At UFC 317, the highly anticipated flyweight title will be on the line as Alexandre Pantoja prepares to face off against Kai Kara-France, a challenger he has previously defeated. The event, scheduled for June 28, has garnered significant attention, particularly due to the lightweight title fight between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira. However, the return of one of the UFC's most dominant active champions in the co-main event has been somewhat overshadowed.
Alexandre Pantoja has established himself as the premier active flyweight in the UFC, but he faces a formidable opponent in Kai Kara-France, who possesses the ability to shift the momentum of a fight in an instant. What many fans may not recall is that these two fighters have already squared off inside the UFC Octagon during their time on ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ (TUF).
Both Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Kara-France earned their spots in the UFC after showcasing their skills on season 24 of 'The Ultimate Fighter'. This season featured top flyweight talent from around the globe, with the ultimate winner gaining a shot at the then-champion, Demetrious Johnson. Unfortunately for both fighters, neither emerged victorious, as Tim Elliott ultimately claimed the title fight with 'Mighty Mouse'. However, Pantoja and Kara-France faced each other in the quarter-finals.
During their two-round exhibition bout, Pantoja demonstrated a strong grappling game in the first round, taking an early lead. Although he didn't come close to finishing Kara-France, he showcased effective control. Conversely, Kara-France found some success in the second round, landing strikes and defending against Pantoja's takedowns, but it wasn't sufficient to secure him the round. Pantoja continued to land effective kicks from the outside, maintaining his advantage.
In the aftermath of their encounter, UFC CEO Dana White expressed his disappointment regarding the performance of both fighters. He noted that Pantoja, after gaining some success in the first round, opted for a more cautious approach to ensure victory, while Kara-France, reluctant to be taken down, failed to engage aggressively. White remarked, “In round 2, Kai knows he’s got to get more aggressive if he’s going to win this fight. So, he tries to throw some bombs but Alexandre countered very effectively with some of his kicks. At the same time, Kai was able to defend Alexandre’s takedowns, so neither fighter really did much of anything.”
After the fight, Alexandre Pantoja admitted that he fought ‘strategically’ to minimize the risk of injury. Competing in a tournament format like ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ requires not only the ability to win but also to stay healthy for subsequent rounds. Prior to facing Kara-France, Pantoja had defeated Brandon Moreno, who would later become a notable rival. Reflecting on his performance, Pantoja stated, “I was a little hesitant to come out looking to trade. I’m still a little hurt from my last fight, and if I hurt myself even more, it would be hard to advance to the semifinal. So, I fought a more strategic, calm fight. I believe that all my years of experience paid off in this instance.”
Ultimately, Pantoja was eliminated in the semifinals after losing a unanimous decision to Hiromasa Ogikubo, but his experience from that season has undoubtedly shaped his approach as he prepares to defend his title at UFC 317.
