On UFC 317, the flight weight title will be on the line if Alexandre Pantoja wants to beat a challenger that he has once defeated before.
Much of the conversation that leads until 28 June is aimed at the lightweight title fight between Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira.
As a result, the return of one of the most dominant active champions of the UFC in the Co-Main event was somewhat under the radar.
Alexandre Pantoja has proven to be the best active flight weight on the planet, but in Kai Kara-France he is confronted with an opponent who can change the trajectory of a fight in an instant.
What a lot of fighting fans may have forgotten, which is not surprising, considering how the fight has taken place, is that they have already confronted in a UFC indemna.
Dana White was not impressed by the first fight between Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Kara-France on 'Tuf'
Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Kara-France both went on their way to the UFC selection to play on season 24 of 'The Ultimate Fighter'.
The series collected top flying weight talent from all over the world with the winner of the season and earned a chance for UFC champion Demetrious Johnson.
Neither Pantoja nor Kara-France emerged, in which Tim Elliott earned the title fight with 'Mighty Mouse', but their paths came over in the quarterfinals.
In their two-round exhibition function, Pantoja was able to have some success with his wrestles in the first round that he saw the leadership, even if he did not come close to finishing his opponent.
Although Kara-France had some success in the second with landings and denied the removal of Pantoja, it was not enough to win him, with his Brazilian opponent good work by landing from outside.
When recovering the fight during episode 8, Dana White was critical of their performances.
The UFC CEO claimed that, after having had some success in the first round, only what he needed to lift his hand and Kara-France, who did not want to be taken down, did not open.
“In round 2, Kai knows that he should become more aggressive if he is going to win this fight. So he tries to throw some bombs, but Alexandre was very effective with some of his stairs. At the same time, Kai was able to defend Alexandre's Takedowns, so neither of them really did a lot of everything.”
Alexandre Pantoja admitted after the fight that he was 'strategically' moisture to prevent injuries
Although winning a fight in all possible ways is clearly the most important thing, avoiding injuries is also vital in competing in a tournament format such as 'The Ultimate Fighter'.
Alexandre Pantoja defeated Brandon Moreno, who would become his flight weight rival, in his first fight in the show before he was confronted with Kai Kara-France.
The Brazilian, who was the #1-ranking choice on the series, admitted immediately after the fight that he was trying to win without taking too many risks to give himself the best possible chance in the future.
“I was a bit hesitant to come out to exchange. I am still a bit injured in my last fight and if I hurt myself even more, it would be difficult to continue to the semi -final. So I fought a more strategic, calm fight. I believe that all my years of experience in this case have been paid off.”
Pantoja would be eliminated in the semi -final after losing a unanimous decision to Hiromasa Ogikubo.