UFC 310 Results: Flyweight Champ Pantoja Submits Asakura to Retain Belt; Rakhmonov Earns Welterweight Title Shot

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Alexandre Pantoja earned a stoppage win over Kai Asakura to successfully defend the UFC Flyyweight World Championship in the headliner of UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura pay-per-view event which took place at the T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday (December 7).

Shavkat Rakhmonov dominated Ian Machado Garry in the pivotal co-main event to get into title contention in the welterweight division, while Asia's Dooho Choi also landed a win to open proceedings on the main card.

The fourteenth and final numbered event of 2024, which recorded an attendance of 18,648 and gate collection of $5 million US Dollars, witnessed an incredible 9 of 14 fights end in stoppages on the blockbuster card.

On the night, 5 of the 9 stoppages, including the main event, were either Knockout (KO) or Technical Knockout (TKO), while four contests ended in a submission finish. Plus, there were four fighter who took home fight of the night bonuses worth USD50K. Here is the recap from UFC 310:

UFC 310 Recap

In the main event, UFC flyweight champion Pantoja welcomed Japan's own Asakura to his very first UFC bout in a massive title challenge. The two engaged immediately, traded flying knees, and then clinched on the cage, with Pantoja able to get the fight to the canvas quickly.

Asakura recovered and the firefight continued, with Pantoja landing more strikes in the frantic opening round. Pantoja came out violent in the second round, scrambled to the back, got the takedown, and submitted Asakura with a rear naked choke.

After the title defence, UFC flyweight champion Pantoja said, "The UFC level here is so high. You think some Japanese (champion) coming here can take my belt? No. I want to go to Japan and defend, and do whatever he wants.

"Asakura is a very tough warrior, everybody saw his crazy highlights. But it doesn't matter. When the Octagon's locked, this is my town, this is my city. American Top Team is a tough team, I want to thank all my teammates, Kyoji Horiguchi.

"Doesn't matter how hard, you keep working. Doesn't matter if you need two jobs, three jobs, you make your dream life. I know he's retired but... Demetrius Johnson, I'm the GOAT here. If you want to prove you're the GOAT, then come back."

In a co-main event that featured the battle to be the next UFC welterweight title challenger, undefeated welterweights No. 3 ranked Rakhmonov and No. 7 ranked Machado Garry put everything on the line.

A high level chess match ensued, with each man cautiously claiming inch after inch. Through four rounds, Rakhmonov used his jabs and shots, while Garry employed kicks but was forced to defend more often.

Garry surged in the final round with a takedown and submission attempt from back position, but Rakhmonov powered a reversal and the fight went the distance. In the end, Rakhmonov earned the unanimous decision with his successful striking.

Following the win, Rakhmonov called out the champion, "I had a long year layoff, had some problems to deal with, but I'm glad I won. Thank you for support. Belal, come here now. Let's face off."

UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad, who was in attendance at the T-Mobile Arena, entered the Octagon and said, "I'm excited for it. I see the crowd booing, those boos are gonna turn into tears real soon. It's another victim that I'm gonna break, another "0" I'm gonna take. Bully B's gonna be "and still" no matter what."

Rakhmonov responded, "Get ready. No more injuries. We'll find out who is the better man." Now, the meeting between the two will be one to watch sometime next year in one of the numbered events.

Also on the main card, "Korean Superboy" Choi started his 10th year in UFC by showing off all of his tools against Nate Landwehr. Choi handily owned the first round with brilliant striking, then surprised everyone by mixing in throws and grappling in the second.

Landwehr opened the third round with desperate aggression, but a very composed Choi took him down, got him in a crucifix, and pounded on him until the referee jumped in to stop it. With the TKO victory, Choi earned a record of the third most knockouts in featherweight history (5).

After his KO win, Choi said, "It very amazing! In the old generation of the featherweight division, I was ranked 11th, but in the new generation, I'm happy to show that I am at a new level, and I have what it takes to survive. I've been in the UFC for 10 years, so I should be able to grapple like this.

"For my next opponent, I am so ready to get Bryce Mitchell... I believe if I fight him, I'll be a featherweight ranker," Choi picked his next opponent, who also sealed a third-round knockout win against Kron Gracie moments after Choi stopped Landwehr.

"I want to thank one of the best coaches in Korea, Coach Yang from Team MAD Busan, and a big shout out to Korean Zombie for supporting me throughout the camp. And my wife as well... I have a second child coming, I want to dedicate this fight to my second child."

At only 23 years old, Myanmar's own Joshua Van got his first ranking chance against No. 14 flyweight Cody Durden, and he did not let the opportunity go to waste on the prelims.

Although a slow starter, Van did show improved wrestling against Durden's first round tackles, but in the second and third, he put on a striking showcase. Durden's chin and toughness carried him to the end, but Van's damage and volume got him the well-deserved victory.

After the win, Van said, "That performance, man, I wish I could've gotten the knockout. I mean, we won it, but he's a tough man. We've been working on some new stuff. For my next fight, stay tuned. And then I want to say one thing. UFC and Dana White, please, let me carry my (Myanmar country) flag inside the Octagon.

"I couldn't carry my flag, so I brought a mouth guard. Next, I want to face the top 10 or top five. Whoever you put in front of me, I'll fight, that's that's what I'm going to do. I'm The Fearless. Remember that name!"

The prelims also saw Michael Chiesa, Dominick Reyes, Vicente Luque, Movsar Evloev, Bryan Battle, Eryk Anders, Chase Hooper and Kennedy Nzechukwu claim wins in their respective bouts. Here is a look at the final results from UFC 310:

UFC 310 Results

• Flyweight World Championship Bout: Alexandre Pantoja defeats Kai Asakura by submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:05 of Round 2
• Welterweight Bout: Shavkat Rakhmonov defeats Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
• Heavyweight Bout: Ciryl Gane defeats Alexander Volkov by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Featherweight Bout: Bryce Mitchell defeats Kron Gracie by KO (elbow) at 0:39 of Round 3
• Featherweight Bout: Dooho Choi defeats Nate Landwehr by TKO (strikes) at 3:21 of Round 3
• Light Heavyweight Bout: Dominick Reyes defeats Anthony Smith by TKO (strikes) at 4:46 of Round 2
• Welterweight Bout: Vicente Luque defeats Themba Gorimbo by submission (anaconda choke) at 0:52 of Round 1
• Featherweight Bout: Movsar Evloev defeats Aljamain Sterling by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Welterweight Bout: Bryan Battle defeats Randy Brown by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
• Catchweight (195 lb) Bout: Eryk Anders defeats Chris Weidman by TKO (strikes) at 4:51 of Round 2
• Flyweight Bout: Joshua Van defeats Cody Durden by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-26, 30-27)
• Welterweight Bout: Michael Chiesa defeats Max Griffin by submission (rear-naked choke) at 1:56 of Round 3
• Lightweight Bout: Chase Hooper defeats Clay Guida by submission (armbar) at 3:41 of Round 1
• Heavyweight Bout: Kennedy Nzechukwu defeats Lukasz Brezeski by TKO (strikes) at 4:51 of Round 1