UFC 310 FAQ: Will debuting star impress and future welterweight champ emerge?

The UFC returns to action this week with the first of two December events fight fans can look forward to enjoying as the days continue getting shorter and the new year approaches.

It has been nearly three months since a UFC title has changed hands, but it could happen again this weekend as Saturday will mark the final title fight of 2024 when the men’s flyweight title is put on the line in the main event.

The 14-fight card also sees two of the top undefeated young fighters in mixed martial arts meet in a co-main event that will determine the next welterweight title challenger, plus multiple former UFC champions are set for action on the undercard.

With that in mind, here’s what you need to know ahead of UFC 310.

WHEN AND WHERE DOES IT TAKE PLACE?

UFC 310: Pantoja vs Asakura takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It’s the UFC's penultimate event of 2024 and the third card from T-Mobile Arena this year. Defending champions are 3-0 in UFC title fights at the venue this year with two of Alex Pereira’s title defences, plus Weili Zhang’s win over Yan Xiaonan taking place there.

The UFC 310 pay-per-view main card begins Saturday at 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT and is available to order through Sportsnet+ while preliminary card coverage on Sportsnet 360 and Sportsnet+ gets underway at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on Saturday.

WHO IS FEATURED ON THE CARD?

Men’s flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja will look for his third consecutive 125-pound title defence and seventh consecutive victory overall when he welcomes newcomer Kai Asakura to the UFC in the main event.

Asakura is a touted former Rizin champion who will become the first fighter since Gilbert Melendez to compete for a UFC title in his organizational debut. All but five of his 21 pro wins have been by stoppage and he has a chance to introduce himself to UFC fans by pulling off what would be an upset according to the odds.

Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Machado Garry are a combined 33-0 as professionals and the pair of unbeaten 170-pounders are set for a five-round co-main event that should see the winner face champion Belal Muhammad in the first half of 2025.

Rakhmonov was initially supposed to headline this card against Muhammad, however a toe injury and infection forced his withdrawal and will keep the reigning titleholder out of action for at least a few more months. Machado Garry was originally scheduled to headline the Dec. 14 Fight Night card in Florida against Joaquin Buckley before he stepped up on short notice to face the intimidating Rakhmonov. Buckley now faces Colby Covington next week.

Saturday's No. 1 contender bout will either see Rakhmonov improve to 19-0 or Machado Garry get to 16-0.

The preliminary card is also flush with former champions and future contenders.

A pivotal bout in the 205-pound division between previous Jon Jones opponents Dominick Reyes and Anthony Smith is set to headline a preliminary card that also boasts Movsar Evloev vs, Aljamain Sterling, a featherweight contest that could see the winner could emerge as next in line for the 145-pound title.

HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER UPDATES TO THE FIGHT CARD?

The revamped co-main event wasn't the only change this card has seen in recent weeks. Middleweights Chris Weidman and Eryk Anders were added to this card after their scheduled UFC 309 bout fell apart last month after both fighters had already weighed in.

Themba Gorimbo will face Vicente Luque on the prelims after replacing Nick Diaz. Luque and Diaz were originally booked to fight in August before the matchup was rescheduled for UFC 310. Diaz, who has fought only once professionally in the past decade, was removed from the card for undisclosed reasons. Luque and Gorimbo are both 33 years old but this will be Gorimbo’s 19th pro bout compared to Luque’s 22nd appearance at the UFC level.

Tallison Teixeira was replaced by Kennedy Nzechukwu who will step in to face Lukasz Brzeski on short notice in heavyweight preliminary action. A heavyweight matchup scheduled between Martin Buday and Rizvan Kuniev was cancelled and removed from the card altogether due to an injury sustained by Buday last week.

WHAT ELSE IS SCHEDULED FOR FIGHT WEEK?

Media Day: Official UFC 310 media events begin Wednesday when participating athletes will speak with gathered reporters. Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter will be on site so stay tuned to Sportsnet.ca throughout the week for exclusive content and one-on-one fighter interviews.

Pre-fight Press Conference: Athletes from the UFC 310 main card will be on hand Thursday to answer questions and face off for a photo op.

Official Weigh-ins Show on Sportsnet.ca: Aaron Bronsteter and UFC bantamweight Aiemann Zahabi will be broadcasting live from Las Vegas Friday morning as they will report the official weights for the athletes as well as speak to some of the participating fighters. More details to come.

There will be a one-pound allowance for all non-title bouts. That means both Pantoja and Asakura must weigh no heavier than 125 pounds for their flyweight title fight to be made official.

Ceremonial Weigh-ins: Later on Friday, once all official weights have been recorded and athletes have begun the rehydration process, opponents will face off again, this time in front of a crowd, on the eve of the card.

Projected UFC 310 bout order below:

MAIN CARD

-- Alexandre Pantoja vs Kai Asakura (five rounds for men’s flyweight title)

-- Shavkat Rakhmonov vs Ian Machado Garry (five-round non-title bout)

-- Ciryl Gane vs Alexander Volkov

-- Bryce Mitchell vs Kron Gracie

-- Nate Landwehr vs Dooho Choi

PRELIMINARY CARD

-- Dominick Reyes vs Anthony Smith

-- Vicente Luque vs Themba Gorimbo

-- Movsar Evloev vs Aljamain Sterling

-- Randy Brown vs Bryan Battle

-- Chris Weidman vs Eryk Anders

-- Cody Durden vs Joshua Van

-- Michael Chiesa vs Max Griffin

-- Clay Guida vs Chase Hooper

-- Kennedy Nzechukwu vs Lukasz Brzeski