Reigning champion Pantoja (29-5 MMA, 13-3 UFC) will go for his fourth defense when he meets Kara-France (25-11 MMA, 8-4 UFC) in the co-headliner of Saturday's card at T-mobile Arena ( ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).

LAS VEGAS – Alexander Pantoja and Kai Kara-France were locked in at their first UFC 317 fight week faceoff following Thursday's pre-fight press conference.

Kai Kara-France expects to capture gold at UFC 317, but he acknowledges the durability of current champion Alexandre Pantoja.