After the initial plans for the headliner of the UFC 310 pay-per-view, which was supposed to feature a welterweight title bout, got scrapped, and the original co-main event got promoted to the main event spot. Now, Alexandre Pantoja will put his flyweight title up for grabs for the third time against an opponent who’ll be taking his first step inside the Octagon, Kai Asakura.

Why is Kai Asakura in the main event on his UFC debut, and that too in a title fight? Well, this question has raised the level of anticipation surrounding the Japanese sensation, who’s actually a pretty big deal in his native country. After standing out as an elite fighter in the RIZIN Fighting Federation, the UFC didn’t hesitate to give the 31-year-old a shot at promotional gold on his very first matchup against ‘The Cannibal’, Alexandre Pantoja. But who’s got a better chance of winning the fight? Well, let’s have a look at the pair’s statistics.

Comparing Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura’s weight, height, reach, and more

From a height standpoint, Kai Asakura has the advantage over flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja, with him being 5’8″ – three inches taller than ‘The Cannibal’ who is 5’5″. From a reach standpoint as well, the Japanese fighter has a one-inch advantage of 69 inches over Pantoja’s 68.

From a weight standpoint, Asakura might be at a disadvantage as the Japanese fighter spent most of his pre-UFC career fighting at bantamweight, except for some bouts where he competed at 128 lbs and 130 lbs. Pantoja, on the other hand, has always fought at flyweight, so the grind is no alien to him. Weight cuts are generally brutal on fighters, and definitely play into a fighter’s performance on game day. So, it will be interesting to see if Asakura recovers enough before the bout, to face the ever-dangerous Brazilian champion.

While there are differences when it comes to their physical build, fighting record-wise, both fighters have pretty commendable statistics. Let’s move over to that front.

Pantoja vs Asakura record, losses, and other stat comparisons

From an experience standpoint, the Brazilian flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja has a five-year headstart over Kai Asakura, having made his debut in 2007, while his Japanese counterpart made his pro-MMA debut in 2012. ‘The Cannibal’ has had 33 pro-MMA bouts on his record, with 28 wins and five losses, registering an 84% win rate.

On the other hand, the Japanese former two-time RIZIN bantamweight champion, Kai Asakura has had eight bouts less than the Brazilian UFC flyweight champion with 25 pro-MMA bouts. The former RIZIN bantamweight champion has 21 wins on his mixed martial arts record with four losses. He has a similar winning rate to the flyweight champion at 84%. When it comes to finishes, both fighters have shown lethality with Asakura’s 16 wins and Pantoja’s 18. Being a deadly striker, Asakura has 13 wins via knockout and three submission wins, while Pantoja, being a grappling specialist, has a whopping 10 wins by submission and eight by KO. However, all of Alexandre Pantoja’s losses have come via decision, while Kai Asakura has been knocked out thrice and submitted once in his career.

Both fighters have faced high-level opponents throughout their respective careers, although Pantoja has fought more notable names on the global stage like Brandon Moreno, Brandon Royval, and Manel Kape, among many others. Among the notable names for Kai Asakura, he’s faced Manel Kape and former UFC flyweight Kyoji Horiguchi, having registered a win and a loss to both opponents.

Regardless of their stats, both fighters’ records showcase the grit and tenacity with which they fight, and fans can expect no less from them at UFC 310. Who do you think has the advantage, based on their height, reach, professional records, finishes, and opponents they’ve beaten? It’s an intriguing matchup, to say the least. Either way, let us know what you think in the comments down below.