A lower ranked competitor? A promotional newcomer? No problem for the UFC Flyweight champion, as Pantoja (28-5) begins his third title defense (second this year) against highly touted debutant Kai Asakura in the main event of UFC 310 this Saturday from Las Vegas.

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Asakura (21-4) may not be as well known in the United States, but fans love him in Japan, where Asakura reigned as RIZIN’s bantamweight champion. It’s the best of the East against the best of the West, and Pantoja will certainly receive his flowers for fighting whoever the UFC puts in front of him.

“We call him a dog, and I think that’s an understatement,” former UFC fighter and analyst Din Thomas said of Pantoja. Sirius XM Fighting Nation. “We’re just looking at his fighting style when we say he’s a dog. But think about the position he was put in to title this card: risking his belt.”

“He’s putting his belt on the line against a guy who’s never fought in the UFC before. Think about that. Now compare that to the guys who refused to fight Belal Muhammad, who was on a 9 fight winning streak. Even before that, Leon Edwards, who was on a 9-game winning streak, guys who were like, “Oh, they didn’t deserve it….”

Even with Asakura’s achievements halfway around the world, the risk is greater than the reward for the reigning and defending Pantoja. But, with 10 wins against ranked flyweights (including exhibitions on The ultimate fighter), “The Cannibal” has to eat somehow.

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“This guy isn’t in any fights in the UFC, and Pantoja says, ‘Sign him up. I’m going to finish him…'” Thomas said of the champion’s desire to fight Asakura. “If that doesn’t sound like dog to you – a guy who’s going to risk his life for our entertainment, I don’t know what to call him. To me, he’s quite the dog.”

Watch UFC 310: Pantoja vs. Asakura this Saturday from Las Vegas – live on ESPN+ Pay-Per-View.

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