Apr 13, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Kayla Harrison reacts after defeating Holly Holm (not pictured) during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

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UFC News: Two Major Title Fights Reportedly Scheduled For UFC 316

Both divisions are set to shine brightly as UFC 316 takes shape with two blockbuster matchups that have fans buzzing with anticipation!

Apr 13, 2024; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Kayla Harrison reacts after defeating Holly Holm (not pictured) during UFC 300 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The flyweight division has come a long way since its introduction to the UFC in 2012. Once on the chopping block during the Dana White-Demetrious Johnson era tensions, it has blossomed into one of the most exciting weight classes in the promotion. The same can be said for women’s MMA, which has evolved from Ronda Rousey’s groundbreaking emergence to become a cornerstone of the UFC landscape.

Now, both divisions are set to shine brightly as UFC 316 takes shape with two blockbuster matchups that have fans buzzing with anticipation.

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Alexandre Pantoja vs. Kai Kara-France As UFC 316 Main Event

Alexandre Pantoja, the reigning flyweight champion, is reportedly set to defend his title against New Zealand’s own Kai Kara-France at UFC 316. Pantoja’s journey to the top has been nothing short of inspiring. The Brazilian secured the belt with a hard-fought victory over Brandon Moreno at UFC 290 in July 2023.

Multiple sources are telling me that the UFC is targeting Alexandre Pantoja vs Kai Kara France for UFC 316 (NOT CONFIRMED) pic.twitter.com/48tPzDa5oZ
— CovingtonArmyMMA (@CovngtonArmyMMA) February 24, 2025

He then successfully defended it against Brandon Royval. He then fought at UFC 301 against Steve Erceg and defeated him. Again recently, he fought against the new comer Kai Asakura. His record stands at an impressive 29-5, with his grappling prowess and well-rounded skill set making him one of the most formidable champions in the division’s history.

Kara-France brings his own impressive credentials to the table. The City Kickboxing standout sports a 25-11 record and has already challenged for gold once before, falling short against Moreno for the interim title at UFC 277.

Since then, he has bounced back with a KO win over Steve Erceg at UFC 305 that has thrust him back into title contention. His striking is crisp, his takedown defense has improved, and his ability to remain calm under pressure makes him a dangerous challenger.

Kayla Harrison vs. Juliana Pena As UFC 316 Co-Main Event

In the women’s bantamweight division, Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison is wasting no time making her presence felt. After a successful UFC debut against Holly Holm at UFC 300 and a win over Ketlen Viera, the two-time PFL champion is reportedly now targeted to face former champion Julianna Pena at UFC 316.

🚨FIGHT NEWS🚨

Juliana Pena vs Kayla Harrison for #UFC316 in Newark NJ June 7th

First Rep @leoguimaraesmma pic.twitter.com/u95iVqzGA9
— Kevin (@realkevink) February 24, 2025

Harrison brings an almost perfect 18-1 record to the octagon, with her lone loss coming via decision to Larissa Pacheco in the PFL. Her judo background makes her takedowns some of the most aesthetically pleasing in the sport, and her ground-and-pound is downright scary. She’s basically like watching someone play a video game with cheat codes enabled.

Julianna Pena represents the ultimate test of Harrison’s bantamweight aspirations. With a record of 13-5, Pena shocked the world when she got a win over Raquel Pennington at UFC 307 to win the title.

She hadn’t competed since July 2022 due to various injuries, but her grit and determination should never be underestimated. Her title winning performance is what makes this potential matchup so appealing!

(Image Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – Imagn Images)

Alexandre Pantoja

Juliana Pena

Kai Kara-France

Kayla Harrison

UFC 316

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!