UFC 317’s co-main occasion is a one-to-watch as two Flyweights battle it out for championship gold.
Alexandre Pantoja defends his title in opposition to the #4 contender, Kai Kara-France, on the T-Cell Enviornment.
Each fighters have beforehand confronted one another earlier than in The Final Fighter: Season 24, the place the Brazilian received by judges’ choice.
Since 2016, the 2 125-pounders have gone from being prospects within the division to high contenders.
Regardless of Pantoja trying unstoppable, in addition to not getting the credit score he deserves, he could also be up in opposition to his hardest take a look at but.
Pantoja’s run as King of the Flyweights
The ‘Cannibal’ has been in superb kind ever since his victory in opposition to Manel Kape at UFC Vegas 18.
The Rio de Janeiro-born fighter earned himself a title shot after two consecutive submission wins over Brandon Royval and Alex Perez.
Pantoja turned the title challenger at UFC 290, dealing with two-time UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno within the co-main occasion.
In what was described as an epic brawl, in addition to an in depth battle, Pantoja received by break up choice to take the Flyweight throne.
In the identical yr the Brazilian received the championship, he defended the belt at UFC 296 in one other rematch.
This time in opposition to Royval, going to the judges’ scorecards and profitable by unanimous choice to make his first profitable title defence.
The King of the Flyweights then lastly received the possibility to struggle in his hometown, and in entrance of his house nation for the primary time in his UFC profession.
Pantoja headlined UFC 301, accepting Steve Erceg’s problem for the 125-pound title.
As soon as once more, the Rio de Janeiro combined martial artist went to the judges’ scorecards and picked up one other unanimous choice triumph.
The final victory of his present notorious run was at UFC 310, the place Pantoja as soon as once more shone in the principle occasion.
The ‘Cannibal’ took on UFC debutant, Kai Asakura, and stopped the Japanese fighter with a Rear-Bare Choke in spherical two.
After growing his profitable streak to seven, Pantoja is just at #9 within the males’s pound-for-pound rankings.
The Brazilian is ranked the bottom amongst all different UFC Champions, regardless of having the second-most title wins amongst present champions.
Simply one of many many the explanation why he’s so underappreciated as a title holder of the UFC.
Kara-France’s journey for undisputed gold
The New Zealand fighter has actually had his ups and downs; nonetheless, he has reached the place of being a Flyweight title challenger.
The rise of ‘Don’t Blink’ started at UFC 259, the place he earned himself a late first-round KO win in opposition to Rogerio Bontorin.
This is able to be his first stoppage victory after seven fights with the organisation.
The Kiwi then turned a recognisable title within the UFC when he welcomed Cody Garbrandt to the 125-pound division.
As a slight underdog, Kara-France delivered a dominant efficiency, knocking out the previous Bantamweight Champion in spherical one at UFC 269.
After defeating a fan favorite of the game, the Auckland-born combined martial artist aimed for title competition.
Kara-France elevated his profitable streak to 3 when he went the space with Askar Askarov to win by unanimous choice.
This triumph would give the New Zealand fighter a chance at interim UFC gold in opposition to Moreno.
Sadly, for the Kiwi, a brutal physique kick within the third spherical left him no alternative however to lose by TKO, lacking his likelihood to struggle Deiveson Figueiredo for the undisputed title.
It could solely go extra downhill for Kara-France as he acquired a break up choice loss to Amir Albazi at UFC Vegas 74.
A consequence that most of the MMA group believed was a theft.
‘Don’t Blink’ did come again with redemption in his subsequent struggle, knocking out Erceg within the first spherical at UFC 305.
An enormous assertion win the place many believed Kara-France earned his alternative to struggle for the undisputed Flyweight Championship lastly.
How might the title struggle play out?
Of their first conflict within the Final Fighter, each males defended one another’s sturdy attributes very nicely, however couldn’t acquire something from it.
Pantoja is a fighter who prefers to have interaction in floor battles, which is why he has earned 11 submissions in his MMA profession.
The Brazilian likes to place strain on his opponents within the Octagon and won’t be afraid to alternate strikes, like he has accomplished along with his earlier opponents.
Kara-France specialises in protecting the competition on his toes as he all the time appears to be like for that knockout shot.
The Kiwi does have an excellent takedown defence, which will probably be an vital issue heading into the co-main occasion of UFC 317.
