Alexandre Pantoja was already favored by oddsmakers to defeat Kai Asakura at UFC 310, but now the reigning flyweight champion is an even bigger favorite.
When the line was released not even one month ago, Pantoja (28-5 MMA, 12-3 UFC) opened as a -218 betting favorite and Asakura (21-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) a +180 underdog, but those odds have seen a major shift in the ensuing four weeks. With the fight just five days away, online bookmaker FanDuel has widened the line, listing Pantoja -280 and Asakura +210.
The considerable shift in Pantoja’s favor indicates that public money has come in heavy on the Brazilian champ.
It’s rare that a fighter gets a title shot in his UFC debut, but Asakura is set for such an opportunity as he provides some new blood at the top of the promotion’s 125-pound division. Until this point in his career, Asakura has made his name in his native Japan, competing for Rizin since December 2017. Asakura is a two-time Rizin bantamweight champion who split a pair of matchups with former UFC and Bellator champ Kyoji Horiguchi, lost his title to Manel Kape in December 2019, and most recently defeated former Bellator champ Juan Archuleta by second-round TKO in December 2023.
Pantoja is in search of his third consecutive title defense. He won a split decision against Brandon Moreno to claim the belt in July 2023 before following up with wins over Brandon Royval and most recently Steve Erceg this past May at UFC 301.
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