UFC 310
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Mixed martial arts promotion |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Headquarters | Las Vegas , United States |
| Website | www |
UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura was a mixed martial arts competition organized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 7, 2024, hosted at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, United States.
Background
Initially, the main event was scheduled to feature a UFC Welterweight Championship clash between reigning champion Belal Muhammad and undefeated challenger Shavkat Rakhmonov. However, Muhammad withdrew due to an infection in a foot bone. Consequently, Rakhmonov faced Ian Machado Garry in a five-round title eliminator bout serving as the co-main event.
Following Muhammad's exit, the headlining spot was assigned to a UFC Flyweight Championship fight between champion Alexandre Pantoja and promotional newcomer Kai Asakura, a former two-time Rizin Bantamweight Champion.
The heavyweight rematch featuring ex-interim champion Ciryl Gane and former Bellator Heavyweight Champion Alexander Volkov, which had been postponed from UFC 308 due to Volkov’s knee injury, was rescheduled for this event. Their initial encounter in June 2021 ended with Gane winning by unanimous decision.
A welterweight matchup was planned between former WEC and Strikeforce Welterweight Champion Nick Diaz and Vicente Luque, but Diaz withdrew for undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Themba Gorimbo.
Featherweights former UFC Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling and Movsar Evloev competed at this event after their previously scheduled bout was canceled because of Sterling’s injury.
A women’s strawweight contest between Tatiana Suarez and former Invicta FC Strawweight Champion Virna Jandiroba was removed from the card following Suarez’s withdrawal due to health concerns.
Former UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman faced ex-LFA Middleweight Champion Eryk Anders in a 195-pound catchweight fight at UFC 310 after their initially scheduled bout at UFC 309 was canceled owing to Anders’ illness.
In the heavyweight division, the bout between Tallison Teixeira and Łukasz Brzeski changed when Teixeira pulled out due to injury; he was substituted by Kennedy Nzechukwu. Additionally, the heavyweight fight featuring Martin Buday versus Rizvan Kuniev was called off after Buday sustained an injury.
During weigh-ins, middleweight tournament victor Bryan Battle came in four pounds above the welterweight limit. The match proceeded at catchweight with Battle fined 30% of his purse, which was awarded to his opponent, Randy Brown.
Bonus awards
Fighters were granted $50,000 bonuses as follows:
- Fight of the Night: No award given.
- Performance of the Night: Alexandre Pantoja, Vicente Luque, Chase Hooper, Kennedy Nzechukwu