Kai Kara-France says everything felt good while fighting Alexandre Pantoja on the floor on UFC 317 to that it didn't.
Before Ilia Topuria Charles Oliveira turned off to become a two-division Kingpin on UFC 317, Pantoja got things done in the distance itself to leave the cage with gold in his possession.
In the Co-Main event, Pantoja Kara-France submitted in round three and became the longest reigning active male UFC champion in the process.
Although the parties will be underway for 'The Cannibal' and his team, it is the opposite for Kara-France, who did not arise for the second time in his career in a UFC title and is probably confronted with a long way back to another chance.
Kai Kara-France admits that he has not shown enough 'urgency' on the ground on UFC 317
The Kiwi fly weight had for the first time affected its title ambitions at UFC 277 in the summer of 2022. Kara-France was stopped by Brandon Moreno in their battle for the interim championship.
After having fallen to a similar fate three years later, an understandably disappointed Kara-France thought about the setback during an interview with Sky Sport NZ Backstage in T-Mobile Arena.
“Hats off for Pantoja. He is the champion for a reason,” said Kara-France. “He is just tough. Bradled him a few times and he just keeps coming forward.
“I thought I was sweet until it got deeper and deeper. Before you know it … I was just stuck. That is his world on the floor, and it was just dangerous for me not enough urgency to get up.
“Just proud to represent the gym, our coaches and our team. I just want to say a big thank you for all the support at home,” added Kara-France. “It's just difficult because I have been here before … It is harder to get up every time you put so much in it.
“That's the fighting game, and I'm going to keep my head up … Live to fight another day.”
Alexandre Pantoja's next challenger has already been decided
While Kara-France licks his wounds and rates his next step, Pantoja already has a new challenge in his visor.
Just after 'The Cannibal' had recorded his fourth successful defense and wrote history as the winning flight weight in the history of UFC, the champion stood opposite Joshua van.
Van defeated Brandon Royval in a war earlier in the night and landed a late knock-down to put an exclamation mark on his short-note victory on the top-ranking competitor.
As a result, the emerging Burmese flying weight apparently jumped into line and a title shot of the back of his two wins over Back-to-Back June Pay-per-Views.