Kai Kara-France Can Become The New Flyweight Champion
Source: UFC
Kai Kara-France is scheduled to take on flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja in the co-main event of UFC 317 on Saturday. Kara-France returned to the win column in his last fight after he stopped Erceg in the very first round of their UFC 305 co-main event bout, picking up a Performance of the Night bonus in the process. Prior to that bout, Kara-France lost two consecutive fights. DraftKings sees Kara-France as the underdog with a salary of $7,200.Alexandre Pantoja Set For Fourth Title Defense At UFC 317
Source: UFC
Flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja is scheduled for a rematch against Kai Kara-France in the co-main event of UFC 317 on Saturday. The two first fought back in 2016 on TUF Season 24, and Pantoja won via unanimous decision. The last time Pantoja lost was back in 2020 when he lost to Askar Askarov via unanimous decision. Since then, Pantoja has won seven fights in a row. DraftKings sees Pantoja as the favorite with a salary of $9,000.Joshua Van Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Source: UFC
UFC prospect Joshua Van will look to extend his win streak when he takes on former title challenger Brandon Royval on the main card of UFC 317 on Saturday. Van is 7-1 in the UFC after debuting in June 2023, with his lone setback being a knockout loss to Charles Johnson 11 months ago. Since then, Van has looked spectacular, winning four fights in a row. Van was last seen in action not even a month ago at UFC 316, where he defeated Bruno Silva via third-round TKO. DraftKings sees Van as a slight underdog with a salary of $8,000.Brandon Royval Looks For His Third Win In A Row
Source: UFC
Former flyweight title challenger Brandon Royval will look for his third consecutive win when he takes on UFC prospect Joshua Van on the main card of UFC 317 on Saturday. Royval was originally scheduled to fight Manel Kape, but Kape was forced to pull out due to an undisclosed reasons, so Van accepted the short-notice opportunity. The 32-year-old Royval was last seen in action in October at UFC Vegas 98 where he defeated Tatsuro Taira via split decision. DraftKings sees Royval as a slight favorite with a salary of $8,200.Renato Moicano Returns At UFC 317
Source: UFC
Former title challenger Renato Moicano will look to get back in the win column when he takes on Beneil Dariush on the main card of UFC 317 on Saturday. Moicano was originally supposed to fight Dariush at UFC 311 but got called up to the main event when Arman Tsarukyan injured himself and fell out of the title fight against Islam Makhachev. He was defeated by Makhachev via first-round submission. Prior to that bout, Moicano was on a four-fight winning streak. DraftKings sees Moicano as the favorite with a salary of $8,400.Beneil Dariush An Underdog At UFC 317
Source: UFC
Beneil Dariush is scheduled to face off against former title challenger Renato Moicano on the main card of UFC 317 on Saturday. Dariush and Moicano were initially expected to fight at UFC 311 in January, but the fight fell apart on weigh-in day when Moicano was elevated to a main event title fight against Islam Makhachev. The 36-year-old Dariush got finished in his last two fights, having suffered a first-round TKO loss to former lightweight champion Charles Oliveira and a first-round knockout loss to Arman Tsarukyan. DraftKings sees Dariush as the underdog with a salary of $7,800.Payton Talbott Looks To Bounce Back
Source: UFC
Payton Talbott will look to get back in the win column when he takes on Felipe Lima on the UFC 317 main card opener on Saturday. Talbott last competed at UFC 311, where he suffered his first professional loss to Raoni Barcelos via unanimous decision. He's earned seven knockouts and one submission win from nine wins and has claimed two Performance of the Night bonuses in the UFC. DraftKings sees Talbott as the underdog with a salary of $7,500.Felipe Lima Set To Open Up UFC 317 Main Card
Source: UFC
Felipe Lima will look to remain undefeated in the UFC as he takes on Payton Talbott on Saturday's UFC 317 main card opener. Lima was last seen in action at UFC Tampa, where he defeated Miles Johns via unanimous decision. Prior to that, he defeated Muhammad Naimov via third-round submission. Lima lost his first professional fight in 2015, but he has been undefeated since then with 14 consecutive wins. DraftKings sees Lima as the favorite with a salary of $8,700.Jamahal Hill Gets Dominated At UFC Azerbaijan
Source: UFC
Former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill suffered a unanimous decision loss to former title challenger Khalil Rountree Jr. in the main event of UFC Azerbaijan on Saturday. For five rounds, Rountree Jr. was a step ahead of Hill when it came to his striking, especially his kicks, which hurt Hill time and time again. Interestingly enough, even though Hill was knocked down multiple times, he was never in danger of getting finished. In 25 minutes of action, Hill landed 69 significant strikes. Hill is now on a three-fight losing streak. With the loss, Hill is now 6-4 with one NC in the UFC.Khalil Rountree Jr. Dominates At UFC Azerbaijan
Source: UFC
Former light heavyweight title challenger Khalil Rountree Jr. got back in the win column by defeating former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill via unanimous decision. Rountree Jr. had a dominant performance from start to finish. Throughout 25 minutes, Rountree Jr. chopped away at Hill's legs, and Rountree knocked Hill down multiple times, including twice in the third round en route to a unanimous decision victory. In 25 minutes of action, Rountree Jr. landed 102 significant strikes. With the win, Rountree Jr. has improved to 10-6 with one NC in the UFC.Rafael Fiziev Gets Back In The Win Column
Source: UFC
Rafael Fiziev returned to the win column by defeating Ignacio Bahamondes via unanimous decision in the co-main event of UFC Azerbaijan on Saturday. Prior to this bout, Fiziev was in a tough spot as he had lost his three previous fights. Fiziev had a great performance where he didn't just use his striking, but his wrestling as well. In 15 minutes of action, Fiziev landed four takedowns and 62 significant strikes. After winning the fight, Fiziev expressed his desire to fight Dan Hooker. Ignacio Bahamondes Drops Decision At UFC Azerbaijan
Source: UFC
On Saturday, Ignacio Bahamondes suffered a unanimous decision loss to Rafael Fiziev in the co-main event of UFC Azerbaijan. Bahamondes found some success in the striking department, but Fiziev was able to mix up his striking and wrestling to win the fight. In 15 minutes of action, Bahamondes landed 50 significant strikes. Prior to this bout, Bahamondes was on a three-fight winning streak. With the loss, Bahamondes fell to 17-6 as a pro and 6-3 in the UFC. Curtis Blaydes Gets Split-Decision Win at UFC Azerbaijan
Source: UFC
Curtis Blaydes got back in the win column by defeating UFC newcomer Rizvan Kuniev via split decision on the main card of UFC Azerbaijan on Saturday. In the first and the third round, Blaydes used his wrestling and clinch game to get the better of Kuniev, and Kuniev's striking won him the second round. The controversial outcome of this fight is likely to be discussed for some time. In 15 minutes of action, Blaydes landed two takedowns and 56 significant strikes. After the fight, Blaydes displayed interest in fighting former interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane.Rizvan Kuniev Unsuccessful In His UFC Debut
Source: UFC
Rizvan Kuniev suffered a split decision loss to Curtis Blaydes on the main card of UFC Azerbaijan on Saturday. It wasn't the most exciting fight, but it was a competitive one. Blaydes got the better of Kuniev in the first round, but Kuniev came back and took the second round. It was an extremely close fight, but in the end, Blaydes's wrestling got him the win. In 15 minutes of action, Kuniev landed 45 significant strikes. With the loss, Kuniev is now 13-3-1.Tofiq Musayev Submitted In His UFC Debut
Source: UFC
Tofiq Musayev suffered a first-round submission loss to Myktybek Orolbai on the main card of UFC Azerbaijan on Saturday. Musayev made his UFC debut, but he couldn't do much as he got taken down three times during the fight and was controlled. Just before the first round came to a close, Orolbai snatched up Musayev's arm and finished him via kimura submission. In 4:35 of action, Musayev landed two significant strikes. With the loss, Musayev dropped to 22-6 as a pro.