UFC 310 marks the final PPV event of the promotion’s calendar year, and pits former RIZIN Fighting Federation bantamweight champ Kai Asakura against UFC flyweight king Alexandre Pantoja.
Flyweight is not new to Asakura, but he is moving back down for a shot at UFC gold. It’s almost unheard of for a promotional newcomer to be granted an immediate title shot: look back in your MMA rearview mirror, and you’ll see Gilbert Melendez getting a crack at Benson Henderson after Strikeforce was acquired. Eddie Alvarez, Michael Chandler, and most recently, Kayla Harrison all had to win at least a fight or two to hit challenger status.
Just slightly more recently, in 2014, Joe Soto got an immediate title shot against T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 177 – but that was as a replacement for an injured Renan Barao.
The UFC clearly sees something special in Asakura, at a point in time that has seen a wave of fresh Japanese talent, including Rei Tsuruya and Tatsuro Taira, enter the company.
UFC 310 was to have Belal Muhammad defend his welterweight title against Shavkat Rakhmonov. With Muhammad out, the planned main event is now a co-main event title eliminator. Ian Machado Garry, initially booked for UFC Tampa a week later, puts his undefeated 15-0 record on the line against Shavkat’s 18-0 mark.
