Pantoja’s Back Control Ended Asakura’s UFC Title Challenge
Alexandre Pantoja retained the UFC flyweight championship by submitting Kai Asakura on December 7, 2024. The UFC 310 main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas ended with a rear-naked choke at 2:05 of the second round.
Asakura entered an active opening round
The former RIZIN champion made his UFC debut with an immediate championship opportunity. He attacked with knees and quick combinations, while Pantoja answered with his own punches, kicks and forward movement.
The opening round mixed striking exchanges with grappling. Asakura returned to his feet after early ground action, but the champion continued engaging rather than allowing the challenger to settle comfortably into his preferred attacks.
The second round brought the submission
Pantoja reached Asakura’s back during the next round and followed him to the floor. From that position, he established the control needed to pursue the rear-naked choke.
The finish gave Pantoja his third successful title defense. It also produced a shorter conclusion than the five-round championship victories that had immediately preceded this appearance.
The championship run already included demanding decisions
Pantoja had taken the belt from Brandon Moreno through a split decision in July 2023. He then defended against Brandon Royval that December and Steve Erceg in May 2024, winning both by unanimous decision.
His submission credentials were established before becoming champion: he had finished Royval in 2021 and Alex Perez in 2022 with rear-naked chokes. The Asakura result added another championship victory through that familiar technique.
Sources
- UFC: event date, venue and official submission result
- Sporting News: opening exchanges and second-round back control
- UFC: championship history and earlier submission victories
