UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura (2024)

Interesting facts

UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on December 7, 2024, at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas Valley, United States.

Background

A UFC Welterweight Championship bout between current champion Belal Muhammad and undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov was scheduled to headline the event. However due to a bone infection in his foot, Muhammad was forced to withdraw. Rakhmonov instead faced Ian Machado Garry in a five-round title eliminator co-main event.

A UFC Flyweight Championship bout between current champion Alexandre Pantoja and former two-time Rizin Bantamweight Champion (also promotional newcomer) Kai Asakura was scheduled to be the co-headliner, but it was promoted to main event when the original headliner was cancelled.

A heavyweight rematch between former interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Ciryl Gane and former Bellator Heavyweight World Champion Alexander Volkov was expected to take place at UFC 308, but it was moved to this event due to Volkov's knee injury. The pairing previously headlined UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Volkov in June 2021 which Gane won by unanimous decision.

A welterweight bout between former WEC and Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz (also former UFC Welterweight Championship challenger) and Vicente Luque was expected to take place at the event. The pair was previously expected to meet at UFC on ABC: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov, but the bout was removed from the event due to travel issues related to Diaz.

A featherweight bout between former UFC Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling and Movsar Evloev took place at this event. They were originally expected to face each other at UFC 307, but Sterling withdrew due to an injury.

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