Manel Kape believes Kai Kara-France self-sabotaged at UFC 317 against Alexandre Pantoja.
UFC flyweight contender Kai Kara-France‘s second attempt at becoming a titleholder fell well in need of the mark against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 317.
Kara-France, who landed just 38 significant strikes against Pantoja within the UFC 317 co-main, placed on an uncharacteristically sluggish performance against the UFC flyweight champion. On the opposite side of the coin, it was one other signature showing for Pantoja, who submitted Kara-France within the third round by rear-naked choke.
It was largely one-way traffic for Pantoja in his latest UFC flyweight title defense as he continues to maneuver up the division’s leaderboards. As for Kara-France, his showing at UFC 317 prompted a robust response from one in all his longtime foes.
Manel Kape goes off on Kai Kara-France after lopsided loss at UFC 317
UFC flyweight contender Manel Kape was alleged to face Brandon Royval on the UFC 317 most important card before Kape broke his foot just weeks before the event. Royval went on to face Joshua Van right away classic, with Van earning a unanimous decision victory.
Kape and Kara-France were alleged to square off earlier of their careers at UFC 293, before Kara-France withdrew attributable to injury. The 2 flyweights nearly brawled on the UFC 293 pre-fight press conference before Kape got into it with Israel Adesanya on stage.
After one of the disappointing performances of Kara-France’s profession, Kape seized the chance to lambast his longtime adversary.
In a pre-fight post to X, Kape seemed unconcerned by Pantoja and Kara-France just minutes before the UFC 317 co-main event kicked off.
“I might murder each on same night,” Kape began.
After Pantoja choked Kara-France to sleep, Kape didn’t hold back on his longtime foe.
“Kai IQ is more lower than I used to be pondering,” Kape said.
As of this writing, Kara-France hasn’t responded to Kape’s taunts.
Kape’s UFC return timeline is uncertain, as of this writing, as he continues to get well from his foot injury. The ailment got here at an unlucky time for Kape, after recent victories over Asu Almabayev and Bruno Silva.
Van will likely get the following shot at Pantoja later this yr after his victory at UFC 317. Kara-France and Kape are on the surface of the title mix and will potentially settle their beef in a highly-anticipated grudge match.
AND STILL 🏆 🇧🇷 #UFC317
Alexandre Pantoja submits Kai Kara-France in round three! pic.twitter.com/ogmFpSLd2O
— mma_boy till last (@mmaboy_10) June 29, 2025
Kai Kara-France and Manel Kape could settle years’ long beef after UFC 317
Kara-France recently admitted that he ‘hates’ Kape, after calling him out for a showdown at UFC 305 last yr. However the fight never got here to fruition, as Kara-France went on to knock out former title challenger Steve Erceg in the primary round.
Depending on how long Kape might want to resume training, a possible matchup with Kara-France might be on the UFC matchmakers’ radar for a top flyweight showdown. Kape has won six of his last seven fights, with the lone blemish coming against Muhammad Mokaev at UFC 304 last yr.
The UFC flyweight division is arguably higher than ever, and Kape vs. Kara-France might be the most recent rivalry in one in all the UFC’s most fun roster groupings.