UFC 310 was a fitting, action-packed end to the year for the promotion. From Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Asakura to Ian Garry vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov, the PPV lived up to the hype and delivered a blockbuster. The fight purses of the winners seem to reflect that as well.
With his rear-naked choke victory over debutant Asakura, Pantoja proved once again why he’s at the top of the flyweight division. According to estimates by Marca.com, the flyweight champ walked away with an impressive $2 million, which includes a $750,000 guaranteed salary, a $100,000 victory bonus, a $42,000 promotional bonus, and a slice of the PPV revenue.
Rakhmonov also put on a strong show against Garry in the co-main event of the evening. Fighters at his level of stardom typically earn a base salary between $150,000 and $200,000 per fight. While that seems unfair, the UFC revenue model has always been known to be lopsided for some fighters.
However, since Rakhmonov’s fight was a co-main event, he could have earned a slice of the PPV revenue, depending on the contract. With UFC 310 expected to bring in solid PPV sales, Rakhmonov’s total earnings could range from $400,000 to $600,000.
19-0
SHAVKAT RAKHMONOV REMAINS UNDEFEATED WITH A UNANIMOUS DECISION WIN AT #UFC310 pic.twitter.com/fBTOTegbJT
— ESPN (@espn) December 8, 2024
With the event now over, the natural question on everybody’s mind is: what is next for both these big winners from UFC 310?
What future holds for Rakhmonov and Pantoja?
The undefeated Rakhmonov has only one option going forward. After the win over Garry, he shared a moment with the UFC welterweight champ, Belal Muhammad. They shook hands, a symbolic prelude indeed to what’s in store next year — a title fight.
Belal would be a true test for Rakhmonov as he looks to prove himself against the best of the crop. His performance against Gerry was not exactly convincing by his own exalted standards. This was the first time in his UFC career that he failed to get a finish. Not just that, Rakhmonov spent the first two rounds clinching so much that the referee had to step in to sure both Garry and him traded blows.
In the fourth and the fifth rounds, Garry almost got Rakhmonov with submissions. So, if a striker like Garry can do that to him, a wrestler of the caliber of Belal could potentially finish him off.
Meanwhile, Pantoja, the flyweight champ, is running out of challengers. It is, no doubt, a happy problem to have.
After dominating the division and successfully defending his belt at UFC 310, Pantoja has effectively wiped out most of the top contenders.
With few fresh faces left to challenge him, the question now is whether he will be forced to wait for new talent to emerge or if he’ll seek out super fights against bigger names from other weight classes.
To keep things ticking for the champ though, the flyweight division may need former champion Brandon Moreno to step in for a grudge match against Pantoja.
