This article provides a preview of the main card flyweight championship bout taking place at UFC 317 in Las Vegas, featuring champion Alexandre Pantoja against challenger Kai Kara-France. The highly anticipated fight is set to headline the event at the T-Mobile Arena.
Entering this title defense, champion Pantoja holds the prestigious No. 3 position in the MMA Fighting Pound-for-Pound Rankings, sharing the spot with bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili. His opponent, Kai Kara-France, steps into this championship opportunity as the No. 6 ranked fighter within the competitive 125-pound flyweight division.
Alexandre Pantoja boasts a professional record of 29 wins and 5 losses. He is looking to secure his fourth consecutive defense of the flyweight title. His impressive run includes successful championship victories over notable contenders such as Kai Asakura, Steve Erceg, and Brandon Royval. The accomplished Brazilian fighter has defeated nearly all significant opponents in his weight class, including two wins each over Brandon Moreno and Brandon Royval, making it challenging for matchmakers to find fresh challengers at his rapid pace. While surpassing Demetrious Johnson`s remarkable record of 11 consecutive flyweight title defenses remains a significant challenge, Pantoja is undoubtedly building a strong and memorable legacy of his own within the division.
The next fighter aiming to dethrone Pantoja is Kai Kara-France, who holds a record of 25 wins, 11 losses, and 1 No Contest. Kara-France earned this title shot following a spectacular first-round knockout victory against Steve Erceg in August. Although he didn`t accumulate a lengthy winning streak specifically for this title opportunity, Kara-France`s overall career achievements are substantial. In addition to his recent win over Erceg, he has defeated notable fighters such as Askar Askarov, Cody Garbrandt, and Tyson Nam. The upcoming bout also presents Kara-France with a chance for revenge, as he previously lost to Pantoja back in 2016 when they were both competitors on The Ultimate Fighter 24 reality series.
