UFC play-by-play analyst Jon Anik is pleased to see flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja get another centerpiece spotlight on the promo's last pay-per-view of the year.
Pantoja (28-5 MMA, 12-3 UFC) will try to make a 3rd successive defense of his title when he handles Kai 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, ESPNews).
Pantoja vs. Asakura wasn't initially slated to top the lineup, however when welterweight champ Belal Muhammad withdrew from his battle versus Shavkat Rakhmonov due to a health problem, the match rose.
For Anik, it's a been worthy of and rightful position as he sees Pantoja as one of the absolute best in the sport.
“How do you have (the pound-for-pound discussion) without this guy? What kind of human weapon is really going to have the ability to put Alexandre Pantoja away?” Anik informed MMA Junkie Radio. “You consider all the wars he's remained in, to have actually never ever been completed and to have never ever actually come that near being surfaces, there is many things to be satisfied about with this guy. The world principles, the coach capability. The capability to go to that location that individuals like me can't go to, athletically or otherwise. The capability to dig deep when your cardiovascular base isn't there. I believe that's what actually sets him apart. Yeah, sure, he's got every ability. He's got ending up capability, however I simply believe it's that psychological durability that permits him to go to that location when possibly his body fails him, is possibly what sets him apart.”
Pantoja, No. 10 in the most recent USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie pound-for-pound rankings and No. 1 at flyweight, will be entrusted at UFC 310 with inviting previous RIZIN FF champ Asakura to the promo.
Anik stated he believes extremely of Asakura, however he has a hard time to neglect the achievement of Pantoja heading into battle night.
“Very thrilled to see Kai Asakura live for the very first time– electrical fighter,” Anik stated. “I simply believe that Pantoja is the outright male. He simply does not get his due.”
For more on the card, see MMA Junkie's occasion center for UFC 310.
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