LAS VEGAS — In an impressive display of grappling skill, Alexandre Pantoja retained his flyweight championship on Saturday night, delivering a technical submission to Kai Asakura using a rear naked choke that rendered his opponent unconscious at 2:05 of the second round.
This victory marked Pantoja’s third successful title defense since he clinched the belt by narrowly defeating Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 on July 8, 2023, bringing his professional record to 29 wins and 5 losses.
Despite being a newcomer to the UFC, Asakura, with a record of 21 wins and 5 losses, was unable to contend with Pantoja’s grappling prowess. Pantoja was heavily favored in the betting market, closing at -275. His superior wrestling capabilities allowed him to maneuver effectively on the ground, leading to the decisive finish after he gained positional control over Asakura.
In the evening’s co-main event, No. 3 ranked Shavkat Rakhmonov overcame No. 7 Ian Machado Garry by unanimous decision. Initially expected to headline the event, Rakhmonov stepped in after welterweight champion Belal Muhammad withdrew because of a foot infection. Rakhmonov, who sported an undefeated record of 19 wins, took the fight to a decision for the first time in his career, closing as a -400 favorite.
Additionally, Ciryl Gane, ranked second in the heavyweight division, engaged in a competitive bout against No. 3 Alexander Volkov, ultimately securing a split decision victory. Gane, a 4-to-1 favorite, improved his record to 13 wins and 2 losses.
In a notable featherweight clash, No. 13 Bryce Mitchell showcased his strength and technique by stopping Kron Gracie just 39 seconds into the third round. Mitchell executed a powerful body slam followed by a decisive forearm strike to Gracie’s head, finishing the bout with a remarkable opening line of -1000 for the fight.
The evening also featured an underdog victory as Dooho Choi overcame Nate Landwehr in a featherweight matchup. Despite being pushed to a closing price of +115, Choi made a strong comeback, earning a stoppage at 3:21 mark of the third round after placing Landwehr in a crucifix position, leading to referee Chris Tognoni halting the action.
Earlier in the night, two former champions competed, with bantamweight Aljamain Sterling suffering a decision loss to Movsar Evloev, who is currently on an impressive eight-fight win streak in the UFC featherweight division. Additionally, Eryk Anders claimed victory over Chris Weidman by TKO at 4:51 of the second round, marking a significant moment in the night’s fights.
