UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja gets a full circle type of moment when he defends his title against Kai Kara-France at UFC 317 on Saturday night.
Pantoja (29-5) and Kara-France fought on season 24 of The Ultimate Fighter with the now-champion taking the victory by decision. Just under 10 years later he defends his flyweight crown against his old foe.
“He’s so good. He have this crazy power in his hands, he can knockout all the humans in the universe,” Pantoja told reporters including Cageside Press on Wednesday.
“That’s his special gift he has. God gave him a special gift giving a lot of power in his hands. He have very good takedown defense and high level fighter. I have the opportunity to fight with the best fighters of the world.”
This fight wasn’t a surprise to Pantoja in the least. The flyweight king confirmed rumors that they he and Kara-France were messaging each other trying to get the fight made.
“After I fight with (Kai) Asakura he sent me a message in Instagram. He say, “I’m the next!”. I say I hope so brother. Kai Kara-France is a real good guy. Super humble. He look more dangerous right now because he have a family,” he said.
“That make him more dangerous. I know that because I have my family to fight (for). When the octagon’s locked Kai Kara-France don’t fight for just him anymore. He fight for his family.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Alexandre Pantoja above. He defends his title against Kai Kara-France at UFC 317 on Saturday night.
