Alexandre Pantoja placed on a completely dominant showcase earlier than tapping out Kai Kara-France within the third spherical to defend his flyweight title within the UFC 317 co-main occasion.
The flyweight champion was higher on the toes and on the bottom but it surely was his world class Brazilian jiu-jitsu that acquired the job finished after he dragged Kara-France to the canvas and utilized a nasty rear-naked choke to safe the submission win. Together with his arms wrapped tight, Kara-France was grimacing and had no alternative however to faucet or fall asleep with the battle coming to an finish at 1:55 within the third spherical.
“[Feeling] wonderful,” Pantoja mentioned after his newest win. “I like to make this present for everyone. Are you entertained, now? Numerous guys know I’m going to that place. However I’m nonetheless evolving. That’s my fourth title protection. I feel I deserve a greater rating pound-for-pound.”
Pantoja barely acquired an opportunity to have a good time as a result of new No. 1 contender Joshua Van was instantly introduced into the octagon to face off with him after he gained a possible Combat of the Yr in opposition to Brandon Royval simply minutes earlier than the co-main occasion began.
“He’s an amazing champion however he ain’t by no means fought Joshua Van,” Van mentioned after shaking fingers with Pantoja.
For his half, Pantoja saved smiling and gave Van credit score for a job nicely finished to place himself in place to battle for the flyweight championship.
“He deserves to battle for the title subsequent,” Pantoja mentioned about Van.
Earlier than he strikes onto his subsequent challenger, Pantoja first needed to vanquish Kara-France and he did that in convincing style with a lopsided efficiency from begin to end.
Pantoja got here out swinging immediately, inviting Kara-France to commerce bombs with him on the toes but it surely was all only a set as much as get inside to grab a takedown. A cut up second later, Pantoja was already on the again with a physique triangle locked on Kara-France the place he began to use his grappling recreation.
Kara-France managed to scramble free however Pantoja almost locked on an arm-triangle choke earlier than leaping again on prime to take care of management. Pantoja saved making use of stress, peppering Kara-France with punches and knees to the physique as his domination continued earlier than almost touchdown a rear-naked choke simply earlier than the primary spherical ended.
On the toes, Pantoja was affected person however punishing as he blasted Kara-France with punches after which actually began to harm him with kicks to the physique and legs. That led to a different takedown for Pantoja however to his credit score, Kara-France defended nicely and managed to get again to his toes this time round.
Nonetheless, Pantoja was touchdown the more practical strikes together with a nasty knee up the center that clipped Kara-France as he tried to seek out some method to flip the tables on the champion.
Because the third spherical began, Pantoja closed the gap and dragged Kara-France to the canvas once more the place he instantly locked up one other physique triangle. In a blink of a watch, Pantoja discovered a gap to sink within the rear-naked choke and as a lot as Kara-France tried to battle the fingers, he ultimately couldn’t resist any longer and he was pressured to faucet out.
Pantoja has now efficiently defended his title 4 occasions and he’ll try to go for No. 5 with Van already awaiting him as the following contender in line.
