The UFC flyweight title co-main event between champion Alexandre Pantoja and challenger Kai Kara-France takes place June 28, 2025, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It’s a high-stakes clash pitting Pantoja’s relentless, well-rounded finishing ability against Kara-France’s knockout power and scrappy striking style.
Alexandre Pantoja
Alexandre Pantoja is the reigning UFC Flyweight Champion and one of the division’s most experienced, dangerous finishers. With a professional record of 29–5, he’s riding a seven-fight win streak that includes three successful title defenses.
Pantoja is an aggressive, pressure-based fighter known for outstanding grappling, excellent back-taking ability, and a willingness to trade on the feet. He’s finished 19 of his 29 wins (8 by KO, 11 by submission), making him one of the flyweight division’s most reliable finishers.
Since winning the belt in a narrow split decision over Brandon Moreno, Pantoja has defeated Royval, Erceg, and Asakura in title defenses. His most recent fight was a second-round rear-naked choke submission over Kai Asakura in December 2024, showcasing his trademark back control and finishing instincts.
Alexandre Pantoja – Last 5 Fights:
1. Win vs. Kai Asakura – Technical Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) (UFC 310, December 7, 2024)
2. Win vs. Steve Erceg – Decision (Unanimous) (UFC 301, May 4, 2024)
3. Win vs. Brandon Royval – Decision (Unanimous) (UFC 296, December 16, 2023)
4. Win vs. Brandon Moreno – Decision (Split) (UFC 290, July 8, 2023)
5. Win vs. Alex Perez – Submission (Neck Crank) (UFC 277, July 30, 2022)
Pantoja’s biggest strengths are his relentless forward pressure, ability to wear opponents down, and elite grappling. But he’s also hittable, willing to brawl, and has gone to hard-fought decisions against other top flyweights.
Kai Kara-France
Kai Kara-France is the #4-ranked UFC flyweight and a perennial contender known for crisp, powerful striking. With a professional record of 25–11 (1 NC), he’s one of the division’s most proven knockout threats, boasting 12 career KO/TKOs.
Kara-France is a City Kickboxing product who relies on sharp boxing, excellent movement, and solid takedown defense. He’s no slouch on the ground (3 submission wins) but his real danger lies in timing counters and punishing opponents with clean, accurate punches.
After two tough losses to Amir Albazi and Brandon Moreno, Kara-France bounced back with a first-round TKO over Steve Erceg in August 2024 that re-established his place among the division’s elite. It also earned him a Performance of the Night bonus, underscoring his fight-ending power.
Kai Kara-France – Last 5 Fights:
1. Win vs. Steve Erceg – TKO (Punches) (UFC 305, August 18, 2024)
2. Loss vs. Amir Albazi – Decision (Split) (UFC on ESPN, June 3, 2023)
3. Loss vs. Brandon Moreno – TKO (Body Kick and Punches) (UFC 277, July 30, 2022)
4. Win vs. Askar Askarov – Decision (Unanimous) (UFC on ESPN, March 26, 2022)
5. Win vs. Cody Garbrandt – TKO (Punches) (UFC 269, December 11, 2021)
Kara-France is explosive, technical, and thrives in stand-up battles. But historically, he’s struggled against top-level grapplers who can drag him into scrambles or threaten with submissions.
Prediction
This is a classic striker vs. grappler dynamic. Pantoja’s path to victory is to pressure Kara-France, close distance, force grappling exchanges, and attack submissions. He has proven he can go five hard rounds, and his back control is among the best in MMA. Kara-France’s path is to keep the fight standing, use angles and footwork to avoid the clinch, and punish Pantoja’s aggression with clean counterpunching.
The big question is whether Kara-France can stop Pantoja’s takedowns and scrambles for 25 minutes. Historically, that’s been very difficult to do. Kara-France is dangerous early, but Pantoja is durable, patient, and relentless with his grappling.
Expect a competitive first round, with Kara-France landing some crisp shots, but Pantoja pushing forward, wearing him down, and eventually getting to the back for a finish.
Prediction:
Alexandre Pantoja def. Kai Kara-France via Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) in Round 3.
Look for Pantoja’s relentless pressure and grappling to overwhelm Kara-France as the fight goes on, ending in another signature back-take and submission.
