Alexandre Pantoja defends flyweight belt with technical submission of Kai Asakura – Daily News

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Ian Machado Garry, left, punches Shavkat Rakhmonov in a UFC 310 mixed martial arts welterweight bout at T-Mobile Arena, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Wade Vandervort/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

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LAS VEGAS — Alexandre Pantoja successfully defended his flyweight title Saturday night with a technical submission of Kai Asakura, using a rear naked choke to put his challenger to sleep at the 2:05 mark of the second round.

Pantoja (29-5) was making his third title defense since winning a split decision over Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 on July 8, 2023.

Asakura (21-5) was making his UFC debut, but was no match for Pantoja, who closed a -275 favorite at BetMGM Sportsbook.

Pantoja’s far superior skills on the mat outweighed Asakura’s hard-hitting reputation. After a brief scramble to better position himself, Pantoja got Asakura’s back, put him in a body triangle, and then choked him out.

Originally scheduled to fight in the main event until welterweight champion Belal Muhammad pulled out because of a bone infection in his foot, No. 3 Shavkat Rakhmonov (19-0-0) defeated seventh-ranked replacement fighter Ian Machado Garry (15-1-0) by unanimous decision in the co-main event. Rakhmonov, who closed as a -400 favorite, was taken to a decision for the first time in his career.

After a three-round heavyweight bout, No. 2 contender Ciryl Gane (13-2-0), who went off as a 4-to-1 favorite, earned a split decision over No. 3 Alexander Volkov (38-11-0).

In a featherweight bout, No. 13 Bryce Mitchell (17-3-0) stopped Kron Gracie (5-3-0) 39 seconds into the third round after he followed a powerful body slam with a thunderous forearm to the head. Mitchell closed a massive -1000 favorite.

After the betting market drove the closing price down to +115 on underdog Dooho Choi (16-4-1), he delivered with a stoppage at 3:21 of the third round after putting Nate Landwehr (18-6-0) in a crucifix, and referee Chris Tognoni stopped the scheduled three-round featherweight bout.

Two notable matches earlier in the night included former champions bantamweight Aljamain Sterling and middleweight Chris Weidman.

Sterling (24-5-0) lost by decision to Movsar Evloev (19-0-0), who has the longest active streak in the UFC featherweight division at eight.

Eryk Anders (18-8-0) topped Chris Weidman (16-9-0) by way of TKO at 4:51 of the second round.