UFC 310 on December 7th is set to close out the year with a massive pay-per-view event, headlined by two high-stakes title fights. Belal Muhammad vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov is official.
The welterweight division will take centre stage as newly crowned champion Belal Muhammad makes his first title defence against the undefeated Shavkat Rakhmonov. In the co-main event, flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja will welcome Rizin star Kai Asakura to the UFC for his Octagon debut.
Belal Muhammad, 36, enters this title defense on the back of an impressive 10-fight unbeaten streak. After working his way through the welterweight ranks, Muhammad finally secured his title by dethroning Leon Edwards in a dominant unanimous decision victory. His rise to the top wasn’t quick, but it was well-earned. Over the years, he’s picked up victories against big names like Gilbert Burns, Sean Brady, Vicente Luque, Stephen Thompson, and Demian Maia, showing his durability and consistent evolution. This recent string of wins earned him a spot in the top five of the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Belal Muhammad vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov to Headline UFC 310
Now, Muhammad faces perhaps his toughest challenge yet in Shavkat Rakhmonov, a 29-year-old wrecking ball who boasts a perfect 18-0 record. Rakhmonov is not just undefeated but has finished every single opponent he’s faced, whether by knockout or submission. That makes him a particularly dangerous threat. His UFC resume includes wins over notable names like Stephen Thompson, Geoff Neal, and Neil Magny. With 10 submission wins and 8 knockouts, Rakhmonov’s ability to end fights in various ways adds a layer of unpredictability to this already intriguing matchup.
“I’m ready for whoever,” Muhammad has said in the past, and now, he’ll need to prove it against one of the division’s most feared finishers.
In the co-main event, Alexandre Pantoja, the reigning flyweight king, will defend his belt against Rizin champion Kai Asakura. Pantoja, 34, is on a roll, having won his last three fights, including his title-clinching win over Brandon Moreno in 2023. That victory marked the third time Pantoja had bested Moreno, cementing his place as one of the top fighters at 125 pounds. Since then, Pantoja has defended his title with a unanimous decision win over Brandon Royval (again, for the third time in his career) and a victory over Steve Erceg.
Pantoja’s latest challenger, Asakura, enters the UFC with a lot of hype behind him. The 30-year-old has been a major figure in Japan’s Rizin promotion and has built a following as a popular YouTube personality. Asakura holds an impressive 21-4 record and is a two-time Rizin bantamweight champion. He’s also fought his way to the finals of Rizin’s 135-pound grand prix in 2021, solidifying his reputation as a top-tier talent.
Big Implications at UFC 310
Now stepping onto the biggest stage in mixed martial arts, Asakura will be looking to make an immediate impact in his UFC debut. With a history of exciting fights and finishes, his matchup against Pantoja promises fireworks.
As the final pay-per-view of 2024, UFC 310 is shaping up to be a fitting way to close out the year, with two title fights that carry significant implications for their respective divisions. Belal Muhammad vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov has all the makings of a classic welterweight showdown, while Pantoja vs. Asakura brings the intrigue of a cross-promotional clash to the flyweight division. Both champions face dangerous challengers, and both fights could set the stage for even bigger matchups in 2025.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Imagesand Embed from Getty Images
