“I Guarantee You…” Team Kai Kara-France Makes Rare Promise to Champion Alexandre Pantoja Ahead of UFC 317

UFC superstar adamant on his stance that the defeat of Team CKB teammate Kai Kara-France by Alexandre Pantoja is not a possibility.

“I Guarantee You…” Team Kai Kara-France Makes Rare Promise to Champion Alexandre Pantoja Ahead of UFC 317

Israel Adesanya adamant Alexandre Pantoja won’t be able to take Kai Kara-France down (Source: X)

Days removed from the UFC 317 PPV title bouts, it’s a biggie at the top order. The co-main event between Alexandre Pantoja and a stout challenger from New Zealand promises all-out action. Conditionally, Israel Adesanya thinks Kai Kara-France has a good chance of dethroning Alexandre Pantoja’s 125-pound title reign at the at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

No active UFC champion has more consecutive title defenses than Alexandre Pantoja. The Brazilian tops the list with three title defenses after longtime UFC 155-pound king Islam Makhachev [5] vacated his title for a welterweight shift.

After bagging the title from Brandon Moreno in a 2023 barnburner, “Cannibal” has logged in triple defenses against Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg, and RIZIN FC signee Kai Asakura. Alexandre Pantoja wanted to be the ‘little guy’ yet do the talking as a big PPV draw and talking point; now, he co-headlines the PPV top bill during IFW Festivity week as a heavy betting favorite.

Israel Adesanya, often coming to the support of his friend, will be cageside this weekend to support Team CKB NZ’s Kai Kara-France. The Kiwi-Nigerian sees “Don’t Blink” as a top prop that the berserker-paced Alexandre Pantoja won’t even be able to get a takedown; “Last Stylebender” even guarantees it:

I know Kai is ready, …I’m ready to watch him get crowned. … It’s just his moment to shine; When it comes to the fight, they fought each other on The Ultimate Fighter eight years ago. Kai came up short…[but] he’s learned from that. He’s been at the top now, the top of the heap…Pantoja is just tough, he’s durable…[but] you’re not gonna out-scramble Kai… Submitting Kai is not going to happen.

Israel Adesanya on his Official YT Channel (@FREESTYLEBENDER)

‘The Last Stylebender’, for his part, acknowledged Pantoja’s impressive skill-to-skill display. Hailing from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (now fighting as a Team ATT top crop from Coconut Creek, Florida), history has shown Pantoja as a BJJ phenom with unheralded talent. However, Adesanya bills that Kai Kara-France has simply evolved too much as a fighter.

The former middleweight champion has witnessed it in between padwork rounds and his TD defense in practice with coach Eugene Bareman. Hence, with the #2 and #3 fighter having duked it out already in a stylistic showcase, the No.4-ranked 125-pounder won’t be denied his moment at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. Kara-France himself presented much the same a while back.

Kai Kara-France dares Alexandre Pantoja to meet in middle at UFC 317

Kara-France enters his first UFC title fight at a great point and with prep in his life. With veteran stats of 25-11 MMA and 8-4 UFC, he has been there for much of it and has grown as a fighter. The 32-year-old orthodox fighter means to hone in on that experience so far and bring the undisputed gold home.

Counting a guard change at 170 pounds and Alexander Volkanovski’s second coming, it’d be a biggie if a third belt came to the Oceanic region. For his part, Alexandre Pantoja has lauded the power that the City Kickboxing CLASS Flyweight brings in, even billing it as a ‘Mike Tyson‘ like KO force.

Kai Kara-France poised to make history at UFC 317
Kai Kara-France poised to make history at UFC 317 (Source: X)

The Maori talent from New Zealand has also practiced BJJ since age 10 and was fascinated by TMT Striking Scholarships from a very young age. Hence, Kai Kara-France knows what he’s capable of and where he comes from. He has doused some heavy challenges, that, do whatever, the champ won’t be able to shake him down.

I believe in my power, my knockout power so much that sometimes when I fight guys it only takes one or two shots and you’ve found that kill shot, …But Pantoja, I know you’re going to have to land at least 10 to 20 kill shots to get him out, and we’re prepared for that. We’re ready for the fire. I’m not taking a back step — I want tot meet him in the middle…and I want to showcase all my skills and let him know that you can’t hurt me. I’m right in the middle and I’m going to stay in his face.

Kai Kara-France during UFC 317 media day

Missed opportunities and rough handling aside, the title challenger has clawed his way back to a top shot and is 2-2 in his last 4; Kai Kara-France wants to make use of whatever momentum he has now. According to DraftKings Sportsbooks’ early odds, Pantoja has rolled out as a moderate -245 favorite to retain gold over title challenger Kara-France, who’s a +200 underdog.

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