For flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja, the division could use a new face like Kai Asakura.
Former RIZIN champion Asakura (21-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) challenges Pantoja (28-5 MMA, 12-3 UFC) for the flyweight title at UFC 310 on Dec. 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+).
The likes of top contender Kai Kara-France took issue with a newcomer getting a title shot, but having cleared out the majority of the division, Pantoja thinks it’s the right fight.
“I think it’s all about time,” Pantoja told MMA Junkie. “In that time right now, I think it makes sense.”
Pantoja is happy to see the flyweight division being spotlighted with numerous headliners – most recently with Brandon Moreno defeating Amir Albazi in this past Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 246 main event.
Brandon Royval is also recently coming off a main event win, where he bounced Tatsuro Taira out of the ranks of the unbeaten at UFC Fight Night 244 in October. But with Pantoja having already beaten both Moreno and Royval twice, he likes the challenge of studying a new opponent.
“You bring Kai Asakura, the crossover – that’s what every hater of the UFC is talking about: ‘UFC needs to make a crossover,’ and when the UFC did that, the haters come back and say Asakura doesn’t deserve to fight for the belt,” Pantoja said. “But especially in my division – I love Royval too, that’s a beautiful fight he did with Taira, a contender, super fresh guy, Japanese, beautiful fight. I loved watching the grappling, the fight style. But of course, Royval lost to me twice.
“I think it makes sense. This time, nobody can say nothing. And it’s good for the whole division, too, because after my fight with Asakura, everybody is going to get the opportunity to fight with this guy, too. He’s good for the whole division. When I finished my fight with (Stephen) Erceg, and I was thinking who’s going to be my next opponent, when I looked at the top five in the UFC, I know the game plan to fight all these guys. Then you bring someone new, that’s good for me. I like that challenge.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 310.