MMA Match Preview: Alexandre Pantoja (29-5) vs. Kai Kara-France (25-11) – Title Fight

The flyweight division takes center stage as reigning champion Alexandre “The Cannibal” Pantoja defends his title for the fourth time against New Zealand’s Kai “Don’t Blink” Kara-France. This is a rematch nearly a decade in the making, with Pantoja having previously defeated Kara-France on The Ultimate Fighter in 2016. Now, with UFC gold on the line, both men bring evolved skill sets and high stakes into the Octagon.

Tale of the Tape

Attribute	Alexandre Pantoja	Kai Kara-France
Record	29–5 (8 KO, 11 SUB)	25–11 (12 KO, 3 SUB)
Age	35	31
Height	5’5″	5’4″
Reach	67″	69″
Stance	Orthodox	Orthodox
UFC Record	13–3	8–4
Last Fight	Win vs. Kai Asakura (SUB)	Win vs. Steve Erceg (KO)

Fighter Breakdown

Alexandre Pantoja – The Relentless Champion

Pantoja has quietly built one of the most impressive résumés in the flyweight division. Since capturing the title from Brandon Moreno, he’s defended it three times, showcasing his elite grappling, cardio, and mental toughness. He’s currently riding a seven-fight win streak, including victories over top contenders like Brandon Royval, Manel Kape, and Matt Schnell.

Strengths: Chain wrestling, back control, submission threat

Fight IQ: High-level transitions and positional awareness

Key Stat: 2.7 takedowns per 15 minutes with a 47% success rate

Path to Victory: Close distance, initiate scrambles, and dominate on the ground

Kai Kara-France – The Knockout Artist from Down Under

A product of City Kickboxing, Kara-France is known for his crisp boxing, explosive power, and elite takedown defense. After back-to-back losses to Brandon Moreno and Amir Albazi, he bounced back with a statement KO over Steve Erceg, earning his first shot at undisputed UFC gold.

Strengths: Striking accuracy, counterpunching, footwork

Fight IQ: Excellent range management and timing

Key Stat: 88% takedown defense, 4.56 significant strikes per minute

Path to Victory: Keep the fight standing, punish entries, and land clean counters

Keys to Victory

For Pantoja:

Initiate grappling exchanges early and often

Avoid prolonged striking exchanges at range

Use pressure to wear down Kara-France’s movement

For Kara-France:

Maintain distance and use lateral footwork

Defend takedowns and punish Pantoja’s entries

Stay composed in scrambles and look for counters