Since the announcement of the stacked UFC 308 card slated to happen in Abu Dhabi, UFC CEO Dana White has been continuously bashed for his partiality. Fans claimed that White ignored UFC 307 entirely after announcing the Max Holloway vs.  Ilia Topuria fight, sparking rumors that White has been increasingly interested in Middle Eastern countries recently.

This alleged bias left UFC 307 somewhat empty, an event originally reserved for the current BMF Champion Max Holloway and current UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria. Now, the latest news comes from renowned MMA journalist Rueben Carter that, to save the growing UFC 307 card Dana White has brought on current UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja against newcomer Kai Asakura, a former Rizin bantamweight champion. Asakura signed with the UFC in June 2024 and holds an impressive MMA record of 21-4-0.

Originally, UFC 308 was scheduled to be headlined by a lightweight title fight between Islam Makahchev and Arman Tsarukyan. However, Tsarukyan’s involvement was derailed by a nine-month ban imposed by the Nevada Athletic Commission due to an incident where he punched a fan during his walkout at UFC 300.

Adding to the complications, Makhachev sustained an undisclosed injury during his fight against Dustin Poirier at UFC 302 in June, further clouding the future of the UFC 308 event.  Meanwhile, Alexandre Pantoja has enjoyed a solid UFC career since his debut. He captured the flyweight title by defeating Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 and has successfully defended it twice, His most recent title defense was against Steve Erceg at UFC 301. Following his fight, Pantoja hinted at an unexpected opponent for his upcoming bout.

When Pantoja hinted at Kai Asakura as his next opponent

Alexandre Pantoja recently appeared at the UFC Hall of Fame ceremony where he interacted with the media. Pantoja discussed various topics, including the recent fight between Manal Kape and Muhammad. When reporters inquired about his next fight, Pantoja revealed that he was gearing up for something big and those details would be revealed in time.

Pantoja further stated, “UFC has already talked to me. I expect something in two, or three months. I (cannot) say anything right now but it’s going to be huge for everyone and one name that I think nobody will expect. I’m super glad about the name. Very good for my career, it’s huge for me.”

It seems absurd that Kai Asakura, a UFC newcomer, is immediately getting a title shot. This raises questions about Dana White’s decision-making, suggesting potential favoritism, a recurring issue within the organization that many fighters have voiced concern about in the past.

What are your thoughts on the upcoming UFC 307 title fight? Doesn’t it seem crazy for a fighter to get a title shot in their debut fight? Did Dana White push this decision just to fill the gap while trying to make UFC 308 a success? Comment your thoughts below.