LAS VEGAS – Kai Kara-France wants his next shot at a UFC championship to be completely warranted.
Since falling short of the interim UFC flyweight belt against Brandon Moreno in July, Kara-France (24-10 MMA, 7-3 UFC) has had a lengthy hiatus from competition. He returns Saturday, though, when he meets Amir Albazi in the UFC on ESPN 45 headliner at the UFC Apex. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.
Kara-France was on the best run of his career going into the UFC 277 matchup with Moreno, but suffered a third-round TKO loss after taking a hard body kick that froze him. After plenty of time to mull that over, Kara-France is confident he’s rebuilt to the point he needs in order to beat Albazi.
“There’s a lot of positives we can take away from that last fight where it showed we’re right there with the best guys,” Kara-France told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a UFC on ESPN 45 news conference Wednesday. “If we went back that night and things went a bit differently, I could be there with the belt now. It’s just what happens at the highest level of sport. That’s just how it is. It’s a game of inches.
“We’ve taken away positives, we’ve worked on stuff that we need to, and I left that in the cage. I don’t take it with me. I’ve been a person to just go again. That’s been my whole career. I just keep turning up for myself and we keep building and progressing. I’ve taken losses before and I know how to build myself back up. I’m looking forward to reminding everyone and showing why I deserve to have another title shot.”
Kara-France, 30, waited for the right time to come back from the Moreno fight, because he now gets his first UFC main event. It’s not often the promotion puts a 125-pound non-title bout in such position, but after the original headliner fell through, Kara-France and Albazi got the opportunity.
For Kara-France, he’s the one who will fight downward in the rankings. Albazi is undefeated in his octagon tenure thus far and looking to break through as a title contender. Kara-France said it’s his responsibility to show he still belongs in his spot.
“Amir was the guy who was closest to my ranking and available, so these contenders that are on win streaks with momentum and hype, they want to take my spot,” Kara-France said. “I’m No. 3 (in the UFC rankings) and I welcome it. I want to fight the best guys. He’s a great fighter, he’s a great grappler, great wrestlers. He’s got momentum, but I’m here to take all that. I’m here to show him that there’s levels to this and that’s what I’m going to be doing on Saturday.”
If Kara-France wins impressively against Albazi, it’s likely title talk will be attached to his name. Moreno vs. Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 290 on July 8 is the next championship pairing at 125 pounds. Then, Brandon Royval has a strong claim to the next shot afterward.
Kara-France said he’s not overthinking where he’ll fit into the conversation, but hopes his performance will speak volumes as to where he sits in the pecking order.
“All I can do is go out and there and show my worth and show what I’m capable of,” Kara-France said. “I’m not here to rush back into a title fight. I’m just here to show everyone why I deserve it.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 45.
