Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France: UFC 317 Picks, Predictions and Odds

A top-class card is set for UFC 317 and one of two highly anticipated title fights is for the UFC Flyweight title and features Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Kara-France in the Co-Main Event.

UFC 317 is scheduled to take place on Saturday June 28 and will be held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The event will begin at around 6:30 PM ET, starting with the Early Preliminaries.

Following this, the Preliminaries will begin at roughly 8:00 PM ET and the Main Card at 10:00 PM ET. Fans who wish to watch this Main Card can do so by buying the Pay-Per-View package for the event through ESPN+.

Our article will focus on the Co-Main Event between Alexandre Pantoja and Kai Kara-France by giving you a full preview of the fight. This will include our two best bets and the current money line odds available for both fighters.

UFC 317: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France betting picks and predictions

Alexandre Pantoja Money Line (-250)

Our first best bet for the UFC 317 Co-Main Event between Pantoja and Kara-France will target Pantoja to win and retain his UFC Flyweight division title.

Pantoja enters this fight with an MMA record of 29-5 and 13-3 in the UFC. He most recently beat Kai Asakura by submission in December 2024, successfully defending his Flyweight division title.

In fact, Pantoja has now successfully defended his UFC Flyweight division title in three consecutive fights.

Pantoja has been a prolific striker over the course of his career, averaging 4.41 significant strikes per minute with a striking accuracy of 50%. He also has excellent defense, absorbing an average of 3.92 strikes per minute with a striking defense of 50%. 

His grappling ability is also solid, averaging 2.74 takedowns every 15 minutes. Pantoja has a takedown accuracy of 47% and a takedown defense of 68%.

Pantoja may be the heavy favorite to retain his UFC Flyweight title, but he still looks to be the best betting option. He has won his last seven UFC fights in a row, while Kara-France has been an inconsistent 4-3 over his last seven UFC fights.

Kara-France does hold the small advantage in striking volume, but has been prone to being finished.

Further, Pantoja holds the clear edge in grappling; therefore, our first best bet for the UFC 317 Co-Main Event will be for Alexandre Pantoja to win at -250.

Over 2.5 Rounds (-210)

Following up on our first best bet of backing Pantoja to win, our second best bet will focus on backing this fight to go over 2.5 rounds.

Out of Pantoja’s 16 career UFC fights, 10 have gone over 2.5 rounds. This includes three of his last four UFC fights.

As for Kara-France, he has seen eight of his 12 UFC fights go over 2.5 rounds, which also includes three of his last four UFC fights.

Pantoja has never lost by finish in his MMA career, while Kara-France has lost six times by finish.

Despite Kara-France being prone to a loss by finish, both fighters have been able to see the later rounds in many of their fights recently.

For that reason, our second best bet for the UFC 317 Co-Main Event will be Over 2.5 Rounds at -210.

UFC 317: Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France odds

Fighter	Money Line
Alexandre Pantoja	-250
Kai Kara-France	+200

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.