UFC 317 results: Alexandre Pantoja submits Kai Kara-France as all-time flyweight résumé continues to build
Alexandre Pantoja is starting to look like a higher form of champion for the UFC.
The promotion's flyweight champion (30-5) submitted challenger Kai Kara-France (25-12, 1 NC) via rear-naked choke in the third round in the co-main of UFC 317 on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was his fourth title defense since taking the belt in 2023.
Advertisement
Pantoja was dominant from the opening of the first round, taking down Kara-France and nullifying his opponent's dangerous striking with a more-dangerous ground game. It was almost inevitable he found the right position for the RNC.
In many other divisions, Pantoja would already be making a case for the best ever, but he happens to be in the division dominated by Demetrious Johnson for years. He's not going to surpass "Mighty Mouse" in many eyes anytime soon, but he did break ties with the former champ for the most wins (14), finishes (8) and submissions (6) in UFC flyweight history.
Joshua Van faces off with Alexandre Pantoja after Brandon Royval win
With another title defense on the books, Pantoja can likely already guess his next opponent. In the fight before the co-main, rising star Joshua Van took on former challenger Brandon Royval and emerged with a unanimous decision win (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) in a Fight of the Year contender.
Van called for a title shot after the fight and there is little reason not to give it to him. The UFC invited Van to face off with Pantoja after the fight, and all that's seemingly left is to pick a date.
For full coverage of UFC 317, including live results, play-by-play and highlights of the entire Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira pay-per-view card, check out Uncrowned's UFC 317 hub.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
15 minutes ago
- USA Today
Sean O'Malley praises 'superstar' Ilia Topuria, glad UFC 'didn't make that fight'
Sean O'Malley admits he dodged a bullet against Ilia Topuria after a past callout never materialized. O'Malley (18-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC, the then-bantamweight champion, called for a matchup with then-featherweight titleholder, Topuria (17-0 MMA, 9-0 UFC) following a win at UFC 299 in March 2024. It didn't happen, however, and after what O'Malley witness Saturday, he's grateful. In the UFC 317 main event, Topuria knocked out Charles Oliveira in the first round to capture the lightweight belt. It was a star-making performance from "El Matador," and O'Malley could only offer praise. "Thank God he didn't accept my callout," O'Malley said on his YouTube channel. "Ilia's a f*cking superstar. ... Thank God the UFC didn't make that fight." O'Malley expressed interest in seeing Topuria face Islam Makhachev in a super fight next, but with Makhachev slated to challenge welterweight champ Jack Della Maddalena later this year, it's still in the distant future. After Paddy Pimblett entered the octagon for a staredown with Topuria at the conclusion of UFC 317, however, O'Malley said that's a fight that would have his attention. "Islam's already fighting JDM, so it's kind of pointless to even fantasize about that fight until that fight happens," O'Malley said. "Ilia vs. Paddy is the fight to make. Simple as that. 100 percent, that's the next fight if it's not going to be Ilia and Islam."
Washington Post
20 minutes ago
- Washington Post
James Wood becomes first since Barry Bonds to be intentionally walked 4 times in a game
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Washington slugger James Wood became the first major leaguer since Barry Bonds to be intentionally walked four times in a game in the Nationals' 7-4, 11-inning win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. Bonds was intentionally walked four times in four different games in 2004. The only other players since at least 1955 to be intentionally walked four times in a game are Wood, Roger Maris, Garry Templeton, Manny Ramirez and Andre Dawson — who drew five intentional passes for the Chicago Cubs against Cincinnati on May 22, 1990.
Associated Press
23 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Ace Bailey says he's 'blessed' to be with the Jazz after he fell to them at No. 5 in the NBA draft
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah was not believed to be one of Ace Bailey's preferred destinations to start his NBA career. Still, Bailey indicated Sunday that he never thought about holding out or forcing a trade after the Jazz drafted him No. 5 overall. Bailey reported to Utah after he was criticized for his approach to the pre-draft process, during which he refused to work out for teams interested in him. When asked during his introductory news conference if he considered not coming to Salt Lake City, he only expressed enthusiasm for being with the Jazz. 'Just blessed to be in the position I am,' Bailey said. Before the draft, Bailey canceled a scheduled workout with Philadelphia and declined invitations from Charlotte and Utah to work out for them. That didn't stop the Jazz from using their lottery pick on him anyway. Utah is betting the 18-year-old will unlock his potential and blossom into a prolific scorer. Joining Bailey in Utah are No. 18 pick Walter Clayton Jr. and No. 53 pick John Tonje, two other high-level scorers. 'This is a dream scenario for us,' Jazz president of basketball operations Austin Ainge said. 'These are guys we targeted before the draft with high potential and high character, and we couldn't be more excited.' Ainge believes all three rookies are multi-dimensional players who can make an impact on defense. 'These guys can play on both ends,' Ainge said. 'We're looking for the best combination of all the skills we can. But, yeah, these guys can put the ball in the hole.' Mock drafts had Bailey as a consensus top-three pick before he slid to the Jazz. The 6-foot-8 forward has a versatile offensive game. At Rutgers, Bailey showed he can shoot off the dribble, knock down step-back jumpers and attack the paint. He averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds in his lone season with the Scarlet Knights. Bailey complemented his inside game by stretching defenses with his range, shooting 34.6% from beyond the arc. 'I got great energy,' Bailey said. 'I can do everything from rebounding to defense to scoring to passing. So I can say I can bring it a lot in different ways.' Still, concerns about his scoring efficiency, ballhandling, passing, defensive intensity and maturity contributed to Bailey falling out of the top three. He's eager to prove the Jazz made the right choice. 'I trust my work,' Bailey said. 'I (put in) countless hours in the gym with everything that I do. So I trust it. Everybody makes mistakes. God didn't put us here to be perfect. So I just trust myself and just trust my process.' ___ AP NBA:
