Alexandre Pantoja squares up with next challenger after impressive UFC 317 win

Pantoja Submits Kara-France In Las Vegas

The title bout between Kara-France and Pantoja was actually a rematch of their 2016 meeting on TUF, which saw Pantoja advance to the Season 24 finals with a unanimous decision victory.

Pantoja showed little fear for Kara-France's striking once the fight started, but it quickly became apparent that the Brazilian's aggression was meant as a tool to close the distance when he secured an early takedown and took the challenger's back.

Kara-France managed to get the champion off of his back but failed to get back to his feet before the first round ended, and after the pair traded strikes during the opening two minutes of the second round Pantoja brought things to the mat once again.

"Don't Blink" fought back to his feet in the second but found himself tied up against the fence to start the third round. Pantoja quickly moved to the back once again, and while Kara-France tried to fight off a rear naked choke the challenger was eventually forced to tap out.

The win extended Pantoja's winning streak to nine fights, and "The Cannibal" faced off with Joshua Van in the cage following the latter fighter's win over Royval on the UFC 317 main card,

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