Alexandre Pantoja responds to Kai Asakura claiming UFC prefers him to lose

UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja is happy to defend his title in opposition to Kai Asakura.

Pantoja (28-5 MMA, 12-3 UFC) defends his 125-pound belt in opposition to former RIZIN bantamweight champ Asakura (21-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) within the UFC 310 headliner on Dec. 7 at T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+).

Asakura informed MMA Junkie that him dethroning Pantoja can be good enterprise for the UFC, and if Asakura is as large of a star as he’s implying, the Brazilian sees that as useful for him.

“I feel it’s good if he’s proper as a result of for me, it’s going to be higher,” Pantoja informed MMA Junkie. “I see he fights very effectively, excellent leisure for everybody, however on this excessive degree within the UFC, it’s so onerous – particularly in my division. The flyweight division, the fellows are so good within the cardio, placing, grappling. We don’t cease any second. It’s so onerous, that division.

“He fought excellent names. He fought Kyoji Horiguchi, he fought Manel Kape – (he’s fought) with excellent guys. He fought Ulka Sasaki – I fought that man, too, earlier than … (Hiromasa) Ougikubo. He fought excellent names, however within the UFC, I feel it’s totally different.”

Michael Bisping expressed concern on whether or not Asakura will have the ability to adapt to the UFC’s cage after competing within the RIZIN ring, however Pantoja expects the Japanese star to shine vibrant below the massive lights.

“I feel for him, it’s motivation to go to the UFC and have the whole lot like that,” Pantoja stated. “(It’s) an enormous motivation for him as a result of he’s a giant star. He is aware of the way to be a star in Japan. Now he has a possibility to be a giant star on the earth, and this makes me extra excited to have the chance to struggle a man like him.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 310.