Kai Kara-France faces Brazilian Alexandre Pantoja in the Octogan. Photo: Photosport
UFC 317
Alexandre Pantoja v Kai Kara-France
UFC flyweight title
Approx 4pm Sunday, 29 June
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas
Live blog updates on RNZ
Kai Kara-France gets to run it back - almost a decade after the fact - this time with gold on the line.
The Kiwi flyweight gets a second shot at immortality in Las Vegas on Sunday, when he meets Brazilian champion Alexandre Pantoja.
Is it Kai's time to be king or will 'The Cannibal' devour the Kiwi, as he has the rest of the division?
"I've been a professional 15 years now fighting, 15 years to prepare for this," Kara-France told RNZ.
"Something I've got in my back pocket is 13 knockouts in the flyweight division, where there's not many knockouts.
"Pantoja's never been finished in the UFC, never been knocked out. I want to be the first one to do it.
"I know I've got that in my back pocket, waiting for him, ready to land that shot."
About the fighters
Alexandre 'The Cannibal' Pantoja
Age - 35
Nation - Brazil
Record - 29 wins, 5 losses
Height - 1.65m (5ft 5in)
Weight - 57kg (125lb)
Reach - 173cm (68 inches)
Kai 'Don't Blink' Kara-France
Age - 32
Nation - Aotearoa NZ
Record - 25 wins, 11 losses
Height - 1.63m (5ft 4in)
Weight - 57kg (125lb)
Reach - 175cm (69in)
Snapshot
Kara-France (Waikato-Tainui, Ngaati Kahungunu, Ngaati Tuwharetoa, Te Atihau-nui-A-Paparangi, Ngarauru, Ngaati Koata, Ati Awa) is 1-2 in his last three trips to the Octagon, but is no stranger to the title picture.
The Kiwi has fought for the interim title, losing by TKO to Brandon Moreno at UFC 277 in July 2022. After finding some early success, Kara-France took a brutal kick to the liver, sending him crumbling to the canvas.
"Before that, it was probably my best round," he said. "I cut him.
"His face was all bloodied and bruised, but he's a tough guy. He's a fighter and he did well to capitalise on that moment, getting underneath my elbow and took my breath away.
"It just showed that I'm right there with the best guys and how close this division is. Anyone could beat anyone."
Pantoja (29-5) will be looking for a fourth consecutive defence, after taking the title from Moreno, and seeing off challenges from Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg and Kai Asakura.
First fight
This won't be the first meeting between Kara-France and Pantoja - they squared off in a two-round exhibition bout in 2016, with Pantojo winning by unanimous decision.
"A lot's happened since nine years," Kara-France said. "He's obviously become a world champion.
"I've progressed in my career, I've found my feet where I'm knocking guys out and living up to my nickname."
Nine years later, the rematch takes place on one of the biggest cards of 2025.
"It's a cool storyline, I get to run this back.
"We have shared the Octagon and I felt his power, felt his world-class jujitsu, and I did well in that fight to scramble and get back to my feet.
"Standup was quite equal, but it's all different now. I think I've refined my skillset to know that I can take out most guys.
"I was a boy back then, I'm a man now. I know what I'm fighting for."
Who did they most recently fight?
Kara-France's most recent appearance was an emphatic TKO of Australian contender Steve Erceg last August. With 60 seconds remaining in the first round, 'Don't Blink' landed a massive overhand left that starched the Australian in front of his Perth faithful.
Meanwhile, Pantoja is riding a seven-fight winning streak - his most recent was a dominant dismantling of Japanese prospect Kai Asakura at UFC 310 on December 7.
Pantoja decisively derailed the hype train, ending it by rear naked choke just two minutes into round two.
What are they saying?
"I haven't had an undefeated record, I've built my way up, I've had to fight for it.
"When you've tasted it - all the wins, the losses, the speed bumps - when you get in there, you're unshakable, because you've tasted it all.
"I'm going out there to attack this and I'm ready for a fight. I know Pantoja is going to be tough and come forward, but I feel like that's what's going to make him vulnerable and it's going to leave openings where I can find that shot.
"Thirteen knockouts on my record, about to be 14 - I'm bringing that belt back home." - Kai Kara-France.
"He has this crazy power in his hands, that's his special gift,
"I have the opportunity to fight with the best fighters in the world, now I have a Maori warrior, that's super cool. He [Kara-France] sent me a message on Instagram saying, 'I am next' and I said, 'I hope so brother'.
"He's super humble, he looks more dangerous now he has a family, he doesn't fight for just him anymore." - Alexandre Pantoja
Chasing Māori history
Kara-France said, when he steps into the Octagon, he brings the warrior spirit of all his ancestors with him.
"I channel it when I step in there, and it gives me a lot of clarity and gives me clear intentions that I can do this.
"When I'm in there, there's no team to hide behind, but I'm not alone. I have all my tipuna [ancestry] behind me and it just allows me to kind of go inwards.
"I don't have to go looking for answers. It's always in me, it's my identity, it's my anchor.
"Fighting is my mahi, it's what people know me as, but long before I was a fighter, that's the reason why I'm a fighter, is because of my ancestors.
"That's the blueprint I go off, because they would've been navigating all these challenges that they've had to go through. I'm very proud of it, being unapologetically Māori, and what better way than to become the first flyweight Māori champion?
"If I don't do it, who else will?"
What will happen?
Two incredibly technically sound fighters, this will be a battle of wills, as much as skills.
Kara-France's best chance to steal the strap will be finding Pantoja's chin and shutting the lights out. We know the City Kickboxing product possesses plenty of power, but the deeper he enters, the more comfortable Pantoja will get and 'The Cannibal' may just eventually break the Kiwi's world class defence.
Prediction - Pantoja by submission
Who else is on the card?
With the greatest fighter on the planet making the move to welterweight, Islam Makhachev has left his lightweight throne vacant.
Making their claim to the crown will be division stalwart Charles Oliveria and the former featherweight king Illia Topuria.
Do Bronx v El Matador, Brazil v Spain, power puncher v submission specialist - brace for a banger.
UFC 317 main card
Ilia Topuria v Charles Oliveira for vacant UFC lightweight title
Alexandre Pantoja (c) v Kai Kara-France for the UFC flyweight title
Brandon Royval v Joshua Van at flyweight
Beneil Dariush v Renato Moicano at lightweight
Payton Talbott v Felipe Lima at bantamweight
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