Loads has modified because the first time Kai Kara-France and Alexandre Pantoja fought.
9 years in the past, Kara-France and ‘The Cannibal’ first met as a part of The Final Fighter 24. Almost a decade later, they’ll run it again on MMA’s largest stage, co-maineventing one of many largest pay-per-view occasions of the 12 months.
Pantoja will put his flyweight world title on the road towards ‘Don’t Blink’ at UFC 317 this Saturday evening as a part of the Worldwide Struggle Week finale in Las Vegas. And this time, Kara-France is able to show that he has what it takes to beat the Brazilian and kickstart a brand new period for the 125-pound division.
“They weren’t the identical fighters 9 years in the past,” Kara-France mentioned in an interview with MMA Junkie. “I used to be only a boy, just about figuring this factor out. Didn’t know tips on how to weight minimize, wasn’t coaching at CKB, was coaching out of Thailand again then. Lots of issues are completely different. Seeing the fighter Pantoja is now and the world champion that he’s, nothing however respect, and he’s performed superb in his profession. However each time you discuss concerning the subsequent contender within the flyweight division after my final struggle, you’ll be able to’t deny that I’m on the prime.
“It’s a recent matchup, one thing that 9 years in the past just isn’t actually related now. Individuals even forgot that we even did struggle—it’s not on our data. Everybody within the prime 5 has fought Pantoja two or 3 times; I’ve overwhelmed a man that took Pantoja to a troublesome resolution, and I assumed Steve gained that struggle towards Pantoja once they fought in Brazil. To take him out within the first spherical and to just about cement myself as one of many primary favorites—I simply needed to be affected person.
“I’ve practically been out for a 12 months now, simply ready for my time, and the universe has introduced me with this struggle to run it again. I jumped at it. I’ve been coaching since just about the beginning of the top of final 12 months, staying within the gymnasium, getting higher, and I’ve solely had one man to organize for—that’s Pantoja.”
Kai Kara-France has been working in direction of this chance for years
Coming off an enormous win over Steve Erceg, Kara-France shall be competing for an undisputed title for the primary time at UFC 317. Beforehand, he squared off with Brandon Moreno for the interim flyweight championship in March 2022, however finally got here up brief towards the Mexican-born sensation.
Kara-France additionally holds wins over Rogério Bontorin, Cody Garbrandt, and Askar Askarov. Total, he’s 8-4 contained in the Octagon, and a winner in three of his final 5.
