The final UFC Pay-Per-View event of 2024 is set for December 7 at T-Mobile Arena. Headlining the event will be the UFC Flyweight title bout between defending champion Alexandre Pantoja and former Rizin champion Kai Asakura, who will be making his UFC debut.
Alexandre Pantoja holds a 28-5 record, with all his losses coming by decision. Impressively, he has secured victories in his last six fights, each against a Top 15 opponent in the UFC Flyweight Rankings. Pantoja claimed the title from Brandon Moreno and has since defended it successfully against Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg, enduring grueling 25-minute battles in each instance.
Pantoja’s resilience in these contests underscores his toughness, but the question remains whether he can withstand one of Japan’s top knockout artists, Kai Asakura.
Kai Asakura, with a 21-4 record, is a renowned figure in Japan, but does he have what it takes to claim the UFC title? While betting odds may cast doubt, his credentials suggest he has a strong chance.
Asakura, a former Rizin Bantamweight champion, is dropping to the flyweight division for the first time since 2017. He held the Rizin title on three occasions. His first title shot came on New Year’s Eve in 2019, where he fell short against Manel Kape. Interestingly, Kape later joined the UFC and lost to Alexandre Pantoja.
Asakura rebounded by winning the Rizin title in 2020, only to lose it to Kyoji Haraguchi the same year. He regained it in 2021 but lost it again a few months later. On New Year’s Eve 2023,
Asakura reclaimed the championship by defeating Juan Archuleta via TKO. He vacated the title a few months ago to pursue a career in the UFC.
When, Where, and How to Watch?
- Place: T-Mobile Arena in Paradise (Las Vegas), Nevada
- Date: Saturday, December 7, 2024
- Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: PPV
Alexandre Pantoja – 260
Kai Asakura + 220
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, December 6, 2024
