UFC 310 featured a No. 1 contender fight, a title fight debut and much more.
While the card lacked the flashy finishes many may have expected, the night was capped with an impressive title defense by men's flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja, who beat UFC newcomer Kai Asakura in the main event. Also, the card featured some notable contests, including one finished with a rare D'Arce choke thanks to Vicente Luque.
After each pay-per-view, we break down and assess the quality of each fight and the fight card itself based on the skill displayed, competitiveness and what is at stake. We look at all 14 fights of UFC 310, including the high-stakes co-main event between welterweights Shavkat Rakhmonov and Ian Machado Garry and Pantoja welcoming Asakura to the UFC.
Flyweight: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura
Result: Pantoja defeats Asakura by second-round submission
Grade: A-
Pantoja cemented his place as the best flyweight in the world today with a dominant performance against the debuting Asakura. Although there were concerns that Asakura's striking would present problems for the champion, Pantoja cut through those concerns within seconds of the opening round by pressing forward and applying pressure to the former Rizin bantamweight champion. The second-round finish was a Pantoja special where he closed the distance, took his opponent's back and worked in a rear-naked choke. Asakura had no answer for the Brazilian's grappling and was put to sleep. There are clearly levels to this and Pantoja continues to distance himself from the opposition with another exceptional performance.
Welterweight: Vicente Luque vs. Themba Gorimbo
Result: Luque defeats Gorimbo by first-round submission
Grade: B
This was a reminder that Luque is one of the most prolific finishers in the welterweight division. Also, what better way to send a message that he's back than collecting another submission with a D'Arce choke? Gorimbo was overmatched from the moment the fight started and was put out to pasture in under a minute.
Lightweight: Clay Guida vs. Chase Hooper
Result: Hooper defeats Guida by first-round submission
Grade: B
This wasn't a very competitive fight between lightweights separated by 17 years of age. Hooper was brilliant, overwhelming his opponent with striking and takedowns. Guida didn't have room to breathe and was smothered by Hooper from the moment the fight started. Hooper put a bow on a strong performance by taking Guida's back and swiftly transitioning into an armbar that Guida had no chance of getting out of. Hooper appears to be reaching his final form and you can point to this performance as proof that the 25-year-old is on the cusp of breaking out.
Heavyweight: Kennedy Nzechukwu vs. Lukasz Brzeski
Result: Nzechukwu defeats Brzeski by first-round TKO
Grade: B
New weight class, no problem. Two fights at heavyweight and two first-round knockouts for the "African Savage." Carrying a clear speed advantage over Brzeski allowed Nzechukwu to patiently pick his opponent apart. A straight left hand was followed by a thudding right hook to put Brzeski down and out. Heavyweight is probably where Nzechukwu should have always been and this fight showed what he can do.
Welterweight: Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Ian Machado Garry
Result: Rakhmonov defeats Garry by unanimous decision
Grade: B-
For two and a half rounds, this fight was trending toward being a dud. Part of this can be blamed on Rakhmonov and Machado Garry's history as training partners. Eventually, Rakhmonov woke up and got Machado Garry's attention in the fourth round with top control and some added ground and pound. Still, this was a far cry from "The People's Main Event" that many thought it would be. The real drama came in the final round when Machado Garry snaked around to Rakhmonov's back and fished for a rear naked choke that nearly ended the fight. But Rakhmonov fought his way out of the choke and finished strong to punch his ticket to challenge Belal Muhammad for the welterweight championship.
Flyweight: Joshua Van vs. Cody Durden
Result: Van defeats Durden by unanimous decision
Grade: B-
Between the takedown defense and the crisp combinations, Van made it look easy against Durden. It took the 23-year-old -- and ESPN's No. 8 fighter under age 25 -- a round to realize he had a striking advantage and then he went to work cutting down Durden with combinations to the head and body. The only thing missing was a finish, which was no fault of Van, as he valiantly tried to get the durable Durden out of there. Van seems to have moved past his knockout loss to Charles Johnson and is becoming one to watch at flyweight.
Featherweight: Dooho Choi vs. Nate Landwehr
Result: Choi defeats Landwehr by third-round TKO
Grade: B-
This was arguably the most complete performance of Choi's career, as he owned every aspect of the fight. The usually game Landwehr was overmatched from the outset and was stung repeatedly by Choi's striking in the opening round. "The Korean Superboy" showcased a new wrinkle in his game in Round 2 when he mixed in takedowns and demonstrated improvement in the ground game. To cap it all off, Choi trapped Landwehr in a crucifix in the third round and rained down punches and elbows until the fight was stopped.
Featherweight: Aljamain Sterling vs. Movsar Evloev
Result: Evloev defeats Sterling by unanimous decision
Grade: C+
If you enjoy grappling, this fight is for you. If not, too bad. Instead of Evloev and Sterling neutralizing each other's high-level grappling which results in a sloppy striking affair, the two engaged in a nip-and-tuck grappling match full of frantic scrambles. Evloev proved to be the more dominant grappler, refusing to give up ground to the former bantamweight champion and controlled much of the action. There would be no highlight reel moments but it was one of the better showdowns between grapplers in the UFC.
Featherweight: Bryce Mitchell vs. Kron Gracie
Result: Mitchell defeats Gracie by 3rd round KO
Grade: C+
This fight was on the verge of getting the dreaded "F" due to Gracie's unwillingness to strike and repeated attempts to pull guard. Mitchell was left having to tread water in Gracie's world of grappling. Fortunately, "Thug Nasty" had enough of Gracie trying to bring the fight to the mat and slammed him hard to the canvas in the third round when the Brazilian attempted to pull guard. A short elbow later and it was lights out. It's a chore to get to the finish, but the ending made it almost worth enduring.
Light Heavyweight: Anthony Smith vs. Dominick Reyes
Result: Reyes defeats Smith by second-round TKO
Grade: C
A tale of two former title challengers heading in opposite directions, Reyes steamrolled Smith before the fight was mercifully called to a halt in the second round. Reyes' resurgence continues as he begins to inch back to his championship form after dropping four straight fights. As for Smith, the battle-tested warrior has seen better days and admitted that his time may be up. It wasn't particularly fun to watch Smith get beaten up, but there's nothing to take away from Reyes's performance.
Welterweight: Michael Chiesa vs. Max Griffin
Result: Chiesa defeats Griffin by third-round submission
Grade: C
The first two rounds were nothing to write home about, as Griffin spent the majority of the fight fending off Chiesa's aggressive takedown attempts. The striking exchanges weren't pretty either, but that's never been Chiesa's calling card. Eventually, Chiesa forced the fight to the canvas -- where he had a distinct advantage -- worked his way to Griffin's back and sank in a rear-naked choke to pick up a win on his 37th birthday.
Catchweight: Chris Weidman vs. Eryk Anders
Result: Anders defeats Weidman by second-round TKO
Grade: C-
It's becoming increasingly difficult to watch Weidman compete as a shell of the dominant force he was a decade ago. Neither fighter set the world ablaze in this fight, as both looked slow throughout. But Anders reversed position after a failed Weidman guillotine attempt in Round 2 and banged away at the former champion until the fight was mercifully stopped. Weidman has a lot of pride, but it might be time to hang up the gloves. Knockout wins don't usually get this low of a grade, but this wasn't fun or exciting to watch.
Heavyweight: Ciryl Gane vs. Alexander Volkov
Result: Gane defeats Volkov by split decision
Grade: D
This was a largely forgettable rematch where the result was just as baffling as the fight. Surprisingly, Gane set his lauded striking to the side to engage in some unnecessary grappling. He tried a guillotine and a heel hook that, unsurprisingly, didn't work. Interestingly enough, Volkov appeared to win the striking exchanges and landed a wicked spinning backfist that got a rise out of the crowd. But it was ultimately an underwhelming return bout between highly regarded heavyweight finishers. And then the decision where somehow two judges awarded the fight to Gane? Disappointing.
Catchweight: Randy Brown vs. Bryan Battle
Result: Battle defeats Brown by split decision
Grade: D
One of the more intriguing prelim fights between rising welterweights ended up underwhelming. Whenever it felt like business was about to pick up between Brown and Battle, a clinch on the cage fence would stall the action. The fight didn't live up to the hype and the unpopular decision for Battle left the crowd feeling unfulfilled. One thing is certain: Battle will get your attention on the mic. Too bad the fight didn't match his post-fight speech. I expect that both will have far better performances moving forward.
UFC 310 fight card grade: C
Sometimes, fight cards don't jump off the page with name recognition but deliver inside the Octagon. This wasn't one of those times. Between a pair of head-scratching decisions, a few fights that performed well under expectations and a one-sided main event, this won't be a fight card that anyone will be rushing back to watch again.