"When Pantoja is here, the gladiator is here. Are you entertained now?!?" So awesome.

Pantoja says he's defended the title four times now and he deserves a better ranking on the pound-for-pound list.

Joshua Van is brought in to face off with Pantoja and it looks like the champ is excited to see his next challenger.

Van says, "He's a great champion, but he's never fought Joshua Van."

Pantoja says Van deserves to fight him next.

Intense faceoff.

Alexandre Pantoja def. Kai Kara-France via submission (rear-naked choke) - Round 3, 1:55

Kara-France throwing punches as Pantoja rushes in. He just can't keep Pantoja off of him as the champion takes his back and tries to drag Kara-France to the mat. Pantoja has him on the ground again and there's the body triangle. Just a miserable experience for Kara-France, right now.

Pantoja goes for the neck, he's under the chin. Kara-France is fighting, but that just sinks in deeper and deeper. He has to tap. Pantoja does it again.

Pantoja lands a body kick. He mixes in leg kicks, the champ looking slick on the feet. Kara-France on the defensive as Pantoja rushes in and puts him on his back again. And then he takes Kara-France's back again.

The challenger does an excellent job defending and getting back to the feet this time. He was only down for about a minute. Kara-France getting loose, but as soon as he starts throwing, Pantoja is happy to fire back.

Kara-France surprisingly goes for a takedown, Pantoja stays up. He reverses and goes for a takedown, but Kara-France gets out of there. Kara-France hits the body. Pantoja lobbing that right hand from long range. Pantoja lands a knee to the body. Front kick by Pantoja backs Kara-France off.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9, Pantoja. Overall, 20-17 Pantoja.

Pantoja just charging in, just letting Kara-France punch him before ducking in for a takedown. He immediately takes the back. What a monster.

Pantoja has a body triangle locked in. He lands a few short punches before Kara-France starts to fight his hands. Pantoja not letting Kara-France do anything. Kara-France tries to scramble, Pantoja on top and he briefly threatens with an arm-triangle. Pantoja to mount. Pure domination through the first three minutes of this fight.

Quick punches on the ground by Pantoja. He looks so heavy right now. Pantoja dropping his shoulder down on Kara-France's face. He's not content to sit there either, he's looking to pass. Kara-France just in survival mode with the round coming to a close. Pantoja threatens with one more choke before the buzzer.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-8, Pantoja.

Pantoja expected to defend, he's a -265 favorite. Kara-France the underdog at +215.

Here we go, our first title fight of the night.

Just how good is Alexandre Pantoja? His title reign is expected to roll on tonight, but Kai Kara-France has all the makings of a spoiler.

Kara-France has been waiting a long time for this, so let's see how far he pushes himself in search of an upset.