The flyweight division is abuzz with new-found excitement at the prospect of Japanese phenom Kai Asakura making his much-anticipated UFC debut in a title fight against flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 310. The former two-time RIZIN bantamweight champion is coming into the UFC with an unorthodox fighting style blending precision with raw power, and a history of explosive finishes. With 13 knockout finishes and three wins by submission in 25 MMA bouts, will Kai Asakura be able to beat the incredibly durable flyweight champion, Alexandre Pantoja? Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping certainly thinks so, at least in the realm of striking.

“This guy is a champion out of Japan from RIZIN. Of course, on a number of occasions, he’s got bone-breaking power. He’s got jaw-breaking power in his punches and in his knees. The last time we saw him against Juan Archuleta. That was on New Year’s Eve and it was a beautifully timed knee right to the midsection, find of a flying knee. [He] crippled his opponent in what was a tremendous fight as well. Prior to that, this man was knocking people out left, right, and center.”, Michael Bisping stated on TNT Sports with Adam Catterall and Nick Peet.

On the other hand, the road to victory for the 34-year-old flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja lies in his grappling. Equipped with a black belt in BJJ, ‘The Cannibal’ has 10 career wins by submission, “Kai Asakura, as we just mentioned, is a knockout machine. But if Pantoja can get a hold of him [and] get him down to the ground, we might see another successful title defense.”, said ‘The Count’ about the. Brazilian champion.

The UFC flyweight champion is aware of the threat that the Japanese fighter brings, and is taking no shortcuts in his preparation. It is for this reason that Pantoja is seeking the help of a UFC veteran from the Island nation of Japan – a man who has a 1-1 record against the ever-dangerous Kai Asakura.

Alexandre Pantoja is taking the help of Asakura’s former rival to help him prepare

Known as ‘The Typhoon,’ Kyoji Horiguchi faced Kai Asakura twice, with each fighter securing a knockout victory over the other. Horiguchi is one of only four fighters to have defeated Asakura, and his connection to UFC 310 opponent Alexandre Pantoja adds an intriguing layer to the matchup. Pantoja has expressed his admiration for Horiguchi, not only for his skills as a fighter but also for his admirable character and commitment to preserving Japanese traditions, making their training sessions especially meaningful.

During the recent UFC countdown video, he shared his opinion on his Japanese training partner, stating, “[Kyoji Horiguchi] is one of the best people I have in my whole life. I learned a lot [from him].” Pantoja also acknowledged Asakura’s danger at the behest of the UFC 310 debutant’s victory over Horiguchi, adding, “I see Kyoji fight with Kai two times and [in] one of them he won. He beat Kyoji. That for me, [if] someone can beat Kyoji, this guy is going to have a lot of power,”. Kai Asakura is a massive star in Japan, and if he captures the title this weekend, it could give Dana White the perfect opportunity to break into the long-elusive Japanese market.

On the other hand, Alexandre Pantoja is riding a wave of momentum with victories over top opponents like Brandon Moreno, Brandon Royval, and Steve Erceg in three title fights. A successful third title defense against Kai Asakura will solidify Pantoja’s status as a dominant in the present flyweight landscape, which has been marred by relative instability since Demetrious Johnson‘s exit from the promotion in 2018.

Will Kai Asakura be able to mount a striking offensive against Alexandre Pantoja, or will the flyweight king take the Japanese phenom to the ground and submit him? Let us know in the comments down below.