski lands a right hand. Nzechukwu lands another front kick then has a head kick blocked. They both avoid a few punches. Short right from Nzechukwu. Nzechukwu lands a front kick but Brzeski catches it and lands a counter punch. Nzechukwu lands a left hand. High kick from Nzechukwu partially lands. Body kick from Nzechukwu. Brzeski lands a right uppercut in close. Knee from Nzechukwu. Left hand then a right hook from Nzechukwu. Brzeski lands a right hand to counter a left from Nzechukwu. Another left hand then a right hook from Nzechukwu slumps Brzeski over, then a few more blows on the mat prompt the stoppage.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Kennedy Nzechukwu via TKO, punches, at 4:51 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Nzechukwu for his work. Mic time for Nzechukwu and he thanks God first then mentions the cut to light heavyweight was medically not sustainable and he feels good at heavyweight. He talks us through the finish and thanks the UFC brass for their work, then puts over his coaches as well.

Clay Guida has been with the UFC since 2006, a frankly ludicrous stat and at this point he might be more interested in hitting the 20 year mark than anything else because he’s definitively not making any real run in the division. Chase Hooper has gone 3-0 since returning to lightweight last year and he’s looking to add a mostly recognizable name to his resume in the form of Guida. Hooper is the biggest favorite on the card at -1200 to Guida’s +750.

Lightweight Bout: Clay Guida (38-24, 155 lbs.) vs. Chase Hooper (14-3-1, 155.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Hooper is a significant six inches taller with four inches of reach advantage, Hooper is also basically 18 years younger as Guida’s 43 birthday is tomorrow. Southpaw for Hooper. Bit of a left from Hooper. Guida doing his usual circling and bouncing, he eats a head kick then a left hook. Body kick from Hooper then they trade punches, Guida tries a double leg but Hooper deters him with a guillotine threat and they just separate. Hooper lands a left hand. Hooper is able to hang just outside of Guida’s distance and tag him. They clinch up and hit the fence, Hooper is after a takedown and eventually trips Guida down. Hooper into leg drag and lands some hammer fists but Guida is able to wrestle up into a clinch. Judo throw from Hooper then they wrestle up and back down but Hooper has the back with one hook in. Both hooks now for Hooper, Guida tries to roll out of it but Hooper is still on him. Hooper jumps for an armbar from the back, Guida is able to escape and get up but Hooper with a takedown then jumps to the back. Some nice grappling from Hooper here. Hammer fists from Hooper then he tries another armbar and this time Guida has to tap out.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Chase Hooper via Submission, armbar, at 3:41 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Hooper for his work. Mic time for Hooper, he recounts his MMA journey to this point and all the improvements he’s made. He talks us through the finish and shouts out Mikey Musumeci for helping him in the grappling area recently.

Michael Chiesa broke a three fight losing streak back in August when he defeated the ghost of Tony Ferguson and now he’s looking for his first winning streak since 2021 and to try and stave off retirement talk a little longer. Max Griffin has traded wins and losses while going 3-2 in his last five fights, he is coming off of a win though and is likewise trying for his first winning streak since 2021. Close one here, -135 on Chiesa to +115 for Griffin.

Welterweight Bout: Michael Chiesa (17-7, 170.5 lbs.) vs. Max Griffin (20-10, 170 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Chiesa is two inches taller while Griffin has half an inch of reach advantage. Southpaw for Chiesa. Griffin presses forward early and lands a bit of a left hand. Bit of a left from Chiesa. Chiesa lands a left then hits a double leg and gets to the back as they stand. Chiesa is riding Griffin to his knees and looks for hooks, he winds up getting the backpack as Griffin stands. Griffin breaks the body triangle from Chiesa and then spins free to reset at distance. Griffin blocks a high kick. One two from Griffin. Chiesa misses a couple of punches. Glancing right from Griffin. Both men land punches in close. Bit of a left from Chiesa then he lands a knee to the body. Griffin lands a right hand. Double leg from Chiesa, Griffin immediately rolls through though and stands. They tie up and Chiesa rides things to the mat and gets the back again and lands some strikes from there as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Chiesa

ROUND TWO: Both men pick up moving and feinting with punches. Bit of a left uppercut from Griffin, Chiesa then lands a counter punch. Chiesa with a left then a clinch on the fence. Griffin quickly spins free and resets. Right hand from Griffin but Chiesa gets a clinch then Griffin pushes him into the fence. They jockey for position in the clinch but very little is coming of this. Neither man is stalling but neither has a big advantage either. Eventually they just separate. Chiesa bulls forward and lands some punches before they clinch up again. Chiesa slips to the back standing and lands a few strikes. They get chest to chest and that’s where the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Chiesa, 20-18 Chiesa overall

ROUND THREE: Griffin presses forward to start the round. Bit of a right from Griffin. Griffin swings a few punches but isn’t landing clean. Left hand from Griffin then they both miss punches in close. Chiesa grabs a single leg and spins Griffin down then gets to the back with one hook in. Both hooks for Chiesa now and he grabs the choke and eventually forces the tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Michael Chiesa via Submission, rear naked choke, at 1:56 of Round 3

The Final Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Chiesa for his work. Mic time for Chiesa, he dedicates the win to Derek Thompson who passed away recently. He feels surreal to fight on his birthday and win like this, and while he’s 37 he feels he can make one more run. While talking us through the finish he notes he finally got his black belt and really wanted the submission, then thanks the fans and advocates to be on Rogan’s podcast. Asked about the recently announced Seattle card he’d love to fight in Washington one more time in his career.

Cody Durden has gone 5-2 in his last seven fights but did lose his last two flyweight outings, now he’s back at that weight and looking to defend his ranking. Joshua Van has gone 4-1 in the UFC and while he lost to Charles Johnson in the middle of the year he did rebound in September with a win over Edgar Chairez and now he’s looking to build another winning streak to close out the year. The odds lean towards Van at -170 to +140 on Durden.

Flyweight Bout: #14 Cody Durden (17-6-1, 126 lbs.) vs. Joshua Van (11-2, 126 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Durden has two inches of height and reach advantage but he’s also a decade older. Both men do a little feinting. A few leg kicks go back and forth. A few jabs go back and forth then Van lands a calf kick. Durden lands a jab. They trade punches then Durden tries a double leg against the fence, Van is able to defend for a bit but Durden does get his seat to the mat. Van wall walks into a clinch and lands a few elbows before Durden rides things back to the mat. Half guard for Durden as he tries to keep Van down but Van moves to sitting on the fence. A couple of elbows from Van land and he’s working to wall walk again, Van is up with Durden on his back in the clinch. Van turns into Durden then lands a body shot as they break. They trade punches, Van then digs the body. Jab from Van then a left to the body. They split a few jabs but Van is starting to flow with his punches. Van with a calf kick then they split jabs. Durden lands a right hand to counter a calf kick. Van lands another calf kick. Van with a few punches, Durden grabs at a single leg and they hit the fence. Some elbows from Van as he defends the takedown. They’ll end the round in the clinch.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Durden but a close one

ROUND TWO: They trade rights to start the round. Front kick from Van, his body work is usually quite good and it’s working tonight. Head kick from Van then an uppercut. Jab from Van. Durden tries a takedown, Van defends then lands another left to the body. Right hand from Van wobbles Durden. Van keeps punching, he’s landing consistently now and is mixing in body work. Durden tries another takedown, again Van defends. Left hook from Van. Bit of an uppercut from Durden but Van is fighting well and Durden looks tired after that first round. More jabs from Van then a left to the body. Uppercut from Van. Counter right from Van. Durden is still throwing back but he’s got little power on them. They trade punches again and Van lands a left to the body. Lefts from Van then a couple of body shots. Durden tries another takedown but Van defends and lands an uppercut. Knee from Van. Right uppercut from Van. Clubbing right from Van. Van almost can’t miss at this point. Durden is still throwing back but he’s missing a lot. Van with a right hand, then a combination of punches, he’s countering nicely. Durden has gone southpaw at times now but it’s not helping his defense much. Van lands a jab to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Van, might be 10-8 if you’re generous, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Durden comes out jabbing for the last round then lands a one two. Van with a right hand. Calf kick from Van. Van with another calf kick. Right hand then a left hook from Van, then he digs a left to the body for good measure. Calf kicks from Van land. They trade calf kicks again then Van with a combination. Van with a right hand then a calf kick. A left hook from Van staggers Durden but he recovers well enough. Van with another left hook then he defends a takedown and makes Durden regain his feet. Durden is trying to circle around the fence, Van avoids a few punches. Van with a jab. Van defends a takedown. Solid right hand from Van. Again that jab from Van is landing, that right eye of Durden is starting to get messed up. Left to the body from Van then a one two. Van lands a hard right hand, Durden is still standing but he’s getting clocked. Both men land in close then Van lands a front kick. Another counter right from Van lands. Knee from Van then a right hand. Durden is still upright but Van clobbers him again but Durden will see the end of the round.

SCORECARD: 10-8 Van but a slightly generous one, 29-27 Van overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Joshua Van via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-26)

Mic time for Van after that win, he thanks God first then really wished he could have gotten the knockout but Durden is a tough guy and he hopes for a finish the next time out. He wants to carry the Myanmar flag out next time but the UFC stopped him, not sure if there’s some unrest that’s causing that. Asked about the future he wants to keep fighting ranked opponents.

Chris Weidman is a former middleweight champion who’s at this point maybe better known for shattering his leg against Uriah Hall and battling back to return to the cage, and back in March he got his first win since 2020 with a technical decision. He’s trying to build his first winning streak since 2015 if he can get a win here. Eryk Anders has gone 2-3 in his last five fights but did get a win back in March and now he’s trying for his first winning streak since 2019. This rather sad fight on paper has close odds, -115 for Weidman to -105 on Anders.

Catchweight Bout: Eryk Anders (16-8 1 NC, 193 lbs.) vs. Chris Weidman (16-7, 194.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Weidman is an inch taller with three inches of reach advantage, he also has hit the 40 year old mark. They touch gloves, Anders fighting southpaw. Some feinting from both men. Weidman keeps showing kicks. Anders lands a left hand then ties up with Weidman on the fence. That’s, well that’s certainly a choice. Not much comes of the clinch and they trade short punches as they break. Bit of a left from Anders. High kick from Anders hurts Weidman, he’s pressing forward now and looking to keep up the offense. Anders tries a double leg and just slips to the back in the clinch. Some lefts from Anders then he trips Weidman down but there’s an illegal knee in there so we’ve got a time out. The knee was pretty clearly illegal, Weidman still had knees down. No point taken and we do get back to fighting, the blow didn’t land very cleanly but it’s the principle that the ref gets across. A few stance switches from Weidman. Anders misses a left hand and Weidman lands a punch that drops him. Weidman on top in the guard of Anders, and he passes to half guard. Anders is able to block a few pass attempts. Glancing elbow from Weidman. Anders can’t find full guard but he does keep blocking passes. The round ends in that spot.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Weidman

ROUND TWO: Anders lands a right hook to get the round going. A lot of motion from Anders and he’s looking to land the left hand. Weidman lands a right hand. Left from Anders connects. Bit of a high kick from Anders. Bit of a one two from Anders. Anders with another left hand then a single leg attempt, that hits the fence and Weidman jumps for a guillotine choke. Weidman winds up bailing on that and Anders lands punches as he moves to the ride position. More punches from Anders. Weidman looks to roll away and Anders winds up on top in half guard and lands punches. Anders with some hammer fists now. Weidman is fading a bit now, Anders is just still landing. Elbows from Anders now and he’s keeping Weidman on his back. Weidman is blocking a bit but he’s not really addressing the position or able to get much going from his back. Anders lands some more punches, Weidman is just covering up. If Anders had any real power in these punches he could get the stoppage. Weidman is trying to survive but Anders sneaks in a couple of solid straight punches and the ref steps in to halt things.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Eryk Anders via TKO, punches, at 4:51 of Round 2

Mic time for Anders and he says he’s changed a lot mentally and feels at his strongest now that he’s sober and has custody of his son. He feels like he’s trying to evolve his game and still has aspirations in the sport and would like to get to 20 UFC fights and this was 18. He puts over some sponsors then says he’ll fight anyone as he just wants to keep fighting.

This stoppage will be a problem for some people, but Weidman had taken minutes of blows and wasn’t responding well. I’m OK with this kind of mercy stoppage given how much had preceded it.

Randy Brown has quietly done quality work recently, he’s 7-1 in his last eight fights with that lone loss coming to Jack Della Maddalena and he’s currently on a three fight winning streak. Brown is looking to get another step up in class if he can extend his streak to four. Bryan Battle missed weight for this fight, never a good thing, but if he can extend his four fight unbeaten streak with a win that will go a long way towards smoothing over that particular gaff. This was the second time he’s missed weight and he might need to evaluate his preparation or his weight class. The odds are with Battle at -205 against a +170 comeback for Brown.

Welterweight Bout: Bryan Battle (11-2 1 NC, 175 lbs.)* vs. Randy Brown (19-5, 171 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Brown is two inches taller with an inch of reach advantage, and of course Battle missed weight. Both men come out with some feinting. They’re both looking to establish long range weapons. Both men miss some kicks. Calf kick from Battle. Brown has some punches blocked but he’s throwing a bit more. Battle goes southpaw and lands a bit of a left hand. Brown digs some body shots. Right hand from Battle then he tries a takedown but Brown defends and separates. Left hand then a couple of body shots from Brown. Bit of a body kick from Battle. Battle with another body kick from the southpaw stance. The volume from Brown is the difference maker thus far, when they get close he’s throwing more. Battle forces a clinch to the fence and lands a few knees. They wrestle around, Brown winds up standing over Battle but Battle is able to stand and they reset. Battle lands a jab. Battle pushes into another clinch on the fence. Brown is able to defend some takedown attempts but eats a knee. Uppercut from Battle, Brown then spins him into the fence. Takedown from Brown into side control and he gets a mounted crucifix and lands punches as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Brown

ROUND TWO: Brown lands a right to the body to start the round. Battle lands a leg kick. Some kicks from Battle then a knee and they clinch up. Knees go back and forth for a bit as they jockey for position. Bit of an elbow from Brown. Battle with a few more knees to the body then some dirty boxing. A short right from Battle lands as Brown spins free. Calf kick from Battle. Brown lands an uppercut then clinches. Battle gets Brown on the fence and hits the body and head with punches. Knee from Battle then Brown gets free but Battle is walking him down. Knee from Battle then a front kick. They trade punches in close and then Battle again lands a knee to the body before they clinch. Body punches from Battle then a knee. Another knee then an elbow from Battle as Brown gets free. Elbow from Brown in close. Brown with a combination of punches to the head and body before they clinch again. Battle gets back to uppercuts and body work in the clinch. Some more knees from Battle to the body and head as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Battle, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Battle pushes forward early and lands a punch then a knee. Brown with some body shots then circles away from the fence. Calf kick from Battle. Brown digs the body a few times. Battle backs Brown towards the fence and lands a punch before looking for a double leg but he can’t quite finish it. Eventually Battle with knees as Brown defends. Brown tries a trip, Battle wrestles up into the clinch again though and pushes Brown into the fence again. Battle tries to level change for a double leg, Brown defends that though and they just clinch. A few knees from Battle land. Elbow from Battle then they trade punches but Battle’s dirty boxing and clinch work is just better at this point. Brown is able to push free after a bit. Battle with a calf kick. They trade punches but Brown’s hand speed is a lot better. They clinch and Battle lands knees to the body and head and pushes Brown to the fence. More knees from Battle then he tries a double leg but Brown defends. Brown thinks about a standing guillotine but nothing comes of it. Right hand from Battle then an uppercut. Another knee from Battle, Brown returns it but Battle lands a series of uppercuts to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Battle but a close one, 29-28 Battle overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Bryan Battle via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)

Not upset with 29-28 either way. Mic time for Battle, the crowd is booing him and he plays with them and knows the Vegas degenerates aren’t booing the Butcher. He puts over Brown and thought the fight would be more striking but they both clinched a lot and puts over Brown’s ground game as well. Asked about the weight miss he says this was the fastest turnaround between fights at welterweight and the day to day stuff wasn’t dialed in but he knows how to fix it going forward.

Movsar Evloev is undefeated including being 8-0 in the UFC, that’s somewhat marred by his being unable to finish anyone thus far but that kind of success has earned him a top ranking and another win here would put him fairly close to a title shot. Aljamain Sterling is a former bantamweight champion but after losing the title in 2023 he moved up to featherweight earlier this year with a win over Calvin Kattar and a win here would put him fairly close to the title picture though whoever wins here likely still needs another win given the people currently in the thick of the title picture. While it’s not surprising to see Evloev as the favorite, -245 might be a little steep and +200 on Sterling could be a very tempting value bet.

Featherweight Bout: #5 Movsar Evloev (18-0, 145.5 lbs.) vs. #9 Aljamain Sterling (24-4, 145.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Evloev has an inch and a half of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Both men do some feinting, Sterling is showing stance switches already. Calf kick from Evloev. They both have some punches blocked. Evloev with another calf kick. Bit of a right from Sterling then he tries a takedown, he’s sort of in a ride position but Evloev is based up. Sterling lands a right hand hand and Evloev scoots to the fence. Sterling is able to get both hooks in. Evloev is able to break the hooks but Sterling stays on his back as they stand. Mat return from Sterling but Evloev scrambles around and gets to Sterling’s back and lands punches as they stand. More punches from Evloev then a takedown and he gets on top in side control. Evloev with some punches as Sterling moves to a hip, Evloev grabs a crucifix and lands punches as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Evloev but could go either way

ROUND TWO: Both men miss punches to start, then Sterling hits a double leg. Evloev quickly wall walks then they wrestle from their knees with Evloev again using that crucifix to get on top in a mounted crucifix. Some punches from Evloev land then he moves to mount and gets the back. Sterling breaks the hooks but Evloev is on his back still landing some elbows. Again Evloev gets both hooks in and strikes, the scrambling between these two is nuts. Sterling is able to spin into Evloev and they wrestle up into a clinch. They break without incident. Right hand from Evloev lands. Sterling takes a front kick then avoids a wheel kick. Evloev with another right hand then a takedown into half guard. Some punches from Evloev land and he’s looking to pass. Sterling is trying to shrimp but Evloev blocks his hips. Evloev moves to the back as Sterling goes to his knees, Sterling tries to roll under but Evloev blocks and grabs a crucifix then scrambles around to get on top in a front headlock. Sterling is trying for a double leg, he kind of gets it but Evloev is in the fence and looking to wall walk. They’re up, Evloev blocks a takedown attempt and lands body shots from a front headlock as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Evloev, 20-18 Evloev overall

ROUND THREE: Sterling misses a few kicks to start the round. Evloev misses an uppercut. Bit of a one two from Evloev. Spinning back fist from Evloev partially lands but Sterling takes him down against the fence. Evloev is looking to wall walk again, he’s landing body shots and has a front headlock going. Evloev wrestles up and then gets taken back down. Sterling on the back as they stand. Evloev breaks the grip of Sterling and gets chest to chest. Sterling is able to slip to the back then hits a mat return, Evloev granby rolls through and gets on top in full guard though. Evloev needs to get damage off. Sterling scoots to the fence and looks to wall walk, Evloev lands punches to the body and head as he’s sitting on Sterling’s legs. Pretty solid right from Evloev. Sterling moves to his knees, Evloev on the back and drags Sterling back down. Evloev has the back with one hook then lands punches from the ride. Sterling is trying to wrestle on a single leg but Evloev slips behind him again and lands punches. More punches from Evloev as he gets both hooks in. They wrestle around and Evloev keeps landing punches to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Sterling but another close one, lots of control vs. damage arguments, 29-28 Evloev overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Movsar Evloev via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)

The damage vs. control arguments are going to be in force after this one. Mic time for Evloev and the translator, he opens with English though and isn’t sure this will get him a title shot but he feels ready for one. He talks about working hard on his striking but he and Sterling had a lot of wrestling in the fight. To close he thanks his team for their work then gives glory to God and switches to Russian which goes untranslated.

Vicente Luque has gone just 1-3 in his last four fights and was stopped by Joaquin Buckley his last time out, he’s trying to get things back on track and hold back the allegations that he’s become washed up. Themba Gorimbo is on a four fight winning streak and while Luque represents his biggest step up in class yet a win would set him up nicely to fight more ranked opponents in the new year. The odds are with Gorimbo at -155 to +130 for Luque.

Welterweight Bout: Themba Gorimbo (14-4, 171 lbs.) vs. #14 Vicente Luque (22-10-1, 170.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Gorimbo is two inches taller with an inch and a half of reach advantage. Body kick then a right hand from Gorimbo. Both men are showing a lot of kicks. Calf kick from Gorimbo. A right hand from Luque in close drops Gorimbo then he grabs an anaconda choke and chokes Gorimbo out cold.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Vicente Luque via Technical Submission, anaconda choke, at :52 of Round 1

The First Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Luque for his work, also this was erroneously announced as a d’arce but it was an anaconda choke. Mic time for Luque and he thanks God then says he feels back and says counting him out was a mistake. He talks us through the finish and puts over his team for all their work with him and says he’d like to take over the most finishes in the welterweight division. Asked about the future he wants to fight anyone above him but would make an exception for Jorge Masvidal. Well that seems unlikely.

Dominick Reyes formerly challenged for the light heavyweight title back in 2020 and lost a highly controversial decision in that fight, but then he got stopped violently in his next three fights and back in June returned from a two year break to get his first win since 2019. If Reyes wants to make another run he needs to follow up that win with more success here. Anthony Smith has gone 2-4 in his last six fights and most recently lost to Roman Dolidze, he’s trying to get a feel good win here as there’s little doubt that his career is winding down. Reyes is a rather heavy favorite at -425 to +330 on Smith.

Light Heavyweight Bout: #12 Dominick Reyes (13-4, 205 lbs.) vs. #13 Anthony Smith (38-20, 205.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: These two are the same height while Reyes has an inch of reach advantage. Southpaw for Reyes. Both men show the lead hand early. Bit of a counter left from Reyes. Smith with a bit of a right hand. Smith catches a kick and tries for a takedown but Reyes avoids it. Glancing right hand from Smith. Reyes complains of an eye poke and we get a time out. Replay shows there was some finger to eye contact. Reyes says he’s fine so we’re back to fighting after 53 seconds. Reyes shows body jabs then Smith with a counter right. Another right from Smith mostly lands. Reyes lands a left hand. Neither of these two are good on the back foot so whoever’s going forward tends to be winning. Smith with a body kick. Reyes has a high kick blocked. Bit of a body kick from Reyes. Reyes with a left hand. They both block power hand punches. Solid left from Reyes then a body kick. Smith pushes into a clinch then lands a right hand as they break. Right hand from Smith. Reyes with a series of jabs then starts to tee off but Smith lands a knee and starts coming forward. They clash one last time before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Reyes

ROUND TWO: Both men feint the lead hand as the round begins. Smith grabs a single leg but can’t quite finish it and Reyes with elbows to the head along the fence. Reyes keeps landing punches and elbows, Smith sags down to the mat holding the leg but Reyes pulls his leg free. Smith is sitting on the fence and Reyes moves to the ride and lands punches. More elbows from Reyes and Smith is still trying to wrestle up on the single leg. Eventually Smith grabs the body to stifle the offense, Reyes keeps him on the fence and lands elbows. Smith pulls half guard and Reyes starts working for ground and pound. Reyes moves to the ride position as Smith goes to his knees. There’s just a steady stream of offense from Reyes, it’s not individually devastating but it’s adding up and Smith isn’t able to address position or fight out of this. Eventually Smith tries to move, Reyes slides to the ride again and lands some more punches to prompt the stoppage.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Dominick Reyes via TKO, strikes, at 4:46 of Round 2

Mic time for Reyes, he thanks God then thanks Smith for taking the fight at all and feels he’s finally got some job security. He was a little surprised at how long the stoppage took but knows Smith has heart for days and that it wouldn’t be easy.

Smith gets an interview as well, he’s very emotional as his best friend passed away suddenly very close to this fight, and he says he isn’t sure how many times he can do this now. He isn’t sure he can do this without his friend, and while he isn’t sure this is the end he acknowledges it probably is.

Well that’s it for preliminary action, on to PPV for the main card.

Nate Landwehr has gone 4-1 in his last five fights only losing in a step up bout against Dan Ige then most recently getting a win over Jamall Emmers, now Landwehr is trying to build another winning streak. Doo-ho Choi recently got his first win since 2016 when he beat Bill Algeo in July and now he’s looking for his first winning streak since 2016. Pretty close here, -130 on Landwehr to Choi’s +110.

Featherweight Bout: Dooho Choi (15-4-1, 146 lbs.) vs. Nate Landwehr (18-5, 145.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Choi is an inch taller while Landwehr has two inches of reach advantage. Some feinting from both men. Choi lands an early uppercut. Clubbing right from Choi partially lands. Landwehr bulls forward but Choi is battering him through the guard. Jab from Choi then a calf kick. Left uppercut from Choi, he looks pretty good. Landwehr seems a little befuddled. Choi is backing Landwehr up towards the fence and lands a calf kick then a jab. Bit of a right from Choi then a combination in close. Landwehr is bleeding already, not badly but definitely busted up. Choi with some body work, then he avoids a clinch and slips to the back of Landwehr along the fence. Elbows from Choi as he moves to the ride as Landwehr is in the turtle now. Landwehr works to stand but Choi gets both hooks in. They wrestle up and Landwehr lands a knee before they break. Choi keeps moving Landwehr back and lands a bit of a right hand. Left uppercut from Choi, that punch ahs been money for him. They get close but nothing comes of a brief clinch. Calf kick from Choi. Bit of a left hook from Choi. They trade rights. Left to the body from Choi. Landwehr is using a very high guard but there’s a space for the uppercut and Choi is finding it. They clinch and Landwehr pushes things to the fence . Elbow from Choi then Landwehr with a knee. They break without incident. Choi lands a right hand to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Choi

ROUND TWO: They get close and both men start swinging punches right away. Choi with a left hook then digs a body shot. Calf kick from Choi. Choi is just boxing circles around Landwehr. They trade then tie up. Some positional jockeying along the fence then Choi lands an elbow as they break. Bit of a right from Choi. Calf kick from Choi then a right hand but Landwehr does land an elbow. Some knees from Landwehr in close but Choi hits a really nice foot sweep and gets on top in side control. Choi to full mount and grabs at an arm triangle choke and uses that to get the back briefly to land punches. Landwehr is able to scramble but Choi gets his back again and flattens him out then lands some punches. A few more punches from Choi, Landwehr is trying to pull him off over the top but that’s not happening. They scramble back up into a clinch and Choi with an outside trip to get on top in half guard. Landwehr tries to wrestle around for a takedown, Choi moves to a front headlock position then stands and lands a knee as they clinch. They hit the fence and start to fight for position, and that’s where the round will end.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Choi, 20-18 Choi overall

ROUND THREE: Both men come out swinging then Choi lands a calf kick. Right hand from Choi, he’s got Landwehr along the fence and Landwehr swings back but isn’t landing much. Landwehr with a right hand. Choi hits a takedown into side control. Choi moves to a mounted crucifix and starts dropping elbows. Punches now from Choi, Landwehr is kind of stuck and doesn’t have much defense here. Landwehr is trying to address the position but Choi is latched to him and landing punches. A few more elbows sneak in from Choi, Landwehr just can’t get out and while he’s putting out effort he’s just stuck. Choi with a few more elbows and that’ll prompt the stoppage.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Dooho Choi via TKO, punches and elbows, at 3:21 of Round 3

The Final Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Choi for his work. Mic time for Choi and the translator, he feels amazing and admits that with the new generation of featherweight’s he’s just proving he still belongs and is glad to have done so. He mentions he’s been in the UFC for 10 years and should be able to grapple as well as he did here. Asked about the future he brings up Bryce Mitchell who’s in our next fight. To close he thanks one of his coaches who aren’t here then a few other people who’ve supported him including his wife who’s pregnant and dedicates the win to his forthcoming child.

The announce that UFC 312 will be headlined by Dricus du Plessis vs. Sean Strickland in a rematch for the middleweight title with a co-headliner of Zhang Weili defending the strawweight title against Tatiana Suarez. Solid top of the card there.

Bryce Mitchell has gone 2-2 in his last four fights, back in 2022 he got run over by now champion Ilia Topuria and in his last fight about a year ago he was on the receiving end of one of the most brutal knockouts the UFC has seen when Josh Emmett punched him into spasms. Mitchell is trying to avoid his first ever losing streak. Kron Gracie has gone 1-2 in the UFC, back in 2019 he lost to Cub Swanson then was out of action until 2023 when he returned and did an unhealthy amount of butt scooting in a decision loss to Charles Jourdain. Gracie is trying to halt that losing streak and get his first win since 2019. Mitchell is a big favorite at -850 to +575 on Gracie.

Featherweight Bout: Kron Gracie (5-2, 144.5 lbs.) vs. #13 Bryce Mitchell (16-2, 146 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Mitchell is an inch taller while the reach is identical. They touch gloves. Gracie shows some jabs as they both work inside leg kicks. Right to the body from Gracie. Mitchell lands a leg kick. They’re both switching stance a bit, they tie up and Gracie pulls half guard. Gracie gets full guard. A few small punches go back and forth. Not much happening here, Mitchell isn’t landing much offense and Gracie’s attempts to use his guard aren’t working much. Still not a lot going on but apparently enough to keep the ref from doing anything. That’s where the round will end.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Mitchell

ROUND TWO: Both men still southpaw, Gracie lands a left hand. Leg kick from Mitchell. Mitchell with a one two then a knee. Elbow from Mitchell. Gracie lands a jab but his entries into takedowns are bad. Mitchell hits a takedown into full guard. They’re back to little punches without much anything on them. Mitchell stands free and makes Gracie regain his feet. They tie up pretty quickly and Gracie jumps full guard again. Gracie gets his guard in play finally and grabs at an armbar. The position is dangerous but the fence is complicating things. Gracie tries to switch to a triangle choke then spins all the way through to nearly take the back. Mitchell is calm though and looks to keep top position. Gracie grabs the armbar again, it’s extended but the fence complicates things and Mitchell is able to pull his arm free then land punches as they stand up.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Mitchell but Gracie’s armbar might complicate things, 20-18 Mitchell overall

ROUND THREE: Both men feint the hands again. Mitchell slips on a knee but Gracie can’t get on top of him. Gracie looks quite fatigued, he lands an inside leg kick. They tie up and Gracie jumps guard yet again, but this time he doesn’t have control and Mitchell slams him down then lands a couple of elbows that seem to put Gracie out and the ref jumps in.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Bryce Mitchell via KO, elbow, at :39 of Round 3

The Final Round Finish Club thanks Mr. Mitchell for his work. Mic time for Mitchell, he quotes the Bible then mentions how often Gracie pulled guard. He thanks Rogan for being kind to him after his last knockout and apologizes for being insulting to him in the past. He talks us through some highlights and admits the armbar was pretty tight then talks us through the finish. To close he puts over Christ as the only person who could make America great again. You know, all things considered that was restrained for a Mitchell interview.

Ciryl Gane challenged for the heavyweight title back in 2022 but came up short in that effort, then knocked out Tai Tuivasa and got a shot at the vacant title only to get run over by Jon Jones. Most recently Gane rebounded and stopped Serghei Spivac but his stock has still taken a serious hit and he needs a good performance here if he wants to put his name in the title sweepstakes. Alexander Volkov lost a decision to Gane back in 2021 and he’s looking for a bit of revenge here, he’s on a four fight winning streak and a fifth here would put him back into the title picture. Keeping their first fight in mind it’s not surprising to see Gane as a -380 favorite but a +300 payout for Volkov might tempt a few bettors out there.

Heavyweight Bout: #2 Ciryl Gane (12-2, 245.5 lbs.) vs. #3 Alexander Volkov (38-10, 254.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Volkov is three inches taller but Gane has an inch of reach advantage though Volkov is also about 10 pounds heavier. For those who care about such things, Volkov is rocking cornrows, which is definitely a choice. Gane opens southpaw. Volkov comes out kicking and looking to land a right hand. Gane circles and avoids an inside leg kick. Leg kick from Gane. Volkov with a body kick, then catches a kick and gets the back standing. Gane tries to stand but Volkov rids him down into leg drag. They wind up with Volkov on top in side control. Gane is able to shrimp to half guard then scrambles up into a clinch on the fence. They jockey for position in the clinch then just separate. Gane blocks a body kick. Jab from Gane then he side kicks the leg. Volkov is stalking forward but misses a punch and Gane hits a takedown into full guard. Gane avoids some guard play then lands a couple of lefts. Volkov nearly hits a kuro kuro sweep, Gane then looks for a heel hook but loses it and they wrestle up into another clinch. Knee from Volkov then they break. Volkov with a body kick. Gane misses a left hand. Knee from Gane, Volkov then tries a single leg but Gane grabs a guillotine on the way down. Gane is tightening the guillotine up but Volkov will be able to see out the round despite it getting tighter.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Gane but could go either way

ROUND TWO: Gane jabs the body to start the round. Bit of a left from Gane. Volkov keeps stalking forward, Gane side kicks the knee but Volkov then lands a left hand. Volkov checks an inside leg kick. Jab from Gane then Volkov lands a spinning back fist that definitely bothered Gane for a moment. Gane with a body kick. Bit of a high kick from Volkov. Volkov goes southpaw for a moment to land a lead leg body kick then goes back orthodox. Gane has started showing stance switches and lands a right hook. Leg kicks from Gane then he blocks a high kick. Left to the body from Gane. Bit of an uppercut from Gane. Gane blocks a body kick. Body kick from Volkov then Gane lands a couple of punches. Inside leg kick from Gane then a right hand that bothers Volkov but Volkov fires back only to get tied up and taken down into side control. Volkov is holding a headlock, Gane could set up a Von Flue choke if he wants it. Yeah that Von Flue is definitely in play but Gane can’t get his hands together. Ultimately they just stand and reset. Body kick from Volkov. Body kick from Gane. Gane side kicks the knee a couple of times then misses a left hand to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Volkov but another close one, 19-19 overall

ROUND THREE: Volkov lands a body kick to start the last round. Gane lands a jab. Gane side kicks the lead leg again. They trade jabs. Volkov tries a single leg and hits it but Gane spins around towards the ride position. Gane has a kimura trap going on as he loses the ride position, he might be able to spin over the top for an armbar. Volkov is trying to posture through this and is able to get his head to no long be a leverage point and settles into half guard. Gane is still thinking about that kimura, at this point he should bail and try to stand because this isn’t going to happen for him. Volkov hits the body a few times then Gane builds to a hip and looks to come up on a single leg but Volkov is working a cradle position to flatten him back out. Gane again looks to work a deep half position but Volkov’s cradle is stalling him out. The round will end in this position.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Volkov, 29-28 Volkov overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Ciryl Gane via split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)

Well I don’t agree with that but with how close those first two rounds were I can’t scream robbery either. It just always sucks when the guy who won the clear round loses because the other two were close. Gane is limping pretty badly, he isn’t sure he won the fight and is unhappy with how he fought. He notes he broke his left foot at some point and he’s just not happy with any of this. You know what, I respect his candor.

Shavkat Rakhmonov is undefeated and has finished all of his opponents, he was supposed to fight for the title here but instead now looks to reaffirm his title shot with another win here. Ian Machado Garry is also undefeated but took this fight on shorter notice after Belal Muhammad fell out of the title fight, Garry would likely secure the next title shot if he can become the first man to best Rakhmonov. As a reminder this will be a 5 round fight. The odds are with Rakhmonov at -355 to Garry’s +280.

Welterweight Bout: #7 Ian Machado Garry (15-0, 171 lbs.) vs. #3 Shavkat Rakhmonov (18-0, 171 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Garry is two inches taller while Rakhmonov has two and a half inches of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Both men do a little feinting. They both fall a little short with jabs, they’re just range finding. They clinch and Rakhmonov pushes things to the fence. Rakhmonov gets to a body lock and lands a knee. A few more knees from Rakhmonov, nothing serious but he’s finding offense. Garry manages to avoid a few trip attempts but he can’t get off the cage yet. Garry avoids another takedown but Rakhmonov slips to the back in the clinch because of it. Some knees to the leg from Rakhmonov. Garry is working to turn into Rakhmonov and is able to do so. Rakhmonov avoids an inside trip then spins Garry into the fence. Another knee from Rakhmonov lands. Garry is eventually able to spin free and reset. Hard right hand from Rakhmonov lands then Garry grabs a clinch but gets pushed into the fence. They stay in the clinch to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Rakhmonov

ROUND TWO: Both men feint a bit again to start the round. Spinning back kick from Rakhmonov. Garry is circling mostly. Rakhmonov starts showing the jab then checks a calf kick. Jab from Garry. A few jabs go back and forth then Rakhmonov lands a right hand. Jab from Rakhmonov. Rakhmonov lands a right hand but Garry is able to find a jab. Garry jabs the body. Another right from Rakhmonov lands but Garry circles away from the follow ups. Left from Rakhmonov and they clinch up on the fence. Garry gets to a body lock briefly and lands a knee but Rakhmonov spins him into the fence. Bit of a knee from Rakhmonov. Rakhmonov looks for a takedown but winds up just getting to the back in the clinch. Garry pretty quickly is able to turn back towards him into a clinch. They break and Rakhmonov avoids a spinning back fist. Rakhmonov then lands a spinning back fist of his own. Garry misses a kick then eats a jab. Left hook from Rakhmonov. Bit of a calf kick from Garry to close the round.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Rakhmonov, 20-18 Rakhmonov overall

ROUND THREE: They touch gloves again. Both men feinting a bit but neither is biting all that much. Bit of a body jab from Rakhmonov. Garry fires a head kick that’s mostly blocked. Rakhmonov checks a calf kick. Garry is showing a lot more in the kicking department. Bit of a right from Rakhmonov. Calf kick from Garry but he does take a counter punch. Rakhmonov jabs the body again. Bit of a right from Rakhmonov and they clinch again. Rakhmonov looks for an outside trip again but can’t find it yet. Garry is able to stay upright but he can’t get away. Knee from Rakhmonov. The ref gets involved and separates them, that was fair I think. Rakhmonov blocks a high kick but Garry’s left leg is quick and dangerous. They trade jabs. Kick to the knee from Garry. Again they split jabs. Rakhmonov misses a wheel kick but the slimmest of margins. Bit of a spinning back fist from Rakhmonov then a jab. Another jab from Rakhmonov. Right hand from Rakhmonov seems to bother Garry just before the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Rakhmonov but a closer one, 30-27 Rakhmonov overall

ROUND FOUR: They touch gloves. Garry keeps showing that oblique kick to the lead leg. Bit of a body kick from Garry. Rakhmonov with a right hand. Spinning back kick from Rakhmonov lands. Calf kick from Rakhmonov. Garry keeps kicking at that lead knee of Rakhmonov. They split jabs. Rakhmonov pushes into a clinch and they hit the fence. They fight for position then Garry is able to pull free. Rakhmonov tries a double leg then switches to a throw and gets the takedown into full guard. Garry tries to lock his full guard, and Rakhmonov lands an elbow. Rakhmonov postures up and lands a few elbows and hammer fists. Garry scrambles up, Rakhmonov nearly gets the back but Garry slides him off then grabs a ninja choke but Rakhmonov hits a slick arm drag to get the back standing. A few knees to the leg from Rakhmonov, he could go to the head here but isn’t. Garry works to turn into Rakhmonov and is able to pull free. Rakhmonov back on pressure, hits a double leg into full guard. Some hammer fists from Rakhmonov then punches as he’s postured up. The round ends with Rakhmonov on top.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Rakhmonov, 40-36 Rakhmonov overall

ROUND FIVE: They touch gloves for the final round. Rakhmonov lands a left hook after avoiding a punch. Calf kick from Garry then he avoids a wheel kick. Rakhmonov tries a double leg, Garry defends so Rakhmonov switches to a single leg but Garry is able to spin him down and wind up on the back in the transition. Garry is trying for a body triangle and looks for the choke. Rakhmonov is hand fighting but Garry gets near the neck though Garry can’t find the finish yet. Garry is really after the choke, Rakhmonov is able to break the grip though. Rakhmonov spins into Garry and gets on top in full guard. Garry is holding the body triangle from the bottom. Rakhmonov postures up and hits the body a few times. Garry looks to wall walk, Rakhmonov gets to the ride and punches him as they stand into a clinch. They fight for position against the fence and Rakhmonov lands a few knees. Bit of an elbow from Garry as they break. They trade one last time as the round ends.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Garry, 49-46 Rakhmonov overall

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER – Shavkat Rakhmonov via unanimous decision (48-47 x3)

Not a bad fight but not what a lot of us were expecting. Mic time for Rakhmonov and the translator, he thanks God and the fans then puts over Garry and notes he did have a bit of a layoff coming into this. Asked about fighting for the title next he expects to fight for it soon and calls Belal into the cage, Belal is in the crowd and obliges so we can get a bit of a faceoff between the two. Rogan asks Belal about the fight, he’s excited about the fight between the two of them and expects to retain. Rakhmonov looks forward to finding out who the better man is. There’s some real size difference between those two as I see them face to face.

Kai Asakura has some impressive wins in his career, he’s gone 1-1 with both Kyoji Horiguchi and Manel Kape and most recently stopped Juan Archuleta in the second round to win the Rizin bantamweight title. That was about a year ago and now he’s made his way to the UFC and could make history as the first Japanese fighter to wear UFC gold. Alexandre Pantoja is the UFC flyweight champion and has defended that title twice, Pantoja hasn’t lost since 2020 and has turned in some really memorably fights his last few times out and he’s looking to further his championship legacy with another defense. The odds are with the champion Pantoja at -265 to +215 on Asakura.

Flyweight Title Bout: (c) Alexandre Pantoja (28-5, 124.5 lbs.) vs. Kai Asakura (21-4, 124.5 lbs.)

ROUND ONE: Asakura is three inches taller with an inch and a half of reach advantage. They touch gloves to get us going. Calf kick from Pantoja. Jumping knee from Asakura lands but Pantoja gets a clinch though he can’t keep it. Punches from Pantoja and he lands a solid left hand. They wind up clinched and Asakura pushes Pantoja into the fence. Pantoja blocks some knees in the clinch then trips Asakura down and gets on top in full guard. Not much going on here, then they scramble up and reset. Right hand from Pantoja. Asakura shows some stance switches now. Bit of a left hook from Pantoja. Asakura lands a right to the body, he’s very quick. Pantoja with a right hook in close. Now Pantoja starts showing oblique kicks to disrupt Asakura’s rhythm. They’re both showing stance switches now. Lunging left from Asakura lands. Pantoja marches forward and lands a left of his own. Both men fire high kicks that are blocked. Hard leg kick from Pantoja. A couple of punches from Pantoja then a knee as Asakura spun away from a takedown feint. Body kick from Pantoja. Pantoja lands some punches and Asakura avoids a tie up. Another body kick from Pantoja. Asakura misses a jumping knee then eats a jab. They just kind of stare away the final few seconds.

SCORECARD: 10-9 Pantoja

ROUND TWO: They touch gloves again. Jab from Pantoja lands, he’s backing Asakura up. Asakura lands a left hook but Pantoja ties up with him then jumps for the back in transition but winds up with one hook in as they’re standing. Pantoja is able to off balance Asakura then jumps to the back with a body triangle as they hit the mat. That was really slick from Pantoja. Pantoja starts looking for the choke, he’s getting close and is under the chin but the angle is a little off. Pantoja adjusts his grip and puts Asakura to sleep.

OFFICIAL RESULT: †WINNER and STILL UFC Flyweight Champion – Alexandre Pantoja via Technical Submission, rear naked choke, at 2:05 of Round 2

Pantoja is the man, he deserves a fair bit more respect than he gets in most circles of discourse. Mic time for Pantoja and he says the UFC level is high and he wont let anyone just come in here and take his belt but then puts over Asakura. He talks us through the finish and puts over his team and coaches for all of their work and reminds us all to work hard for our dreams to make them come true. He then says Demetrious Johnson should come out of retirement and fight him. That’s, well let’s leave it at unlikely to happen.

Well on that note UFC 310 comes to a close. We’ll be unpacking all the fallout from this event on the 411 Ground and Pound MMA Podcast plus looking ahead to the last UFC event of the year. That will be taking place next week and I’ll be back to cover it, and I hope you’ll be back to read it. Until then thank you so much for reading whether it’s live or after the fact, stay safe out there, and keep checking 411mania for all of your pop culture needs.

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