LAS VEGAS – Kai Kara-France is not shaken by the dominant reign of Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 317 and intends to show he’s the chosen one to take the belt.

Kara-France enters Saturday’s co-main event at T-Mobile Arena (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) with the utmost confidence he will dethrone Pantoja and take the gold back to his native New Zealand.

Pantoja has shown respect to Kara-France’s knockout power ahead of the fight, comparing him to Mike Tyson. Even if the champion acknowledges it, though, Kara-France (25-11 MMA, 8-4 UFC) said there is nothing Pantoja (29-5 MMA, 13-3 UFC) can do to stop what’s coming at him in the octagon.

“I believe in my power, my knockout power so much that sometimes when I fight guys it only takes one or two shots and you’ve found that kill shot,” Kara-France told MMA Junkie and other reporters at UFC 317 media day. “But Pantoja, I know you’re going to have to land at least 10 to 20 kill shots to get him out, and we’re prepared for that. We’re ready for the fire. I’m not taking a back step.

“I want tot meet him in the middle and I want to showcase all my skills and let him know that you can’t hurt me. I’m right in the middle and I’m going to stay in his face.”

Pantoja has never been stopped by strikes in his UFC career, but Kara-France firmly believes there’s a first time for everything. In his mind, everything has come together perfectly in his life leading into this moment.

“I’m coming into my prime and I”m coming into my carer best,” Kara-France said. “I clawed my way back to a title shot, so I’m excited for the challenge. Nothing but respect to Pantoja, but I’m not leaving Vegas without that belt.”

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 317: Kai Kara-France says Alexandre Pantoja ‘can’t hurt me’