UFC 310 Betting Preview: Undefeated Welterweights Seek Title Shot
This is no offense to Alexandre Pantoja, Kai Asakura, or the UFC’s flyweight division. But the co-main event for UFC 310 this Saturday may be the most compelling matchup on the card. While MMAfighting latest news shows that Shavkat Rakhmonov was initially scheduled to fight Belal Muhammad for the welterweight belt, this matchup may be more entertaining for everyone.
When Muhammad was forced to pull out with an injury, there were talks that Rakhmonov would fight former champion Kamaru Usman. However, the UFC pulled some strings and headed in a different direction. Rahkmonov and his new opponent, Irish star Ian Machado Garry, are undefeated. Garry is an excellent striker who will be in for a real challenge in Rakhmonov. Rakhmonov has finished all 18 of his opponents in MMA, including eight wins by knockout and ten by submission. During Rakhmonov’s last fight, he submitted former title challenger Stephen Thompson in the first round.
While Rakhmonov hasn’t fought too many of the top contenders in the UFC yet, his potential is immense. Garry isn’t afraid to go the distance and would be comfortable trying to strike from the outside. He may not get that opportunity here in this five-round title eliminator.
Bets to consider: Under 3.5 rounds, Rakhmonov inside the distance
Pantoja Gets a Fresh Challenger
Pantoja is a fighter who is hard for any challenger to beat because he is exceptionally well-rounded. But Pantoja has seen three consecutive fights go the distance, including both of his title defenses. Pantoja’s title fights have been grappling-heavy, and he had an uneven performance against Steve Erceg at UFC 301.
In a rare decision, the UFC went outside the organization to find a fresh challenger. Asakura will have to cut weight to challenge for the belt, as he won the Rizin Bantamweight championship last December. Asakura is a fighter who is willing to try and push the pace for a finish.
Asakura has 13 wins by knockout and three by submission out of his 21 wins. This is a difficult fight for Asakura, especially since he is coming down a weight class. Pantoja should win this one, but it won’t be easy.
Bets to consider: Pantoja by decision, Over 4.5 rounds
Gane Ready for Another Opportunity
Former interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane has been out of action for more than a year. Despite some MMA breaking news that he challenged current interim champion Tom Aspinall, the Frenchman has not been heard from much. Gane, who was humiliated by Jon Jones in a title fight at UFC 285 in March 2023, bounced back with a TKO win over Serghei Spivac in September of the same year.
However, Gane wanted to find a better matchup before he stepped back into the octagon. Gane will now be tasked with handling Russian heavyweight Alexander Volkov. Volkov, a former Bellator champion, enters this fight on a four-fight win streak.
Volkov has fought many of the top heavyweights during his career, but how he handled Sergei Pavlovich the last time out was impressive. Pavlovich was known for his stunning knockout power, and Volkov dragged him the distance.
Gane is a more disciplined striker than Pavlovich. He relies less on power and more on his overall skill set. Volkov can make life difficult for Gane, but the French fighter has the skills to keep Volkov at arm’s length to pick up a decision win.
Bets to consider: Gane by decision, over 2.5 rounds
Mitchell Takes a Step Down
Kron Gracie has been viewed as disappointing since signing with the UFC. He went 1-1 during his first two fights and then took a four-year hiatus before returning in May 2023 to drop a decision to Charles Jourdain. Gracie is a grappling specialist who has either won by submission or lost decisions in all seven professional fights.
Gracie will now be tasked with fighting Bryce Mitchell. Mitchell is returning to the sport after being knocked out by Josh Emmett last December in scary fashion. Mitchell hit the octagon especially hard after taking a ferocious punch from the former title challenger.
Mitchell, who started his career 15-0, has lost two fights by finish in his last three. Both of his losses were to world-class talent, including current champion Ilia Topuria.
Mitchell will have to be careful in this fight. He likes to wrestle, and Gracie has an excellent ground game.
Bets to consider: Mitchell by decision
Landwehr Seeks Another Impressive Performance
Nate Landwehr has won four of his last five fights and developed a solid following thanks to an engaging personality and fun fighting style. During Landwehr’s last fight, he may have turned in one of the best performances of his career with a first-round knockout of Jamall Emmers.
Landwehr will have an exciting challenge in Doo Ho Choi. The Korean Superboy has had a lot of struggles in the UFC. Choi went on a four-game winless streak before finally bouncing back in his last fight.
Choi won his last fight with Bill Algeo by second-round knockout. Before his knockout win over Algeo, he hadn’t knocked an opponent out since 2016. Choi did have his career interrupted for a few years due to mandatory military service in his home nation of South Korea.
After a few years of struggles, Choi will have something to prove in this one. Landwehr won’t be an easy matchup, but Choi will find a way to win.
Bets to consider: Choi ML
Here’s a look at the rest of the fights on the card not mentioned above:
Light Heavyweight, Dominick Reyes (-340) vs Anthony Smith (+270)
Welterweight, Themba Gorimbo (-162) vs Vicente Luque (+136)
Featherweight, Movsar Evloev (-250) vs Aljamain Sterling (+205)
Welterweight, Bryan Battle (-230) vs Randy Brown (+190)
Catchweight, Chris Weidmann (-115) vs Eryk Anders (-105)
Flyweight, Joshua Van (-148) vs Cody Durden (+124)
Welterweight, Max Griffin (-122) vs Michael Chiesa (+102)
Lightweight, Chase Hooper (-1050) vs Clay Guida (+675)
Heavyweight, Kennedy Nzechukwu (-600) vs Łukasz Brzeski (+440)
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By Dean McHugh.
