Kai Asakura is going to join an elite class of fighters that includes Ronda Rousey, Frank Trigg, and Gilbert Melendez when he makes his UFC debut next month. The reason? The Japanese sensation is going to attain something a few have done in the history of the UFC- fight for a title on debut. Asakura is already a bonafide star in Japan and is coming off winning the Rizin bantamweight title in his last outing. But now he will drop down a weight class and face UFC flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 310 next month.

And that too in the main event no less, which is also a huge achievement for Asakura on debut. Of course, the reason Asakura is fighting for the title in his very first UFC fight is because Pantoja has already beaten most of the top flyweights in the division, and is desperately in need of a worthy opponent. While Asakura is certainly that, the former Rizin king doesn’t quite feel the same about Pantoja, even if he did praise ‘The Cannibal’ a bit.

Speaking to TMZ Sports, Asakura was asked what he thought of Pantoja as a fighter. “He’s very good… He has a very good mentor,” he said before decisively adding “I don’t think so,” when asked whether he thinks Pantoja will be his toughest opponent.

The former Rizin star also previewed what fans can expect from him. After all, he is still an unknown entity in the UFC world and stepping up to not only the biggest but also the most competitive combat sports stage in the world. But the Japanese MMA star is confident he has what it takes to beat Pantoja (by submission, he predicted) and impress the fans.

“There are a lot of people who are going to be exposed to me for the first time and they’re going to realize that I have an explosive fight style and I think they’re going to see something that they’ve never seen before,” he added. In fact, the Japanese star thinks that the UFC has a preference about whom it wants to prevail in the UFC 310 main event.

Kai Asakura explains why the UFC may be partial to him going into UFC 310

Kai Asakura feels that the UFC wants him to win when he steps into the Octagon for the title next month. Some might feel this is not the case since the promotion wouldn’t want its long-standing champion to be beaten by a newcomer on debut, but Asakura doesn’t think so and explained why in a recent interview with MMA Junkie.

“Let’s be honest, it’s good business for the UFC if I win. I’m here to make it exciting, for people to have interest in the flyweight division and have a whole bunch of new matchups ready to have on future shows. I hope one day Dana White will turn to the audience and say this kid is a special KO artist, a KO machine,” he said.

There does seem to be a lot of merit in what Asakura has said. After all, as we have mentioned, Pantoja has already beaten most of the top ten, many of them more than once. And having a new champion, who hasn’t faced anyone else in the 125-pound division yet would indeed open the doors for many new and exciting matchups against the top UFC flyweights, who are some of the toughest guys in the entire promotion.

But there is a reason Pantoja has beaten so many of these guys- he’s just a damn good fighter. And if Asakura manages to get over him, that by itself would make him a veritable UFC star. What do you think about Kai Asakura’s thoughts about Alexandre Pantoja ahead of their UFC 310 title clash? Tell us in the comment section below!