![Kai Kara-France reveals his mindset ahead of UFC 317. [Image courtesy: Getty]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2025/05/72fe3-17483227364910-1920.jpg)
![Kai Kara-France reveals his mindset ahead of UFC 317. [Image courtesy: Getty]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYH/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgP/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAMnjCa//xAAgEAACAgEDBQAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMEEQAFEgYTFiFh/9oACAEBAAE/AOnas/jW5VcwGLdUjPJky0ZjPMasns2JYm9sjlTj4df/xAAVEQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAP/aAAgBAgEBPwAL/8QAFhEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAREA/9oACAEDAQE/AFs3/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Kai Kara-France will face Alexandre Pantoja for the flyweight title at UFC 317 on June 28 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Weeks ahead of the fight, Kara-France spoke about his state of mind heading into the fight.
The Kiwi fighter previously challenged for the interim UFC flyweight title against Brandon Moreno. While he lost that bout, Kara-France earned a shot at the flyweight championship following a win over Steve Erceg at UFC 305.
In a recent interview with Combat TV, Kara-France spoke about the importance of the fight at UFC 317, saying:
"This year will be my 15th year fighting professionally, so I've been doing it for a long time. But, just doing it with more purpose and more fire. I know that this is my time to do it, with age and maturity and experience. I already fought for the belt before. I know what the pressure feels like."
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He added:
"I know what the expectations are. So, [I'm] just welcoming it, and this time around, ready for it, and just not fighting with things that aren't going your way – just letting it all flow... I'm at a great place and ready to bring back another belt to [City Kickboxing]."
Check out Kai Kara-France's comments below (4:16):
Kai Kara-France reacts to fighting on the Ilia Topuria vs. Charles Oliveira undercard
Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Kara-France are scheduled to compete in the co-main event, while Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira will headline the UFC 317 fight card.
Recognizing Topuria's strong reputation, Kara-France acknowledged the significant challenge he would face that night. During the aforementioned interview, the Kiwi fighter said:
"I don’t know the exact main event, but I’m hearing that it’s Ilia and Charles Oliveira for the lightweight title, for the card that I’ll be on. I’ll be the co-main for that. So, massive card, any fight with Ilia is going to be, you know, it’s going to be a hard one to get 'knock out of the night' because he’s probably going to get it." [9:52]
