Israel Adesanya, the former two-time UFC middleweight champion, is expressing strong confidence in his teammate, Kai Kara-France, as he prepares to challenge Alexandre Pantoja for the flyweight title at UFC 317. Set for June 28 at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, the co-main event has Kara-France aiming to dethrone Pantoja, who has successfully defended his title three times since capturing it from Brandon Moreno in an unforgettable bout earlier this year.
Despite Pantoja entering the fight as a significant favorite, Adesanya believes that Kara-France has developed into a fighter who cannot be overlooked. Adesanya stated, “I know Kai is ready… It’s just his moment to shine.” He also recalled their previous encounter on The Ultimate Fighter years ago, where Kara-France fell short, but he noted that his teammate has since learned immensely and matured as a fighter.
In a recent video preview on his FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel, Adesanya highlighted Kara-France’s growth and claimed that Pantoja won’t be able to execute his game plan successfully against him. He specifically mentioned, “You’re not gonna out-scramble Kai. Kai will f—— win the scrambles in this fight. I guarantee you, every f—— scramble, Kai will win.”
Adding to the celebratory atmosphere of the week, Adesanya was also inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame shortly before Kara-France’s title challenge. He was honored for his legendary bout with Kelvin Gastelum at UFC 236, a match considered one of the finest in UFC history, which culminated in Adesanya securing an interim title.
As fans gear up for UFC 317, there’s a palpable excitement around both the title fight and Adesanya’s historic recognition. There’s a sense of anticipation that Kara-France could make a significant mark in his career, with Adesanya in his corner providing unwavering support.