News Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura set as the co-main event for UFC 310

[biscuitsbrah]

To be fair, Kyoji would be the champ right now if the UFC signed him like he asked them to.

He's far better than any flyweight on the UFC roster right now. Even at his advanced age for the weightclass.

I agree. Kyoji always gave me champion vibes if he wasn’t 24 fighting in mighty mouse’s weight class.

Just pretty uninspiring when the last fight you saw was him just absolutely running through Kai

 

[svmr_db]

If this Japanese experiment doesn’t work then I wouldn’t be surprised to see him scrap the division. Ruthless.

Lol that's way too extreme of a position. Pantoja may not be super popular or a big draw but he's one of the only two current Brazilian champions, that's still valuable for the UFC.

 

[Soggust]

Dana said no one wanted to fight Asakura, multiple people turned him down. Even Royval admitted to turning him down. So Dana thought fuck it...'I'm putting him up against the champ.'

Royval turned him down over a money dispute.

I could be convinced that some top ranked contenders might have turned him down as an unranked contender.

I simply don't believe everybody in the top 15 turned him down.

It happened before. I think it's cool as fuck when it's a top guy from another org getting the instant shot.

Not in 10 years and that was bad matchmaking too imo, but at least out of necessity from a guy pulling out last minute. That wasn't booking the fight in advance.

Unless there is another comparison that I'm just blindly forgetting?

 

[Conan the K-9]

Lol that's way too extreme of a position. Pantoja may not be super popular or a big draw but he's currently the only Brazilian champion, that's still valuable for the UFC.

Well there is Pereira too, but I do think Pantoja and especially the division has it’s own fan base.

 

[Hdfi]

Many of the flyweights in Asia could slide over to the UFC and compete immediately.

This theory will be tested now.

 

[13Seconds]

Royval turned him down over a money dispute.

I could be convinced that some top ranked contenders might have turned him down as an unranked contender.

I simply don't believe everybody in the top 15 turned him down.




Not in 10 years and that was bad matchmaking too imo, but at least out of necessity from a guy pulling out last minute. That wasn't booking the fight in advance.

Unless there is another comparison that I'm just blindly forgetting?

Im talking about Gilbert Melendez. He fought Ben Henderson for the belt in his UFC debut. That fight was actually highly anticipated and no one complained about the booking. I thought Gil won too.

 

[Soggust]

Im talking about Gilbert Melendez. He fought Ben Henderson for the belt in his UFC debut. That fight was actually highly anticipated and no one complained about the booking. I thought Gil won too.

But that's because they were merging with Strikeforce, right?

Kind of made a bit more sense in that scenario, imo.

 

[Nihongi]

Put that trash Volkov/Gane fight on the prelims. Why are they so obsessed with that shitty rematch. Bunch of idiots. Here I'll save you some time ufc, it's gonna suck and nobody cares.

I care

 

[RockyLockridge]

Glad they are going this route, Pantoja has beaten most of the division so they are going for High level talent. It drives up competition in the division as well.

 

[Hassan Mouzine]

that main card is much much better than the wmma crap main card we got last time.

 

[RockyLockridge]

But that's because they were merging with Strikeforce, right?

Kind of made a bit more sense in that scenario, imo.

It's the same thing isn't it? you're getting a fighter from another promotion who is a champion so when he comes to your promotion, where do you want to put him? In a division like current flyweight, Pantoja has wins against 6 of the top 10 fighters. So like erceg, They are going to get moved along a bit quicker?

 

[Soggust]

It's the same thing isn't it? you're getting a fighter from another promotion who is a champion so when he comes to your promotion, where do you want to put him? In a division like current flyweight, Pantoja has wins against 6 of the top 10 fighters. So like erceg, They are going to get moved along a bit quicker?

I don't know that it is - or at least it wasn't in the case of Jiri, Alvarez, etc. who came over as Champions of premier organizations without a merger, yet still had to prove themselves against contenders.

I just can't get behind this dude taking an instant title shot when there is a guy at 17-1 sitting at the #3 spot who's going to fight a few weeks earlier.

We just had Kayla Harrison take two fights FFS, and we all realistically know she's going to run through the division sans Amanda.

 

[RockyLockridge]

I don't know that it is - or at least it wasn't in the case of Jiri, Alvarez, etc. who came over as Champions of premier organizations without a merger, yet still had to prove themselves against contenders.

I just can't get behind this dude taking an instant title shot when there is a guy at 17-1 sitting at the #3 spot who's going to fight a few weeks earlier.

We just had Kayla Harrison take two fights FFS, and we all realistically know she's going to run through the division sans Amanda.

Pettis came from a merger and still had to fight guida, gilbert didn't have to fight anyone, and even got another title shot with a win over sanchez


Again, for whatever reasons.

 

[13Seconds]

Pettis came from a merger and still had to fight guida, gilbert didn't have to fight anyone, and even got another title shot with a win over sanchez


Again, for whatever reasons.

The common denominator however, whether they got an instant title shot or not, is that basically all of them had to fight a top guy.

If it wasn't instant title shot, it was a title contention fight. Pettis for sure would've fought for the title if he beat Guida. Actually he was supposed to fight for the title instantly but the Edgar/Maynard draw fucked it all up. He didn't wanna wait.

Alvarez for sure would've fought for the title if he beat Cowboy. Shit, he lost that fight and still got the titleshot two wins later.

I think this concept is cool. Top guys in other promotions getting the hespect they deserve.

@Soggust

 

[RockyLockridge]

The common denominator however, whether they got an instant title shot or not, is that basically all of them had to fight a top guy.

If it wasn't instant title shot, it was a title contention fight. Pettis for sure would've fought for the title if he beat Guida. Actually he was supposed to fight for the title instantly but the Edgar/Maynard draw fucked it all up. He didn't wanna wait.

Alvarez for sure would've fought for the title if he beat Cowboy. Shit, he lost that fight and still got the titleshot two wins later.

I think this concept is cool. Top guys in other promotions getting the hespect they deserve.

@Soggust

TIm elliot won a season of TUF as a champ from another promotion to get a fight with mighty mouse as well. I agree it's a good thing. Some people lately have been very picky with match making. Dusin vs Islam was not the fight fight, Erceg vs Pantoja was a champ vs no 8, same with pererira and rountree but they were ALL good fights though. Fast and loose as someone else on here once said is the best way to do this. champs fight when they are ready they dont wait for contenders, more champs get more defenses and fight more consistantly

 

[13Seconds]

TIm elliot won a season of TUF as a champ from another promotion to get a fight with mighty mouse as well. I agree it's a good thing. Some people lately have been very picky with match making. Dusin vs Islam was not the fight fight, Erceg vs Pantoja was a champ vs no 8, same with pererira and rountree but they were ALL good fights though. Fast and loose as someone else on here once said is the best way to do this. champs fight when they are ready they dont wait for contenders, more champs get more defenses and fight more consistantly

Exactly. Couldn't agree more.

Just because you're debuting in the UFC doesn't mean you have to automatically start at the bottom. Or that everyones roads should be the same.

Since the UFC is the top org it should be sink or swim once you sign anyways. Once you hit close to top 10 all bets are off. Who knows, you might get the call to step in against the champ someday

 

[Soggust]

The common denominator however, whether they got an instant title shot or not, is that basically all of them had to fight a top guy.

If it wasn't instant title shot, it was a title contention fight. Pettis for sure would've fought for the title if he beat Guida. Actually he was supposed to fight for the title instantly but the Edgar/Maynard draw fucked it all up. He didn't wanna wait.

Alvarez for sure would've fought for the title if he beat Cowboy. Shit, he lost that fight and still got the titleshot two wins later.

I think this concept is cool. Top guys in other promotions getting the hespect they deserve.

@Soggust

There is a huge gap between taking a contention fight and walking into an instant title shot, though.

I have no problem with him walking into a ranked fight, I just don't understand the logic of a free agent title shot over your #3 contender who is 17-1.

 

[Khaosan]

Fuck yeah! Why they rebooking Gane/Volkov though REEEEEEEEEEEEEE

 

[Ironheart]

I feel like KKF is due for a shot but maybe they book him against the winner of Royval vs Taira for next?

Not mad about the fight, should be cool.

 

[RockyLockridge]

I feel like KKF is due for a shot but maybe they book him against the winner of Royval vs Taira for next?

Not mad about the fight, should be cool.

He had his chance already.