Kai Kara-France is aware of what it feels wish to be counted out.
This Saturday evening, ‘Don’t Blink’ will look to flip the script and rating the most important win of his blended martial arts profession when he challenges Alexandre Pantoja for the UFC flyweight world championship. All of it goes down at UFC 317 when the promotion places a cap on its annual Worldwide Combat Week festivities in Las Vegas.
Because it stands, Pantoja is a -240 favourite to go away ‘Sin Metropolis’ along with his 125-pound crown intact.
Being an underdog is nothing new to Kara-France, however with the entire of New Zealand standing behind him, ‘Don’t Blink’ is able to take the flyweight throne by drive and kickstart a complete new period contained in the Octagon.
“I’ve at all times been counted out, at all times been the underdog,” Kara-France advised MMA Preventing. “Individuals have been overlooking me my complete life, and right here I’m, nonetheless combating, nonetheless getting a world title. This combat’s larger than me due to what I’m bringing into this—I’m not simply being a fighter, I’m bringing my complete nation behind me, my tradition, and placing that on the highlight, bringing that to the world stage.
“That’s what’s fueling me—I’m hungry, centered, and able to get this achieved.”
Kai Kara-France and Alexandre Pantoja run it again practically a decade later
After seeing some struggles contained in the Octagon towards Brandon Moreno and Amir Albazi, Kara-France bounced again with an enormous first-round knockout towards one-time title challenger Steve Erceg in August. Total, the Kiwi is 8-4 underneath the UFC banner, together with notable wins towards Rogério Bontorin, Cody Garbrandt, and Askar Askarov.
He’s 3-2 in his final 5, whereas Pantoja rides into his fourth flyweight title protection on a seven-fight win streak courting again to early 2021.
Their conflict at UFC 317 will function a rematch 9 years faraway from their first-ever assembly on The Final Fighter 24 in 2016. Pantoja gained the quarterfinal bout by way of choice earlier than being eradicated within the semifinals.
