Alexandre Pantoja retained his UFC Flyweight Championship on Saturday night at UFC 317 with a dominant third-round submission victory over Kai Kara-France at the T-Mobile Arena.
Pantoja (29-5) overwhelmed Kara-France (24-12, 1 NC) with relentless pressure, superior grappling, and effective ground control before locking in a rear-naked choke at 3:58 of Round 3. It marks Pantoja’s seventh consecutive victory and his second successful title defense.
“I train every day to prove I belong here,” Pantoja said in his post-fight interview. “I’ve beaten the best. It’s time I’m respected like the best.”
The Brazilian champion now holds several division records, including most flyweight wins (14), most submissions (6), and most finishes (8). His victory Saturday further solidifies his place among the division’s all-time greats.
Kara-France, returning after a year-long layoff, looked competitive early with leg kicks and striking counters, but Pantoja’s takedown control and positional dominance wore the challenger down. The finish came shortly after Pantoja secured back control during a scramble.
After the fight, Pantoja called for more recognition from both the UFC rankings and the public, suggesting his resume is often overlooked.
“I’ve fought everybody and I never back down. I don’t talk trash – I perform,” he said.
In a notable post-fight moment, rising contender Joshua Van entered the cage to face off with Pantoja, signaling a possible next title bout. Van recently upset Brandon Royval earlier in the evening, positioning himself as the division’s newest title challenger.
Despite speculation that Pantoja could move up to bantamweight, the champion made it clear he intends to continue defending his title at 125 lbs.
UFC 317 also featured a lightweight title bout in the main event, where Ilia Topuria captured his second UFC belt after knocking out Charles Oliveira in dramatic fashion.
Pratiksha
Pratiksha is a writer specializing in WWE and UFC coverage, combining her expertise as a fitness professional with a passion for combat sports journalism. She focuses on delivering accurate, insightful, and timely content that keeps fans updated on the latest events, fighter profiles, and industry news.
