Latest news with #KaiKaraFrance
Yahoo
an hour ago
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- Yahoo
UFC 317 'Embedded,' No. 6: Touching look at Ilia Topuria, Charles Oliveira's sauna session
The UFC is back in its "Sin City" home base for International Fight Week and UFC 317, its seventh pay-per-view of the calendar year, and the popular "Embedded" fight week video series is here to document what's happening behind the scenes. UFC 317 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Advertisement In the headliner, the vacant 155-pound title is on the line between former featherweight champion Ilia Topuria (16-0 MMA, 8-0 UFC) and ex-lightweight titleholder Charles Oliveira (35-10 MMA, 23-10 UFC). Topuria vacated the 145-pound belt to move to lightweight for a shot at a title in a second division. The co-feature is a flyweight title fight between champion Alexandre Pantoja (29-5 MMA, 13-3 UFC) and challenger Kai Kara-France (25-11 MMA, 8-4 UFC). The sixth and final episode of "Embedded" follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC's description of the episode from YouTube: Charles Oliveira cuts weight with the support of Ian Garry before running into Ilia Topuria in the sauna; The athletes of UFC 317 step on the scales for official weigh-ins; Niko Price hangs out at the pool; Payton Talbott enjoys lunch after weighing in; The stars of UFC 317 face off one last time before they set foot in the Octagon Saturday night. Previous episodes of UFC 317 embedded This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 317 Embedded: Ilia Topuria, Charles Oliveira's sauna session
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC 317 full fight: Alexandre Pantoja submits Kai Asakura in his third title defense
Since Demetrious Johnson's departure from the UFC, the flyweight division hasn't seen a force as dominant as Alexandre Pantoja. Pantoja, a long time veteran of the sport, won the UFC flyweight belt in 2023, and has since defended it three times. Though this run, the Brazilian established himself as the second most successful UFC flyweight champion, behind Johnson, and one of the most dominant champions today in the promotion. Pantoja capped this run this past December with a submission win over former Rizin FF champion Kai Asakura. Advertisement You can rewatch Pantoja's latest title defense in the video (29-5 MMA, 13-3 UFC) returns to the cage this Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 317, which takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+). He faces long-time contender Kai Kara-France (25-11 MMA, 8-4 UFC) in his fourth UFC title defense. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 317 full fight: Alexandre Pantoja runs through RIZIN's Kai Asakura
RNZ News
17 hours ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
UFC 317 - Everything you need to know about Kai Kara-France's title shot
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." 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) 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. 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." 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. "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 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?" 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 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. 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 Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
2 days ago
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Manel Kape picks Kai Kara-France to beat 'too reckless, too sloppy' Alexandre Pantoja
Manel Kape predicts a new flyweight champion will be crowned at UFC 317. Alexandre Pantoja (29-5 MMA, 13-3 UFC) defends his flyweight title against Kai Kara-France (25-11 MMA, 8-4 UFC) in Saturday's co-main event (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Advertisement Pantoja has looked nearly unstoppable at 125 pounds, having already notched three title defenses over Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg, and most recently a submission of Kai Asakura at UFC 310. But with Kara-France's power, and Pantoja's walk-forward style, Kape (21-7 MMA, 7-3 UFC) thinks the Brazilian will find himself in trouble. "Honestly, I see a potential win from Kai Kara-France," Kape told Inside Fighting. "I'm not going to lie. Pantoja is a great fighter, he's a great champion. I just see his game is getting too reckless, too sloppy, and I see the game of Kai Kara-France more composed. He has some power in his right hand. "I'm not saying he can knock down Pantoja. He has that power, but Pantoja is tough. But, I don't believe Pantoja takes him down, too. Kai Kara-France has been facing better grapplers than Pantoja like (Rogerio) Bontorin, Askar Askarov. So, that's my point. Unfortunately, my odds go to Kai Kara-France. That's my read on the fight." Kape, who's coming off a TKO of Asu Almabayev in the UFC Fight Night 253 headliner in March, has been eager to settle things with Kara-France after the pair have been beefing for almost two years now. Their back-and-forth stems from Kara-France withdrawing from their UFC 293 matchup, and Kape thinks their fight could finally be rebooked after UFC 317. Advertisement "After this fight, we can run back me and Kai Kara-France," Kape said. "He's been saying a couple of things in interviews. He's getting that confidence because I'm not close to him." Kape was scheduled to compete at UFC 317 against Brandon Royval, but was replaced by Joshua Van after breaking his foot. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 317: Why Manel Kape thinks Kai Kara-France beats Alexandre Pantoja
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
UFC 317 free fight: Kai Kara-France TKO's Steve Erceg to earn title shot
Kai Kara-France's last win was a big one. Back at UFC 305 in August, Kara-France stopped former title challenger Steve Erceg. Not only did the New Zealander snap a two-fight losing streak, but he also earned a title shot out of the victory. Kara-France stayed patient, let Erceg chase and pressure him, and when the time came, he knocked down Erceg with a big overhand left and then followed up with ground-and-pound to close out the show. Advertisement You can watch Kara-France's latest win in the video above. Kara-France (25-11 MMA, 8-4 UFC) returns to the octagon this Saturday in the co-main event of UFC 317, which takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. He takes on champion Alexandre Pantoja (29-5 MMA, 13-3 UFC) in a five-round bout. This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 317 free fight: Kai Kara-France vs. Steve Erceg
