LAS VEGAS – Alexandre Pantoja remembers hearing the name Kai Askaura for the first time.
It was 2019, and Pantoja (28-5 MMA, 12-3 UFC) suddenly was interested to learn more. Asakura (21-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) had just knocked out Kyoji Horiguchi, a teammate Pantoja holds in the highest regard.
“I got more attention about him, ‘Who is this guy, who can beat Kyoji because Kyoji is so good?’ I realized I have a very good fighter to fight,” Pantoja told MMA Junkie and other reporters Wednesday.