"Ship his a** back to Japan" - Fans rejoice as Alexandre Pantoja sends debutant Kai Asakura to "shadow realm" at UFC 310

UFC 310 delivered a spectacular ending to the promotion's 2024 pay-per-view schedule, headlined by flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja's successful defense against debutant Kai Asakura. The fight showcased Pantoja’s dominance as he submitted the Japanese star with a rear-naked choke in the second round, solidifying his reign in the 125-pound division.

Pantoja, riding a six-fight winning streak, entered the octagon as the favorite. The Brazilian champion displayed resilience and versatility throughout the bout, weathering Asakura's explosive striking in the opening round.

While Asakura landed notable strikes, including a jumping knee and a hard counter right, Pantoja’s grappling proved decisive. A well-executed takedown in the second round led to a textbook rear-naked choke, forcing Asakura to submit at 2:05.

The victory marks Pantoja’s third title defense, extending his status as the most dominant flyweight in the UFC. Asakura, a former Rizin standout with a 21-4 record, faced a steep challenge in his UFC debut. Though his striking posed threats, Pantoja’s experience and ground game overwhelmed the Japanese contender.

Fans were quick to react to Pantoja’s victory on social media. One user on X humorously commented:

“Ship his a** back to Japan"

Another praised the finish, stating:

“Awesome takedown and submission by Pantoja. Sent Asakura to the Shadow Realm for a second.”

Urging Pantoja to move up a weight class down the line, one fan wrote:

“No one beats pantoja at 125 I want to see him move up after he beats Royval. Congrats to him!”

Check out some of the fan reactions below:

Fans react to Alexandre Pantoja's win over Kai Asakura at UFC 310. [Screenshot courtesy: X]

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A look into Alexandre Pantoja’s Career in the UFC so far

Alexandre Pantoja has cemented his reputation as one of the best fighters in the UFC Flyweight division. The Brazilian flyweight made his debut in 2017, defeating Eric Shelton via split decision at UFC on Fox 23.

Pantoja was well-known for his grappling abilities, and he won numerous fights, including standout performances against Neil Seery, Brandon Moreno, and Deiveson Figueiredo.

Pantoja won the UFC Flyweight Championship in July 2023 by defeating Moreno in a split decision at UFC 290. He has since defended his title against top opponents, demonstrating remarkable consistency.

Pantoja's dominant performances, including this win against Kai Asakura at UFC 310, solidify his status as a top-tier UFC champion.