Alexandre Pantoja might not be the UFC’s No. 1 choice for a main event, but that’s the spot he finds himself in again.

For the second time in 2024, the reigning flyweight champion has been called upon to close out a pay-per-view, and again, it’s against an unlikely challenger. This Saturday’s UFC 310 headliner sees Pantoja take on dangerous newcomer Kai Asakura, a star from Japan’s RIZIN promotion.

Pantoja beat Steve Erceg in the main event of UFC 301 this past May, a bout that was seemingly put together just so the promotion could have a Brazilian atop the Rio de Janeiro card. Regardless of the circumstances, Pantoja delivered as he has time and time again, and he can put himself in position for an even bigger 2025 if he gets past Asakura.

But what would the next challenge be for Pantoja, the No. 4 fighter in the MMA Fighting Pound-for-Pound Rankings? Alexander K. Lee, Mike Heck, and Jed Meshew got together to figure out what 2025 might hold for Pantoja, and which other fighters on the UFC 310 lineup can set themselves up for success in the new year.