Pantoja defends his flyweight belt against Japanese star Kai Asakura in the co-main event of UFC 310 on Dec. 7 in Las Vegas. Asakura, a former Rizin FF champion, is getting a title shot in his promotional debut. Royval has no problem with Asakura getting the shot and, in fact, likes his addition to the UFC flyweight roster.

Following UFC 307 in Salt Lake City, the UFC returned to the Apex in Las Vegas for a UFC Fight Night card headlined by a flyweight title eliminator between Brandon Royval and Tatsuro Taira. Arguably the hottest prospect on the UFC roster heading into his second main event,

Undefeated Tatsuro Taira meets onetime title challenger Brandon Royval in the men's flyweight main event of UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas. All of the fights at UFC Apex are on ESPN+, with the main card starting at 7 p.