UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja doesn’t see too many choices for his subsequent title protection.
Pantoja (29-5 MMA, 13-3 UFC) surprisingly known as out Demetrious Johnson after retaining his belt with a second-round submission of newcomer Kai Asakura this previous Saturday at UFC 310, however Johnson isn’t taken with popping out of retirement.
A prepared and keen contender is Kai Kara-France (24-11 MMA, 7-4 UFC), who snapped his two-fight dropping skid with a first-round TKO of Steve Erceg at UFC 305. Regardless of Kara-France having misplaced two of his previous three fights, Pantoja doesn’t see a greater candidate at 125 kilos.
Pantoja already has a win over Kara-France, nevertheless it got here in an exhibition bout throughout Season 24 of “The Final Fighter.” He admits that each fighters have grown since then.
“I’m differentt, he’s totally different,” Pantoja mentioned of Kara-France on “The Ariel Helwani Present.” “Oh yeah (I’m ). For now, that’s the battle that the majority is sensible. Within the final three fights, he’s misplaced twice. However for now, after what I’ve accomplished to my division, every part doesn’t make sense anymore.
“I battle the No. 1, No. 2, high 10, then you definately usher in somebody from some place else. I feel all people has an opportunity proper now. Very good battle. Yeah, Kai Kara-France is a really thrilling battle. That’s the somebody that’s going to carry me to a different stage.”
Pantoja can also be open to testing his grappling towards undefeated Muhammad Mokaev, who lately parted methods with the UFC. Deiveson Figueiredo, who beat Pantoja in July 2019, expressed curiosity in dropping again all the way down to 125 kilos to battle him.
Nonetheless, with Kara-France being the one lively flyweight out of the three choices, that’s who the champion thinks is sensible probably the most for him subsequent.
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