Kai Kara-France doesn’t think Kai Asakura deserves a UFC title shot.
Former RIZIN champion Asakura (21-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) challenges flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja (28-5 MMA, 12-3 UFC) in the UFC 310 co-main event on Dec. 7 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN2, ESPN+).
Asakura received a title shot immediately after signing with the UFC, which top contender Kara-France (25-11 MMA, 8-4 UFC) says is not right.
“They’ve got the wrong Kai,” Kara-France told Sky Sports NZ. “After my fight, I was calling for the title shot, and I was thinking, ‘Sweet, I’ve got it,’ and then I heard they’re bringing in a guy from Japan and his name is Kai. Bro, he hasn’t even fought yet. I don’t think he earns it. You’ve got to at least show your worth or do something for guys who have been grinding for years in the UFC division, fighting the best guys.
“We’ve proved that we belong here, so I don’t know. That’s just how I feel about it. It’s weird that you can come in off no fights in the UFC and get a title shot. But if it’s going to bring in more attention to this flyweight division, you know, a bit of controversy – Does this guy deserve it? – yeah, he can go out there and prove it.”
Kara-France called for a title shot after scoring a first-round TKO over Steve Erceg at UFC 305 in August. He snapped a two-fight losing skid after back-to-back setbacks to Brandon Moreno for the interim title, followed by a close split decision loss to Amir Albazi.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 310.
