The people shaping UFC 310’s December T-Mobile Arena main event booking

Dana White booked the final pay-per-view of the ESPN+ era with a bold, almost reckless gamble. He granted Kai Asakura an immediate title shot against flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 310, held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on December 7. This move is rare for a promotional newcomer; only Joe Soto received a similar chance in 2014 after replacing an injured Renan Barao. White sees something special in Asakura, who is attempting to become the first Japanese UFC champion in his debut fight. The $79.99 price tag for current subscribers reflects the high stakes of this "one-of-one" style matchup.

The card construction and fighter dynamics

The main event setup forced a significant reshuffle of the welterweight division. Shavkat Rakhmonov was originally scheduled to defend his belt against Belal Muhammad, but Muhammad withdrew due to injury. That left Rakhmonov facing Ian Machado Garry in a co-main eliminator bout. Both fighters are undefeated, with Rakhmonov holding an 18-0 record and Garry sitting at 15-0. Garry stated he will take Rakhmonov’s zero and secure the belt, showing clear confidence despite their mutual respect. The rest of the card includes heavyweight giants Ciryl Gane and Alexander Volkov, plus a featherweight clash between Movsar Evloev and Aljamain Sterling.

You know the PPV model is dying, so I appreciate that White kept the pricing steady for this specific card. The prelims started at 6 p.m. ET, leading into the main card at 10 p.m. ET. The early atmosphere was electric, driven by the historic nature of the main event. However, the undercard felt thin compared to the headline attraction. Anthony Smith and Dominick Reyes fought in the prelims, but neither name carried enough weight to justify the full broadcast time. I would skip watching the early bouts if you only care about the title picture. The focus remains entirely on whether Asakura can dethrone Pantoja or if the veteran champion retains his gold.

The broader context and future implications

White’s decision to book this fight signals a shift in how the UFC handles international talent. With Rei Tsuruya and Tatsuro Taira also entering the company, Japan is becoming a primary market for fresh blood. The State Department recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the UFC to use the sport as a soft-power ambassador. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that the UFC reaches over 1 billion households across 165 countries. This diplomatic angle adds another layer to the December 7 event, though it did not influence the specific pairing of Pantoja and Asakura. The real question is whether the immediate title shot strategy works for Asakura or if it becomes a cautionary tale for other newcomers.

White has already moved on to planning the July 4, 2026, White House event. He confirmed the fight will happen on the South Lawn, with Ivanka Trump helping manage logistics. The deal with Paramount, worth $1.1 billion annually starting in 2026, changes the financial landscape for all fighters. Royalty payments now cover 20 to 30 percent of merchandise sales, providing a new income stream beyond fight purses. The transition from ESPN to Paramount means all content moves to streaming, eliminating traditional pay-per-view fees for most cards. Yet, the December 7 event remains the last true PPV of the old era. I wonder if the next generation of champions will emerge from these high-risk, immediate title shots or if the promotion will revert to a safer, step-by-step approach.