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

UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja is excited to defend his title against Kai Asakura.

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

Asakura told MMA Junkie that him dethroning Pantoja would be good business for the UFC, and if Asakura is as big of a star as he’s implying, the Brazilian sees that as beneficial for him.

“I think it’s good if he’s right because for me, it’s going to be better,” Pantoja told MMA Junkie. “I see he fights very well, very good entertainment for everyone, but in this high level in the UFC, it’s so hard – especially in my division. The flyweight division, the guys are so good in the cardio, striking, grappling. We don’t stop any second. It’s so hard, that division.

“He fought very good names. He fought Kyoji Horiguchi, he fought Manel Kape – (he’s fought) with very good guys. He fought Ulka Sasaki – I fought that guy, too, before … (Hiromasa) Ougikubo. He fought very good names, but in the UFC, I think it’s different.”

Michael Bisping expressed concern on whether Asakura will be able to adapt to the UFC’s cage after competing in the RIZIN ring, but Pantoja expects the Japanese star to shine bright under the big lights.

“I think for him, it’s motivation to go to the UFC and have everything like that,” Pantoja said. “(It’s) a huge motivation for him because he’s a big star. He knows how to be a star in Japan. Now he has an opportunity to be a big star in the world, and this makes me more excited to have the opportunity to fight a guy like him.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 310.