Topping the lineup will be reigning UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja, who is tasked with getting the better of Octagon debutant and former Rizin kingpin Kai Asakura if he’s to record a third successful title defense.
Also set to make the walk on Saturday will be the likes of former two-time light heavyweight title challenger Dominick Reyes, ex-bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling, middleweight great Chris Weidman, and the always entertaining Nate Landwehr.
Ahead of the event, you can get some help from the group of experts at MMA News by checking out their predictions for the top UFC 310 fights here.
UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura Betting Odds
Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 310 (as of 12/6), courtesy of DraftKings.
Main Card:
Alexandre Pantoja (-265) vs. Kai Asakura (+215)
Shavkat Rakhmonov (-375) vs. Ian Garry (+295)
Ciryl Gane (-360) vs. Alexander Volkov (+285)
Bryce Mitchell (-850) vs. Kron Gracie (+575)
Nate Landwehr (-130) vs. Dooho Choi (+110)
Preliminary Card:
Anthony Smith (+280) vs. Dominick Reyes (-355)
Vicente Luque (+130) vs. Themba Gorimbo (-155)
Movsar Evloev (-238) vs. Aljamain Sterling (+195)
Randy Brown (+130) vs. Bryan Battle (-218)
Early Preliminary Card:
Chris Weidman (-115) vs. Eryk Anders (-105)
Cody Durden (+130) vs. Joshua Van (-155)
Michael Chiesa (-112) vs. Max Griffin (-108)
Clay Guida (+700) vs. Chase Hooper (-1100)
Kennedy Nzechukwu (-550) vs. Łukasz Brzeski (+410)
UFC heavyweight contender Alexander Volkov saw his defeats to former interim champion Ciryl Gane and current titleholder Tom Aspinall as a key turning point in his career.
The Russian and French fighters are running it back three years on from their first clash — a UFC Fight Night headliner at the Apex that ended in a convincing five-round unanimous decision victory for Gane.
After a bounce-back performance against Marcin Tybura, Volkov tasted defeat again soon after, this time by way of submission at the hands of a charging Aspinall. Since then, however, “Drago” has been unstoppable.
Knockouts of Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Alexandr Romanov, a submission versus Tai Tuivasa, and an underdog triumph against fellow countryman Sergei Pavlovich have seen Volkov leap up the ladder to #3 in the rankings, leaving him firmly in the championship conversation.
During an interview with Zac Pacleb for UFC.com ahead of his return this weekend, the 36-year-old assessed the key components to his current winning run and the impact that past defeats to “Bon Gamin” and the reigning interim champ had.
“I learned to be confident in myself,” Volkov said. “It’s one of the biggest problems for many fighters, and at the time, you feel a little bit kind of bored in the fight. It’s hard to push yourself, to motivate yourself. I got some motivation after this loss (to Gane) and the fight with Tom Aspinall. It made me more risky, more dangerous, and more well-rounded because I started to work on skills I didn’t work before.”
Volkov will look to utilize those new skills en route to avenging his 2021 setback opposite Gane in their rematch this Saturday night.
Should the Russian do so successfully, a potential first shot at gold on MMA’s biggest stage and a chance to avenge the Aspinall defeat could await him in 2025.
The lineup for the promotion’s first pay-per-view of 2025, UFC 311 in Los Angeles, continues to get stronger.
The mixed martial arts will kick off its schedule of numbered events for the new year at the Intuit Dome, where two highly anticipated championship fights and a host of intriguing matchups will go down.
Joining the undercard bouts set to play out at UFC 311 on Jan. 18 is a ranked lightweight clash between veteran Beneil Dariush (22-6-1) and the charging Renato Moicano (20-5-1). The fight was announced by the UFC on social media.
For Dariush, UFC 311 will mark his return after sitting out the entirety of 2024 following consecutive knockout losses to Charles Oliveira and Tsarukyan in the year prior. Before those setbacks, the 35-year-old had won eight straight to move to within touching distance of a first title shot.
Moicano, meanwhile, is on the opposite trajectory having won four on the bounce since a decision loss to Rafael dos Anjos in March 2022. After an injury kept him out for over a year post-submission victory over Brad Riddell, the Brazilian has reeled off three triumphs in 2024, most recently battering Benoît Saint Denis in the UFC Paris main event this past September.
With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 311 in Los Angeles on Jan. 18 are as follows:
Islam Makhachev (C) vs. Arman Tsarukyan (lightweight championship)
Merab Dvalishvili (C) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (bantamweight championship)
Jiří Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill (light heavyweight)
Reinier de Ridder vs. Kevin Holland (middleweight)
Beneil Dariush vs. Renato Moicano (lightweight)
Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac (heavyweight)
Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafarov (bantamweight)
Tagir Ulanbekov vs. Clay Carpenter (flyweight)
Johnny Walker vs. Bogdan Guskov (light heavyweight)
UFC Welterweight Champion Belal Muhammad pondered drastic measures in a bid to keep his scheduled title defense at the final pay-per-view of 2024 intact.
For Rakhmonov, the bout will see him attempt to regain his status as number one contender. The Kazakh star had already earned his shot at UFC gold and was set to challenge Muhammad in the Dec. 7 headliner.
Last month, however, disaster struck when a bone infection to the champ’s toe hospitalized him and forced a change of plans.
If Muhammad’s frustration at the cancellation wasn’t clear enough, a recent revelation surrounding the lengths he was willing to go to make the walk at UFC 310 should do the trick…
During an interview with MMA Junkie on the red carpet for the annual World MMA Awards, Muhammad revealed that he enquired about having the infected toe removed to speed up the recovery process.
“It got to the point where I was like, ‘Bro, what if you got rid of the toe? What do I need to do to get back in there as quickly as possible?’” Muhammad said. “But the way the doctor was saying it, it was like a bone infection. So it wasn’t like people were saying, ‘Oh, you got a broken toe.’ I’m like, bro, if it was a toe? I had a broken toe for over a year.
“And then that toe got infected because of that, so that went directly into the bone and it was climbing up the foot. So he was like, ‘Bro, you’ll get your foot amputated.’ It ain’t that. So for me it’s like, it was heartbreaking obviously, but just trusting God, trusting God has a plan for me, knowing that everything happens for a reason. And now that I look at it from a bigger picture side, I’m hoping that there’s a reason for it.”
That ultimately wasn’t a possibility, forcing Muhammad to bite the bullet and put a delay to his first defense of the 170-pound title.
“Remember the Name” captured champ status with a dominant display against the odds this past July in Manchester, where he comfortably outpointed Leon Edwards across five rounds.
With many backing Rakhmonov to get past Garry this weekend before unseating Muhammad, the reigning kingpin will look to once again prove his doubters wrong when he returns to full fitness.
We’re deep into UFC 310 fight week, meaning it was recently time for the fighters set to be in action on Dec. 7 to take to the stage and answer some questions.
Setting the stage for the UFC 310 headliners will be a crucial five-round contest at 170 pounds, with Shavkat Rakhmonov looking to defend his top contender status opposite a fellow undefeated rising star in Ian Garry.
Also on pay-per-view will be former interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane, who makes the walk for the first time in over 14 months to run it back with in-form Russian veteran Alexander Volkov. That’s in addition to featherweight grappling specialist Bryce Mitchell, who looks to bounce back from his brutal knockout loss to Josh Emmett last December by defeating the returning Kron Gracie.
The UFC 310 main card will open with the always entertaining Nate Landwehr, who will be back in the cage nine months on from a KO triumph over Jamall Emmers. To return to a win streak, “The Train” must prevent “Korean Superboy” Dooho Choi from accomplishing the same feat after the UFC Hall of Fame Fight Wing member recorded a first victory in eight years this past July.
As is customary during major fight weeks, the athletes took to the stage on Thursday for the UFC 310 pre-fight press conference. The latest edition saw Pantoja, Asakura, Rakhmonov, Garry, Gane and Volkov with mic in hand.
The animosity between former UFC opponents Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill threatened to boil over this week.
Pereira, the reigning light heavyweight champion, and former titleholder Hill met inside the cage at UFC 300 this past April, headlining the pay-per-view with “Poatan’s” gold on the line. The American’s plan to regain the belt was quickly foiled when he fell victim to the Brazilian’s renowned left hook inside the very first round.
Those remarks have been joined by claims that Pereira ‘fears’ running it back with the #3-ranked contender. Unsurprisingly, “Poatan” didn’t look scared when Hill confronted him at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas on Thursday.
A video released by Full Send MMA shows Hill approaching his ex-opponent before stating, “Not on Twitter now,” as Pereira went for a respectful fist bump.
At that point, “Poatan” switched his attitude toward “Sweet Dreams,” throwing a pair of gloves and inviting him to spar. Hill did not take up the offer.
😳 Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill ran into each other and were ready to throw down pic.twitter.com/tkMgzRO1m9
While he may be somewhat of an unknown quantity to the UFC community, Kai Asakura insists that won’t be the case following his debut performance this weekend.
After the welterweight kingpin’s withdrawal due to injury, Pantoja is the last champ standing this week. And his elevation to main event status will see a promotional newcomer enter the headline spotlight in his very first Octagon outing.
While the Japanese star has made a splash in his native Asia, much of the UFC fanbase appear unfamiliar with his game. That, Asakura says, will change soon enough.
During his appearance at UFC 310 media day on Wednesday, Asakura spoke about what the MMA masses can expect once the Octagon door closes behind him and Pantoja in a couple of days’ time.
“The UFC fans have never seen anybody like me fight before,” Asakura said. “I always aim to go for the KO finish, and I’m here to bring excitement back to the flyweight division.”
Asakura will look to prove those remarks correct come fight night at UFC 310. In the process, the Japanese debutant will hope to open a new chapter in the flyweight division.
The main event will see flyweight kingpin Alexandre Pantoja defend his title for the third time since capturing it at the expense of Brandon Moreno 16 months ago. To continue his reign, “The Cannibal” is tasked with spoiling the ambitions of incoming ex-Rizin champion Kai Asakura.
Co-headlining will be top welterweight contender Shavkat Rakhmonov, who will look to maintain his status as next in line for a shot at Belal Muhammad by defeating a fellow undefeated name at 170 pounds in Ian Garry.
Elsewhere on the card, top heavyweights Ciryl Gane and Alexander Volkov run it back, Movsar Evloev and Aljamain Sterling look to stake their claim for a featherweight title shot, and light heavyweight veterans Dominick Reyes and Anthony Smith collide.
UFC 310: MMA News Staff Predictions
Ahead of Saturday’s UFC 310 event, Kyle Dimond, Ryan Jarrell, Thomas Albano, Pranav Pandey, and Andrew Starc have provided their picks for the five most important matchups set for the card.
Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through nine cards.
Thomas Albano (34-10)
Ryan Jarrell (29-15)
Kyle Dimond (26-18)
Pranav Pandey (17-8)
Andrew Starc (13-11)
Aakrit Sharma (12-8)
And with that, it’s time for the team’s predictions for UFC 310.
Bantamweight: Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: I think Sterling has a pretty good counter-wrestling game, even if he hasn’t dealt with this particular style before. His striking should make it hard for Evloev to time takedowns because Sterling doesn’t overcommit. Neither are known for landing damage, and though I don’t expect Sterling to cause him problems on the feet like Arnold Allen did, his output is going to be big in this fight because it might be the only thing that separates them.
The former bantamweight champion shouldn’t have an issue getting up to his feet over and over again either due to his training with Merab Dvalishvili. I’ve not seen anything from Evloev that makes me think he will make the most of the grappling exchanges that he does initiate, so I can see Sterling winning a fight that probably won’t do amazing things for both men’s public perception. (Prediction: Aljamain Sterling)
Ryan Jarrell: This is such an intriguing matchup between an undefeated fighter and a former champion. Evloev has the potential to be a future champion himself, and a win over Sterling would get him extremely close to a title shot. After seeing the Russian beat the likes of Diego Lopes and Allen, I feel confident he will find a way to get past Sterling as well. I wish this was a five-round fight, and we may be left with more questions that aren’t answered when this clash ends. But I see Evloev winning a decision over a very game Sterling. (Prediction: Movsar Evloev)
Thomas Albano: Sterling was given a test in his featherweight debut at UFC 300, and he passed it with flying colors by securing a solid decision win over Calvin Kattar. But now, he gets a jump up in competition against an undefeated rising star who finds himself a fight or two away from securing a title shot at 145 pounds in Evloev. Though he’s only fought at about a once-a-year pace the last few years, Evloev has fended off tests in his most recent fights, from a short-notice and hungry Diego Lopes who troubled him in their fight to another contending name in the division in Allen.
I lean with Evloev either way that this fight plays out. Since we’ve got two great wrestlers here, you could ultimately see them start to have a striking battle during this fight – in which case, I feel Evloev has the better repertoire. If this fight goes to the ground, I think the Russian will be able to hold his own despite Sterling’s experience. (Prediction: Movsar Evloev)
Pranav Pandey: Grappling enthusiasts, get ready! This is a clash that showcases the best of ground combat in the featherweight division. While Evloev is widely regarded as the favorite in this bout, I believe it’s a disservice to count out “Funk Master.” If the former bantamweight champion can keep the action standing, he’ll undoubtedly boost his chances against the undefeated Russian, who has yet to finish an opponent in his eight UFC appearances. Even if Evloev does manage to take the fight to the canvas, Sterling’s experience and resilience should not be underestimated. The seasoned veteran has proven time and again that he can escape submission threats and work his way through adversity. (Prediction: Aljamain Sterling)
Andrew Starc: This is an intriguing battle between two strong grapplers. The undefeated Evloev is coming off a decision win over Allen in January, while Sterling most recently got it done on the cards against Calvin Kattar in April. I think this will be a close encounter, but Evloev will show his superior wrestling in this matchup to get a decision. (Prediction: Movsar Evloev)
Consensus: 3-2 Movsar Evloev
Light Heavyweight: Anthony Smith vs. Dominick Reyes
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: It really doesn’t feel that long ago that this would have been a title eliminator. Time flies I suppose. I’m picking Reyes here, and it very much might be a case of what have you done for me lately. It’s probably going to be a striking match, and though I think Smith is probably more powerful, I think Reyes is the better technician. So if he can avoid getting into a brawl, he should win a lot of the exchanges. (Prediction: Dominick Reyes)
Ryan Jarrell: Reyes made a huge statement in his most recent win over Dustin Jacoby. The 34-year-old picked up his first win since he beat Chris Weidman in 2019, which is so crazy to think about. But in beating “The Hanyak,” he fully cemented himself in the mix again at 205 pounds. Smith, meanwhile, is a very different and much older fighter than the “Lionheart” we saw even a couple of short years ago. I don’t expect Smith to be able to have an answer for the striking of Reyes. Ultimately, “The Devastator” will clip his fellow former title challenger and find a TKO finish. (Prediction: Dominick Reyes)
Thomas Albano: It breaks my heart to see the two of these guys fighting in the conditions of their careers that they’re in right now. Reyes was once a rising star in the light heavyweight division who found himself one win away from the light heavyweight championship on more than one occasion. Smith, meanwhile, had a career surge at the same time Reyes was rising up, coming up short in a fight against Jon Jones. Starting from his own loss to Jones, Reyes dropped four straight between 2020 and 2022, finally breaking that skid (and inactivity) with a two-minute knockout of Jacoby in June. Smith, on the other hand, has been on a rollercoaster since that loss to Jones. He’s lost four of his last six – granted that came against competition like recent title challenger Khalil Rountree and anticipated next challenger Magomed Ankalaev.
This is a fight where, if I’m a betting man, I’m honestly staying away, with not as much confidence in this pick compared to the other fights on this card. I have questions about both men’s chins. That said, I can see Reyes using leg kicks, which has troubled Smith before, to his advantage and setting up for a finish. (Prediction: Dominick Reyes)
Pranav Pandey: With all due respect, both fighters seem to have passed their primes, with Smith in particular having spent a long time in the game. That being said, it would be a mistake to write him off entirely. Despite the wear and tear of his career, “Lionheart” has continually proven that he truly lives up to his moniker. I have no personal animosity toward “The Devastator,” but I do have reservations about his ability to absorb damage, especially considering his recent performances. Additionally, he lacks experience in the Octagon compared to Smith. With that in mind, I foresee this bout swinging in “Lionheart’s” favor. (Prediction: Anthony Smith)
Andrew Starc: It was heartening to see Reyes snap his losing streak by knocking out Jacoby in June, and while his chin may be very suspect now, I think he matches up well against Smith. “Lionheart’s” record has been very patchy over the last few years, and I don’t think he has the KO power to trouble Reyes. I’m predicting a finish for “The Devastator” here. (Prediction: Dominick Reyes)
Consensus: 4-1 Dominick Reyes
Heavyweight: Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov
Image: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC/UFC
Kyle Dimond: Volkov has looked great as of late, but in his first fight with Ciryl Gane, it really seemed like he had no answers for “Bon Gamin.” The Russian has shown lately what makes him so good but he’s done so against fairly stationary opponents, and Gane is anything but that. I’d like to see “Drago” really try and put a pace on Gane to make him work, but I just think the Frenchman’s movement is going to be too much and he’s going to potshot away at Volkov before getting his hand raised. (Prediction: Ciryl Gane)
Ryan Jarrell: These two giants first met in 2021 and Gane won by decision rather handily. Since that main event fight at the UFC Apex, the Frenchman has won three out of his last five fights. Keep in mind those two losses were to Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou. I don’t think we will see a very different fight this time around either. Gane is a master on the feet, and unless you are the absolute best in the world, he will more than likely outpoint you. (Prediction: Ciryl Gane)
Thomas Albano: Gane cruised to a one-sided decision win when these two faced off for the first time over three years ago. Since then, Volkov has given himself a bit of a renaissance of sorts, winning five of his six fights since (his sole loss coming against Tom Aspinall). Gane, meanwhile, will be competing in his first fight in over a year, having not fought since his September 2023 finish of Serghei Spivac. Despite the Russian’s resurgence, I don’t see how this fight plays out too different from their first. Volkov may win a round, but I still see the Frenchman as the quicker, more athletic, more well-rounded fighter. (Prediction: Ciryl Gane)
Pranav Pandey: Frankly, this rematch fails to stir much enthusiasm. After witnessing their first encounter back in June 2021, it’s clear that Gane and Volkov are closely matched, both capable of exchanging heavy strikes with precision. If their striking doesn’t yield immediate results, don’t be surprised if either fighter looks to implement takedowns. I think, “Bon Gamin” possesses a more polished skill set compared to the Russian, who enters the rematch riding a wave of momentum of four straight wins. However, that momentum may not be enough to help him even the score with Gane. (Prediction: Ciryl Gane)
Andrew Starc: Gane seemed to comfortably coast to victory when he met Volkov in 2021, but the Russian has since had a resurgence. He’s on a four-fight win streak, having beaten Sergei Pavlovich in June, while Gane hasn’t fought in over a year since he beat Spivac via TKO. While the Frenchman’s inactivity may work against him in this matchup, I still think he’ll be too quick and evasive for Volkov and get a decision win here. (Prediction: Ciryl Gane)
Consensus: 5-0 Ciryl Gane
Welterweight: Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Garry
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: What happens in training stays in training and, hey, it’s not a real fight… but, Rakhmonov said that he submitted Garry at Kill Cliff FC for a reason. The Irishman has clearly been working on his jiu-jitsu since then. I mean he’s literally got Charles Oliveira in his corner, but I think that it still might be his Achilles heel in this fight. He can do a great job of chipping away at “Nomad” and staying out of the way, but doing that for five rounds will be so tough, and Rakhmonov doesn’t get discouraged. Adesanya vs. Du Plessis style, I think once the fight hits the later rounds, Rakhmonov will be able to secure an opportunistic submission. (Prediction: Shavkat Rakhmonov)
Ryan Jarrell: This is the fight I am most excited to see on the whole card. Garry is a very polarizing guy to say the least. He has proven to be one of the best in the division, but beating the boogeyman of the weight class might be where he finally falls short. I love the fact that the UFC made this a five-round co-main event because three frames would not be enough for what should be Fight of the Night.
In the end, I expect Rakhmonov to have the bigger moments and utilize his grappling to secure rounds when things get a little too chaotic. Give me the Kazakh standout to win by decision and finally get the title shot he deserves. (Prediction: Shavkat Rakhmonov)
Thomas Albano: I feel for Rakhmonov here – going from main eventing this card, one win away from securing the UFC welterweight title, to co-main eventing and now needing to fend off another undefeated contender to just keep that shot intact. For Garry, meanwhile, this is a short-notice opportunity that he rightfully needed to take full advantage of. Having said that, this might be a case of too much, too soon for the Irish rising star.
I feel Rakhmonov will have a little extra fire under him after seeing the title shot slip out of his grasp, needing a win to reclaim it. And while it might be an unpopular opinion, I feel Garry’s three most recent wins against Neil Magny, Geoff Neal, and Michael “Venom” Page were missing something. Ultimately, “Nomad’s” key to success is going to be to get inside and grab a hold of Garry, dictating the fight from the clinch and on the ground. The Irishman, meanwhile, is going to want to use his reach and fight from range, keeping away from Rakhmonov and landing from a distance. I’ll lean toward the former happening, even if Garry will make it a tougher, grindier fight for the Kazakh fighter. (Prediction: Shavkat Rakhmonov)
Pranav Pandey: In my view, this is a remarkably balanced matchup, one that promises fireworks for the fans. The odds may not fully capture the true potential of this fight, as both fighters bring a wealth of skill. What makes this encounter even more intriguing is their shared history. Having trained together in the past, Rakhmonov and Garry are intimately familiar with each other’s strengths and weaknesses. One thing is certain — both fighters are certainly vulnerable to strikes, yet each possesses an impressive ability to absorb them and keep pushing forward. Their fighting styles are distinct and unique in their own right. While “Nomad” boasts grappling skills that are truly elite, Garry counters with takedown defense that’s nothing short of relentless. On the feet, “The Future” is known for his sharp, precise striking, but Rakhmonov’s movement and fluidity allow him to navigate the distance with grace.
With both Rakhmonov and Garry putting their undefeated records on the line, the stakes couldn’t be higher, especially with title implications attached. I believe “Nomad” will emerge victorious, maintaining his perfect finish rate, but it’s unlikely to come easily. (Prediction: Shavkat Rakhmonov)
Andrew Starc: I think this one will come down to Garry’s ability to stave off takedowns from Rakhmonov. The Irishman will likely have the edge on the feet, and while Rakhmonov is known for his submissions, he also has a number of KOs on his resume. Over five rounds, I think it’s unlikely “The Future” will be able to hurt the durable Rakhmonov and curtail his relentless pressure. I think the Kazakh will get a submission here. (Prediction: Shavkat Rakhmonov)
Consensus: 5-0 Shavkat Rakhmonov
UFC Flyweight Title: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura
Images: UFC.com
Kyle Dimond: Everything about this fight pushes me toward Pantoja but I am a combat sports romantic at my core. If you were going to pick a fighter to beat Asakura on his debut, you’d want someone who is excellent on the ground and is a nightmare to get out of there. However, the Brazilian has been known to get a little reckless on the feet. I would love to see Asakura become a huge star for the UFC, he has that aura about him. I think he’s going to have to battle through some tough rounds early on but if he can get Pantoja to trade with him once the champ feels confident, he’s so much more dangerous than his previous opponents. History awaits Asakura. (Prediction: Kai Asakura)
Ryan Jarrell: I must admit that I haven’t seen nearly as much tape of Asakura as I have of the current UFC flyweight champion. I did my homework and it’s clear that the former Rizin titleholder is the real deal. But let’s be honest, there is a giant jump coming from another promotion to the UFC.
Pantoja has been fighting the absolute best in the world every single fight, and his experience in high-level matchups will serve him well in this scrap. I see “The Cannibal” overcoming some early adversity from a tough debuting title challenger and winning judges scorecards. (Prediction: Alexandre Pantoja)
Thomas Albano: You can talk about how Asakura receiving a title shot in his UFC debut might be because no one else in the flyweight division has stood out enough to lock in a title shot. But I think that downplays the highlights and accomplishments that he’s had in Rizin. Asakura has plenty of power behind his strikes and is a known finisher throughout his career thus far. What will be interesting to see is how he manages himself at 125 pounds. He’s fought in the weight class before, but his main success came at 135 pounds.
Over the last few years, of course, Pantoja has come into his own. He’s fought in some of the UFC’s closest and most competitive fights within the last couple of years and has turned away some of the best competition currently at flyweight. He’s already solidified himself as the UFC’s 125-pound king, and his impact inside the Octagon will only increase with a win over Asakura. Though the Japanese newcomer is solid with his striking, I see Pantoja still as the better all-around performer, especially if this fight goes to the ground. I lean toward the champ here. (Prediction: Alexandre Pantoja)
Pranav Pandey: I think this matchup has all the makings of an unpredictable barnburner. Pantoja thrives in the chaos of an all-out brawl. His relentless pressure is a hallmark of his fighting style, one that leaves no room for breathing space as he hounds his opponents throughout the full 25 minutes. While “The Cannibal’s” striking and stand-up game are his primary weapons, the Brazilian champion is far from a one-dimensional fighter. He’s a seasoned veteran of the sport, fluid and adaptable, capable of taking the fight to any terrain. On the flip side, we have Asakura, a fighter who has faced considerable scrutiny from a portion of fans for securing a title shot in his promotional debut. Despite the controversy, the Japanese sensation’s record and his explosive ability to overwhelm opponents speak volumes about the hype surrounding him — and I must admit, I’m inclined to buy into it. However, Asakura’s path to pulling off an upset in his first Octagon appearance is far from straightforward.
There are several significant hurdles. For one, he’s never competed in a five-round fight, while Pantoja has honed his endurance in championship bouts. Additionally, Asakura will be cutting down to an unfamiliar weight class — a move that could have a profound impact on his performance, especially if the fight extends past the third round. All things considered, this fight won’t be an easy puzzle for either fighter to solve. However, I believe that if “The Cannibal” can weather Asakura’s early storm of power strikes, his experience will become the deciding factor. Once he takes control of the pace, it will be hard to imagine the Japanese fighter staying afloat. (Prediction: Alexandre Pantoja)
Andrew Starc: At 34 years old, Pantoja is now getting up there in age, but he’s on a six-fight win streak that’s seen him overcome the flyweight division’s best. The Brazilian is good on the feet and the ground, and while Asakura could threaten with his KO power, I expect Pantoja’s experience and all-round skills will determine this matchup. I think the pressure of making his UFC in a title fight will be too much for Asakura. (Prediction: Alexandre Pantoja)
Consensus: 4-1 Alexandre Pantoja
That’ll do it for our UFC 310 staff picks! What do you think? Do your picks look similar? Let us know in the comments section! Also, you can check out the full UFC 310 card below.
Main Card:
Flyweight Championship Main Event: Alexandre Pantoja (C) vs. Kai Asakura
Welterweight Co-Main Event: Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Garry
Heavyweight: Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov
Featherweight: Bryce Mitchell vs. Kron Gracie
Featherweight: Nate Landwehr vs. Dooho Choi
Preliminary Card:
Light Heavyweight: Anthony Smith vs. Dominick Reyes
Welterweight: Vicente Luque vs. Themba Gorimbo
Featherweight: Movsar Evloev vs. Aljamain Sterling
Welterweight: Randy Brown vs. Bryan Battle
Early Preliminary Card:
Middleweight: Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders
Flyweight: Cody Durden vs. Joshua Van
Welterweight: Michael Chiesa vs. Max Griffin
Lightweight: Clay Guida vs. Chase Hooper
Heavyweight: Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Łukasz Brzeski
Be sure to keep it right here on MMANews.com for all the results, highlights, and updates on UFC 310!
UFC welterweight contender Ian Garry isn’t paying attention to what happened when he met upcoming opponent Shavkat Rakhmonov on the Kill Cliff FC mats.
While it will mark the Rakhmonov and Garry’s first time colliding inside the Octagon, they are familiar with one another owing to their brief time training under the same roof in Florida.
And as they prepare to reacquaint one another with their respective arsenals, much has been made of the Kazakh revealing he forced his Irish counterpart to tap to a choke in the gym.
During an interview with talkSPORT, Garry reacted to that remark, admitting it was true but dismissing any suggestion that it could matter leading up to their clash on Dec. 7.
“Look, if he’s hanging on to something like that from training two or three years ago, then guess what? Do it on Saturday night,” Garry said. “Do it underneath the bright lights. Do it when it matters most. Let’s see if he can do it.
“I promise you now, he is not ready for the speed and the beauty. He’s going to look at me and go, ‘Oh my god, this guy’s beautiful. What do I do?’ He’s going to be left speechless,” Garry continued. “He’s going to see how fast I move and go, ‘Wow, this kid’s special,’ and that’s all he’s going to think. … It’s training. If I told you about all the people I absolutely burned and choked in training, you would sit here and say I’m the best fighter in the world already.”
😤 "Let’s see if he can do it when it matters!"
🔥 "I'm a different beast!"@iangarrymma on rumours of getting choked out by Shavkat Rakhmonov
Garry will look to prove those comments correct come fight night in “Sin City.”
His third outing of this year, following triumphs over Geoff Neal and Michael “Venom” Page goes down in the UFC 310 co-main event, with Alexandre Pantoja headlining in defense of his flyweight title opposite newcomer Kai Asakura.
Undefeated UFC featherweight contender Movsar Evloev couldn’t care less whether he makes the walk at the start or end of a fight card.
Evloev is set for a crucial outing this weekend at UFC 310, where he looks to stake his claim for a first shot at gold on MMA’s biggest stage at the expense of former bantamweight kingpin Aljamain Sterling.
The Russian opened his account for 2024 by getting the better of Arnold Allen in Canada this past January. The result pushed him into the top five at 145 pounds and left him 8-0 since joining the UFC from M-1 Global in 2019.
But he’s come under fire for failing to find a finish in his UFC tenure to date, and Dana White’s reaction to his latest win would suggest Evloev isn’t Mr. Popular among the promotional higher-ups.
That’s perhaps contributed to the controversial decision to place Evloev’s clash with Sterling — another whose entertainment value has been called into question by some — on Saturday’s preliminary card.
Guys my fight will be broadcasted on ESPN, way more people will watch my fight than on the PPV, I don’t even care if I’m the first fight of the night, I get paid the same. All my life I worked hard to earn thing nothing was ever given to me
“Guys my fight will be broadcasted on ESPN, way more people will watch my fight than on the PPV, I don’t even care if I’m the first fight of the night, I get paid the same,” Evloev wrote on X. “All my life I worked hard to earn thing nothing was ever given to me”
Regardless of their position on the lineup, both Evloev and Sterling will be looking to put themselves among the night’s biggest winners by extending their respective unbeaten featherweight records. “Funk Master” is 1-0 in the division, having gotten the better of Calvin Kattar on debut this past April.
The Irishman was originally slated to return in the main event of next weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Tampa against Joaquin Buckley. But with champ Belal Muhammad being forced out of his defense against “Nomad” in Las Vegas, “The Future” has stepped up for a title eliminator.
That, however, hasn’t stopped one of the sport’s best backing the Dublin native to get the job done at Rakhmonov’s expense.
During a recent video uploaded to his FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel, Adesanya broke down this weekend’s numbered event at T-Mobile Arena.
“The Last Stylebender” gave a particularly thorough breakdown for the co-main event, which is arguably set to be the night’s most anticipated matchup.
And when it comes to his prediction, Adesanya is expecting Garry’s technical striking and underrated grappling to pave the way for an upset over Rakhmonov.
“Shavkat, he’s a mauler. … Ian, second Irish sensation,” Adesanya said. “I grappled with him (Garry), he’s a good grappler…he’s slick. He knows how to put things together well. You watch his striking, his distance, his awareness. … That’s where he’s going to have an advantage in this fight.
“I think he’s going to be able to touch Shavkat. But he’s got to be careful,” Adesanya continued. “Use that jab, use the teep, keep Shavkat away. … For me, I like this fight. I’mma go with Ian Garry. I think it’s going to go to a decision. … There was something he (Garry) was saying. I saw a clip of him at a press conference talking about Shavkat, talking about, ‘I want to be the guy to take that 0 away.’ That’s the energy. That’s that Goku spirit very few people have.”
Garry will look to prove Adesanya’s assessment correct come fight night in “Sin City,” when he and his former training partner Rakhmonov feature on a PPV main card that will be topped by Alexandre Pantoja’s latest flyweight title defense.
The mixed martial arts leader is set to open its pay-per-view schedule for 2025 in style, having confirmed championship defenses for both Islam Makhachev and Merab Dvalishvili for UFC 311.
And following additions like Jiří Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill and Reinier de Ridder vs. Kevin Holland, as well as returns for Jailton Almeida and Johnny Walker, a pair of blockbuster headliners are now official.
UFC CEO Dana White took to social media this week to confirm that the long-rumored rematch between Makhachev (26-1) and Arman Tsarukyan (22-3) for the lightweight gold will indeed headline the event on Jan. 18.
And despite his callout of other contenders, bantamweight king Dvalishvili (18-4) will put his belt on the line against the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov (18-0), who looks to set the stage for his stablemate’s defense in the final fight of the night by adding to the team’s trophy cabinet.
Makhachev has recorded three defenses since defeating Charles Oliveira to achieve champ status. After back-to-back wins over Alexander Volkanovski in 2023, the Dagestani most recently turned back the challenge of Dustin Poirier. Makhachev is now set to run it back with a charging contender whom he narrowly outpointed back in 2019. Tsarukyan enters his first title shot riding momentum from a triumph over Oliveira at UFC 300.
Dvalishvili, meanwhile, will be making his first defense at UFC 311, five months on from his victory over Sean O’Malley at the Sphere. That result extended his winning run to 11 straight fights and followed success opposite former champions Petr Yan and Henry Cejudo. Nurmagomedov, on the other hand, is yet to taste defeat inside the cage. The Russian most recently staked his claim for a championship opportunity by getting the better of the highly regarded Cory Sandhagen across five rounds in Abu Dhabi.
With these additions, the current fights expected to take place at UFC 311 in Los Angeles on Jan. 18 are as follows:
Islam Makhachev (C) vs. Arman Tsarukyan (lightweight championship)
Merab Dvalishvili (C) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (bantamweight championship)
Jiří Procházka vs. Jamahal Hill (light heavyweight)
Reinier de Ridder vs. Kevin Holland (middleweight)
Jailton Almeida vs. Serghei Spivac (heavyweight)
Rinya Nakamura vs. Muin Gafarov (bantamweight)
Johnny Walker vs. Bogdan Guskov (light heavyweight)
UFC flyweight title challenger Kai Asakura doesn’t envision Alexandre Pantoja posing problems for him in any department this weekend.
Asakura will join the rare group of fighters to challenge for gold in their Octagon debut when he arrives on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage this Saturday night.
Following bantamweight championship success under the Rizin banner in Asia, the Japanese star will have the chance to add the UFC flyweight belt to his trophy cabinet in the UFC 310 main event.
Asakura is coming up against a divisional kingpin who has gone 9-0 against names currently occupying spots inside the top 10 at 125 pounds. And since dethroning Brandon Moreno last year, Alexandre Pantoja has already pushed past challenges from Brandon Royval and Steve Erceg.
But judging by his remarks during an interview with E. Spencer Kyte for UFC.com, Asakura is seemingly expecting a relatively comfortable night at the office…
“Pantoja is great at everything, but he’s not special at anything; he doesn’t have a unique skill in one area that makes him better than anyone else,” Asakura said. “What makes him better than anyone else is his heart — he’s got great heart, and that’s what makes him a great champion.
“But I don’t see him representing any problems for me anywhere. He’s someone I don’t think I’ll have any problem dealing with,” Asakura continued. “The advantage I hold over Pantoja is that I have one-shot knockout power, so it only takes one shot,” he added. “And I’m expecting this fight to be over with one shot.”
Asakura will look to prove his assessment of Pantoja correct come fight night in “Sin City,” where the pair headline a pay-per-view lineup that also features the likes of Shavkat Rakhmonov, Ian Garry, Ciryl Gane, Bryce Mitchell, Aljamain Sterling and Chris Weidman.
Ready to put on a performance for his fans and he's happy to be in Las Vegas!@Kai_1031_ is ready for #UFC310
“Sugar” subsequently headed for surgery to repair a torn labrum and is targeting a return in the first or second quarter of 2025. And he was recently called out by a familiar foe for his comeback fight.
“I would lean towards a rematch with Sean O’Malley,” Petr Yan told Ariel Helwani. “I don’t know what’s going on with him. He’s out for nine or 12 months, so maybe he got pregnant.”
Yan’s comments come after he made it two wins from two in 2024 by outpointing Deiveson Figueiredo in Macau. While he’s gone back and forth with Dvalishvili over a rematch for the title, Umar Nurmagomedov is widely seen as the deserving next in line at 135 pounds.
With that in mind, the Russian may need to look elsewhere for his next assignment. And judging by O’Malley’s reaction to his request for a redo, his door has been firmly shut for “No Mercy.”
“I predict it will be early Q2. Against Merab. Thanks for asking,” O’Malley wrote in his response on X.
O’Malley has repeatedly outlined his intention to return straight into a shot at avenging his decision defeat to “The Machine.”
With the timeline for Nurmagomedov’s expected maiden title opportunity still uncertain as the year approaches its conclusion, it remains to be seen what lies ahead for both O’Malley and Yan in 2025.
When it comes to achieving his ongoing goals in the UFC, welterweight Vicente Luque believes he’s in line to be better placed following the withdrawal of Nick Diaz.
Luque, a veteran contender who has slipped to #14 in the rankings following three losses in his last four fights, will make his return on the preliminary card of this weekend’s UFC 310 pay-per-view.
The Brazilian was originally slated to appear opposite Diaz, marking their second attempt at sharing the cage in 2024. The pair previously had a clash at the UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi this past August called off, with visa issues on the side of the Stockton native being branded the reason.
While fans and fighters alike express worry over Diaz’s status, Luque has a new foe in his sights. And although his new matchup isn’t quite as prominent following his high-profile opponent pulling out, “The Silent Assassin” sees a silver lining.
“Nick brought a lot of that hype from the fans,” Luque said during an interview with MMA Fighting. “When I look to the UFC, there are a lot of things that can push you over. Maybe the biggest of all is hype, and I think the Nick fight brought that. Now, when I look at this fight, from a sportive side, it makes way more sense.
“It’s a challenge, a good guy who is coming hungry for the victory, and he wants to enter the rankings,” Luque continued. “I’m here to defend my position and at the same time show I’m still going for the top, gunning to become champion. This fight brings that.”
Luque will now look to make the most of his opportunity to stall the rise of an in-form prospect and prove that he’s still got plenty to give toward the top of the standings at 170 pounds.
High-profile fights are beginning to come together for 2025, and the latest report places longtime middleweight contender Jared Cannonier in another UFC Fight Night main event.
Cannonier (17-8), who sits alongside Conor McGregor as one of two fighters to have recorded knockout victories in three different weight classes, has slipped down the pecking order at 185 pounds.
A controversial stoppage loss to Nassourdine Imavov and decision defeat in a Fight of the Night with Caio Borralho has seen “The Killa Gorilla” go 0-2 in 2024. Having fallen to his first losing skid as a middleweight, the #8-ranked Cannonier is in need of a rebound performance next year to maintain his spot inside the top 10.
And per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, that’ll come in a fifth consecutive main event for the 40-year-old, this time opposite a first-time headliner in Gregory Rodrigues (16-5) at the Apex-held UFC Fight Night on Feb. 15.
🚨Fight News🚨
Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues is in the works for the #UFCVegas102 main event, per sources
Rodrigues has gained a reputation as an all-action fighter at 185 pounds since debuting following LFA championship success three years ago.
While losses to Armen Petrosyan and Brunno Ferreira stalled his rise, “Robocop” is currently on his best UFC run to date, having won three straight over Denis Tiuliulin, Brad Tavares, and Christian Leroy Duncan.
With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC Fight Night on Feb. 15 are as follows:
Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues (middleweight main event)
Gabriel Bonfim vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov (welterweight)
Juliana Miller vs. Carli Judice (women’s flyweight)
Jacob Malkoun vs. Rodolfo Vieira (middleweight)
Julia Avila vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti (women’s bantamweight)
Jose Delgado vs. Connor Matthews (featherweight)
Billy Goff vs. Nikolay Veretennikov (welterweight)
Fittingly, “The Future” has never been on to avoid looking into the future. And when it comes to his plan post-Dec. 7, the Irishman has more than one belt in mind.
“I’m a young kid who’s dreamed of being here, who wanted to see his face on billboards.” Garry told Ariel Helwani this week. “(I) wanted to do shows against the scariest people in the world. I’ve said to you before, how my ideal scenario is I fight and beat Shavkat, and then win the welterweight title. I go up to middleweight, I fight Khamzat and win that belt too.
“I’m not afraid of any man. I know how talented I am. I know the gifts God gave me,” Garry added.
It didn’t take long for the middleweight specifically named by Garry while he became the latest expressing two-division goals to give his thoughts.
Taking to social media, Chimaev sent the unbeaten Dublin native a stern warning.
@ianagaryy Ты слишком худой пацан, не лезь к зубам Волка, без головы останешься 😁
“@ianagaryy You’re too skinny kid, don’t go near the Wolf’s teeth, you’ll end up headless,” Chimaev wrote on X.
While Chimaev rose into title contention at welterweight, struggles to hit the 171-pound limit resulted in a permanent move to 185 pounds. He’s since thrived, defeating both Kamaru Usman and Robert Whittaker to rise to #3 on the divisional ladder.
UFC strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern’s next fight will no longer be a year-ending clash in Tampa — it’ll be a year-opening assignment in Las Vegas.
But the Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist successfully avoided the first three-fight losing skid of her career, outpointing Loopy Godinez to return to winning ways. And Dern initially looked set for the chance to end the year on a streak.
She was booked for the opportunity to avenge her first professional defeat in a rematch with Amanda Ribas (13-5) at the UFC Fight Night in Tampa next weekend. The Brazilian is currently ranked two places below Dern at #8.
Per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, however, that second dance has been pushed back and will instead now top the lineup for UFC Vegas 101 at the Apex on Jan. 11.
🚨Breaking🚨
The first UFC main event of 2025 will be Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas, per sources.
For Ribas, the rematch will mark her return to 115 pounds after suffering defeat to Rose Namajunas last time out at flyweight, another division in which she occupies a spot inside the top 10.
In her last appearance as a strawweight, the 31-year-old stopped Luana Pinheiro in highlight reel fashion with a late spinning wheel kick. She’s riding back-to-back wins in the weight class, having previously got the better of a top-five contender in Virna Jandiroba.
With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC Vegas 101 on Jan. 11 are as follows:
Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas (women’s strawweight main event)
Chris Curtis vs. Roman Kopylov (middleweight)
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Carlston Harris (welterweight)
Thiago Moisés vs. Trey Ogden (lightweight)
Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. César Almeida (middleweight)
Austin Bashi vs. Christian Rodriguez (featherweight)
Nurullo Aliev vs. Yanal Ashmouz (lightweight)
Ernesta Kareckaite vs. Nicolle Caliari (women’s flyweight)
Punahele Soriano vs. Uroš Medić (welterweight)
Jose Johnson vs. Felipe Bunes (flyweight)
Magomed Gadzhiyasulov vs. Bruno Lopes (light heavyweight)
Andreas Gustafsson vs. Preston Parsons (welterweight)
Victoria Dudakova vs. Fatima Kline (women’s strawweight)
Merab Dvalishvili is expecting a strong performance from his teammate Aljamain Sterling, as the former UFC bantamweight champion gears up for his second outing as a featherweight.
Following the end of his reign at 135 pounds last year — and after having his calls for a rematch with Sean O’Malley fall on deaf ears — Sterling committed to a long-discussed move up in weight.
And he debuted at 145 pounds in convincing fashion, comfortably outpointing veteran ranked contender Calvin Kattar across three rounds at UFC 300 in Las Vegas this past April.
After arriving in the featherweight top 10, Sterling’s sophomore appearance in the division at UFC 310 will come against an undefeated contender inside the top five, Russia’s Movsar Evloev.
Although he’ll enter the cage as a sizable underdog on Dec. 7, Sterling’s team is unsurprisingly confident of an upset.
During a video recently uploaded to Sterling’s YouTube channel, Dvalishvili spoke about “Funk Master’s” upcoming return, having once again been a part of the 35-year-old’s training camp.
The reigning bantamweight kingpin admitted struggling to hang with the featherweight contender on the mats. And with that in mind, he foresees Sterling ‘smashing’ the undefeated Evloev.
“Aljo feels really strong,” Dvalishvili said. “Now he did a bunch of rounds of jiu-jitsu too. He did two rounds with me. I couldn’t do anything. He was on top of me, controlled me, smashed me. That means that Aljo is going to smash his opponent – even though his opponent is really good.
“I have so much respect for Movsar Evloev, but that’s how the fight game is. The stronger guy wins,” Dvalishvili continued. “I’m very comfortable with Aljo because he’s focused and he feels really strong.”
Sterling will hope to prove Dvalishvili’s assessment correct come fight night in “Sin City,” where he’ll look to move past his disappointment at being placed on the prelims and deliver a statement-making performance at the expense of Evloev.
And should he succeed in that goal, a shot at Ilia Topuria’s featherweight gold and two-division glory could await the New York native in 2025.
While the former regained the 135-pound gold in the co-main event by narrowly and controversially outpointing Raquel Pennington, the ex-PFL standout moved to 2-0 in the Octagon with a victory over Ketlen Vieira.
Harrison had already been pointed to as a worthy title challenger after she emphatically dispatched former champ Holly Holm by way of submission on debut at UFC 300. But having added another name to her record’s win column after being made to fight another contender, the two-time Olympic gold medalist in judo is widely seen as next in line.
“The Venezuelan Vixen,” however, instead called out longtime rival Amanda Nunes following her victory. And according to one UFC fighter, that’s perhaps smart if she wants to prolong her reign…
During a recent interview with InsideFighting, formerly ranked flyweight Miranda Maverick gave her assessment of the expected next championship contest at 135 pounds.
Suffice to say, her view won’t make for good reading in the Peña household.
“I think Kayla will win,” Maverick said. “I think her striking is not very good and hasn’t seemed to improve very much over time, but I think she’ll win regardless. I think she’ll get it to the ground, and Peña won’t be getting back up. Yeah, Peña will lose her title if she goes against Kayla, guaranteed.”
It seems there’s no love lost between UFC welterweight contenders Ian Garry and Kamaru Usman.
The former champion and undefeated Irishman were among four names apparently offered the spot opposite Shavkat Rakhmonov at this weekend’s UFC 310 pay-per-view following the withdrawal of Belal Muhammad.
It was ultimately the latter who accepted, swapping his headline spot at next Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Tampa to co-headline the final numbered event of 2024 in a title eliminator at 170 pounds.
Among others — Colby Covington and Carlos Prates, according to Rakhmonov — Garry has benefited from Usman choosing against sharing the cage with “Nomad” inside T-Mobile Arena this week.
During an appearance on Monday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Garry discussed Usman’s rejection of the short-notice assignment against Rakhmonov this weekend, which the Kazakh star says he initially accepted.
The Irishman went as far as to call Usman “weak-minded,” theorizing that he’ll now push for a showdown with Jack Della Maddalena in 2025 given his weakness in the grappling department.
“Usman has a big chest and little balls,” Garry said. “He looks good and plays the part, but when it matters between the legs, he’s a little man. That’s my outlook on it. … Him and Colby are older, been through the division, fought these guys. Now they’re getting to the end of their careers and they want to choose the better stylistic matchups. But I guarantee this: Usman is going to try to push for a fight with Jack Della Maddalena because he’s seen how easily Gilbert Burns was able to take him down.
“If I was in Usman’s shoes, why would I wanna fight the guy that’s long, rangey, difficult to deal with, when I can fight a guy who I watched two people back-to-back be able to take him down quite easily?” Garry continued. “I guarantee you Usman is going to try to push for the JDM fight, because he’s weak-minded.”
The Kazakh star was originally expecting his championship opportunity to come to fruition on Saturday night but an injury to Muhammad spoiled those plans. As a result, “Nomad” must now defend his status as top contender.
In “Remember the Name’s” place has stepped Garry, who was initially preparing to headline next weekend’s UFC Fight Night in Tampa against Joaquin Buckley. That booking evidently could have stayed together had one of three other names offered the Rakhmonov fight given positive responses.
During a recent appearance on Submission Radio, Rakhmonov claimed the UFC sent offers to three different names in the division — Kamaru Usman, Colby Covington, and Carlos Prates.
The undefeated welterweight said Usman accepted before backing out, Covington straight up rejected, and an injury prevented the rising Prates from getting a big chance to climb the ranks into title contention.
“I wanted to fight Kamaru Usman. But he didn’t accept the fight,” Rakhmonov said. “Also, they offered (it) to Prates, but he was injured. And Colby Covington, he rejected the fight. And I’m happy that Ian Garry accepted the fight. … In the beginning, (Usman) accepted the fight, and then he rejected. Maybe he didn’t want to risk.”
Garry will hope that their loss is his gain when he looks to be the one who takes Rakhmonov’s ‘0’ — and maintain his in the process.
They emerged victorious in the headline spots, defeating Renan Ferreira and Larissa Pacheco, respectively. A number of other fighters made the most of their position on the major lineup, including Johnny Eblen, Zafar Mohsen, and Paul Hughes on the main card.
Disaster has struck for one of those names, however.
MMA Junkie reported this week that Mohsen’s unanimous decision victory over Husein Kadimagomaev has been overturned to a no contest.
The information came through Mohegan Tribe Department of Athletic Regulation chief Mike Mazzulli, who confirmed that a drug test submitted by Mohsen on fight night was flagged as positive in the aftermath.
That even includes on the early prelims, which will see a former champion in Chris Weidman making his return. The 40-year-old is set to do battle with Eryk Anders three weeks on from a bout of food poisoning forcing their matchup off the UFC 309 lineup on fight day.
Having quickly recovered, Anders’ sights are firmly back on Weidman as he looks to make it back-to-back wins in 2024. But even if he does close out the year on a streak, the former American football linebacker has no plans to make a run.
During an interview with Thomas Gerbasi for UFC.com, Anders reiterated his goals for the future and timeline for retirement. Having put a five-fight limit on the remainder of his career in June 2023, the 37-year-old stayed true to his word by branding this weekend’s assignment one of three left for him inside the cage.
“I’m only going to fight three more times,” he said. “This would be one of the three. And two more times after this. So I don’t think so. But it’s still a fun fight, so I’m really looking forward to that.”
During his UFC career, the former LFA champion has picked up wins over the likes of Markus Perez, Vinicius Moreira, Gerald Meerschaert, Darren Stewart, and Kyle Daukaus. He’s struggled to stay consistent, however, with his charge up the ladder being stalled in defeats to names like Lyoto Machida, Thiago Santos, Elias Theodorou, Khalil Rountree and Krzysztof Jotko.
With his aspirations of a push toward UFC gold evidently a thing of the past, Anders will now be focused on closing out his career in style, starting on Dec. 7 at the expense of Weidman.
UFC welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley is expecting Ian Garry to maintain his ‘0’ when he does battle with fellow undefeated contender Shavkat Rakhmonov.
While Rakhmonov was originally set to challenge for Belal Muhammad’s gold in the main event, an infection forced the champion’s withdrawal. With that, the Kazakh standout will have to defend his top contender spot opposite a former training partner.
Betting odds currently have “Nomad” a signifcant favorite to do so, with his line sitting at -375 on DraftKings. The man who had his matchup with Garry fall through as a result of the recent shuffle, however, sees the underdog having his hand raised.
During an interview with MiddleEasy, Buckley provided his thoughts on Garry’s new bout with Rakhmonov, which spoiled “New Mansa’s” plan to become the first to defeat the Irishman a week later in the UFC Tampa headliner.
In recent bouts, “The Future” has been criticized for grinding out decision wins with a technical and safe approach. And Buckley expects the Dubliner to employ that exact strategy en route to an upset at UFC 310.
“A lot of people are not going to believe me, but I think Ian Garry is going to win – by the skin of his teeth, just like the rest of his wins that he had,” Buckley said. “Whether that’s with ‘MVP’ or with Geoff Neal. He does a good job of staying safe and surviving, and if you don’t have the feet to kind of hunt down guys like that, where they’re constantly moving and constantly evading, and you set up traps.
“Obviously, you’re not going to be able to land those power shots. … If you get in the fire with Shavkat Rakhmonov, you’re going to get burned,” Buckley continued. “But I don’t see Ian Garry running into that burning house. He’s going to try to flee and evade the whole time, and I can see Ian Garry getting his hand raised by decision.”
Garry will look to prove Buckley’s prediction correct come fight night versus Rakhmonov in “Sin City” this weekend — thought perhaps in a more emphatic and impressive faction than the American is envisioning.
“New Mansa,” meanwhile, has a new target in his sights for Dec. 14 in Tampa.
The #9-ranked contender will still have the opportunity to climb the ranks, as he looks to add to the woes of Colby Covington following his third failed bid for the undisputed crown last December.
