In a display of absolute dominance, **Alexandre Pantoja** successfully defended his flyweight championship against **Kai Kara-France** in the co-main event of UFC 317. The champion secured a decisive submission victory in the third round.
Pantoja proved superior in both striking and grappling exchanges throughout the fight. However, it was his renowned Brazilian jiu-jitsu that sealed the win. After taking Kara-France down to the mat, Pantoja expertly locked in a tight rear-naked choke. Trapped with his arms secured, a grimacing Kara-France had no alternative but to tap out, ending the contest at 1:55 of the third round to avoid losing consciousness.
Reflecting on his performance, Pantoja shared his excitement: “Amazing. I love to make this show for everybody. Are you entertained, now?” He acknowledged that many opponents anticipate his grappling approach but stressed his continued evolution as a fighter. “That’s my fourth title defense,” Pantoja added. “I think I deserve a better ranking pound-for-pound.”
Pantoja`s moment of triumph was quickly followed by the appearance of the new number one contender, **Joshua Van**. Van entered the octagon for a face-off immediately after his own impressive victory over **Brandon Royval**, a bout that occurred just minutes before the co-main event and is considered a potential “Fight of the Year.”
Facing the champion, Van delivered a direct statement: “He’s a great champion but he ain’t never fought **Joshua Van**.”
Pantoja, maintaining a smile, reciprocated with praise for Van`s performance and recognized his achievement in earning the next shot at the title.
About Van, Pantoja stated clearly, “He deserves to fight for the title next.”
Before looking ahead to Van, Pantoja first had the challenge of **Kai Kara-France**. He overcame this hurdle in convincing style, delivering a lopsided performance that controlled the fight from the opening bell to the finish.
The fight began with Pantoja pressing forward, seemingly inviting a striking battle. This, however, was a strategic setup to close the distance and secure an early takedown. Within moments of hitting the canvas, Pantoja transitioned to Kara-France`s back and locked in a body triangle, initiating his dominant ground game.
Although Kara-France managed to scramble out of immediate danger, Pantoja remained relentless. He transitioned to attempt an arm-triangle choke before regaining top control. Pantoja maintained constant pressure, landing strikes including punches and knees to the body, dictating the pace and position. He nearly secured the rear-naked choke submission towards the very end of the first round.
In the second round, Pantoja continued his patient yet damaging striking attack. He connected with sharp punches and began targeting Kara-France`s body and legs with powerful kicks, visibly impacting his opponent. Pantoja secured another takedown, but this time, Kara-France showed resilience, defending well and managing to return to his feet.
Despite getting back up, Kara-France struggled to find his rhythm while Pantoja landed the more significant strikes. A particularly nasty knee up the middle landed cleanly as Kara-France attempted to shift the momentum in his favor.
Entering the third round, Pantoja wasted no time, quickly closing the distance and taking Kara-France down for the third time. He immediately secured another body triangle. In a rapid sequence, Pantoja found the opening he needed and cinched in the rear-naked choke. Despite Kara-France`s valiant efforts to fight the grip, the pressure was too much, forcing him to tap out.
With this victory, **Alexandre Pantoja** now boasts four successful title defenses. His next challenge is already set, with **Joshua Van** awaiting him as the clear number one contender for the flyweight crown.
