What a performance from the #6 ranked UFC flyweight contender, Kai Kara-France who scored arguably the biggest victory of his career to date — in the form of a convincing first round knockout win over former undisputed bantamweight best, Cody Garbrandt on the main card of UFC 269. City Kickboxing mainstay, Kara-France, accompanied by teammate […]
What a performance from the #6 ranked UFC flyweight contender, Kai Kara-France who scored arguably the biggest victory of his career to date — in the form of a convincing first round knockout win over former undisputed bantamweight best, Cody Garbrandt on the main card of UFC 269.
City Kickboxing mainstay, Kara-France, accompanied by teammate and UFC lightweight, Dan Hooker in his corner, immediately forced flyweight newcomer, Garbrandt to fight from the fence in the opening exchanges, before timing the Ohio native and landing a flush shot — dropping him.
Chasing a wobbled Garbrandt down, Kara-France momentarily dropped Garbrandt again, before almost giving up a double leg takedown at the fence. Once again pressing the still rocked Garbrandt at the fence, the Auckland native knocked the former titleholder again, eventually forcing the finish and handing the latter his fifth loss in his last six UFC appearances.
Below, catch the highlights from Kai Kara-France’s win over Cody Garbrandt
Cody Garbrandt is willing to serve as a backup once his UFC 269 fight is finished.
Cody Garbrandt knows what it is like to have that UFC belt wrapped around his waist. The former bantamweight champion is now looking to add another belt to his mantl…
Cody Garbrandt is willing to serve as a backup once his UFC 269 fight is finished.
Cody Garbrandt knows what it is like to have that UFC belt wrapped around his waist. The former bantamweight champion is now looking to add another belt to his mantle. Garbrandt decided to make the drop-down to flyweight and will be making his divisional debut this Saturday at UFC 269. Even though this is s huge moment for him, he can’t help but be ready for another opportunity.
During UFC 269 fight week Garbrandt was asked if he would be willing to be on hand and serve as the backup fighter for the upcoming title bout between champion Brandon Moreno and Deiveson Figueiredo. This is what he told reporters during a media scrum.
“Oh, 100%. That’s what I told Dana, well not Dana, but I was speaking to some media prior to coming here and I said, ‘Hey, we might, on Monday morning, walk in the office and do some business.’ So if that’s what they want me to do,” Garbrandt explained. “Like I said, first and foremost I’m focused on Kai Kara-France and mauling him on Saturday night, and letting the rest fall into place.”
Garbrandt will be taking on #6-ranked Kai Kara-France at UFC 269. Kara-France has been making his way up the flyweight division since he joined the UFC back in 2018. If Garbrandt can pull out the win against the tough New Zealander, he could find himself in the top five and in a good position to fight for the title very soon. His resume as a former champ will help his case when asking for a title shot and being the backup is a good position to be in.
In the past, Figueiredo has seemed to have trouble making the 125-pound flyweight championship weight limit. If he were to miss weight and Garbrandt was on hand he could get the shot he is looking for. Either way, Garbrandt needs a win on Saturday and to come out to the bout without injury. Moreno and Figueiredo are set to clash for the third time at UFC 270.
Do you think Garbrandt has what it takes to win UFC gold in the flyweight division?
UFC flyweight contender Kai Kara-France is confident he can upset the odds when he welcomes former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt to 125 pounds at UFC 269.
On December 11, Kara-France will be looking to secure back-to-back wins for the first …
UFC flyweight contender Kai Kara-France is confident he can upset the odds when he welcomes former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt to 125 pounds at UFC 269.
On December 11, Kara-France will be looking to secure back-to-back wins for the first time since 2019. After building a five-fight winning streak, the New Zealander was signed by the UFC in 2018. Following a perfect 3-0 start to his career on MMA’s biggest stage, which included victories over Elias Garcia, Raulian Paiva, and Mark De La Rose, “Don’t Blink” fell to his first loss at the hands of current champion Brandon Moreno.
What followed was a period of inconsistency. Having rebounded against Tyson Nam in front of a home crowd at UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker, Kara-France was submitted by Brandon Royval last September. However, the 28-year-old burst back into contention with a memorable knockout against Rogério Bontorin at UFC 259 in March this year.
Kara-France Looks To Spoil Garbrandt’s Flyweight Debut
Garbrandt was considered one of the top men on the roster in 2016. After going 10-0 with nine knockouts, “No Love” faced Dominick Cruz, widely renowned as one of the best bantamweights of all time, for gold at UFC 207. With a five-round masterclass, Garbrandt secured his place on the division’s mountaintop.
Since then, the powerhouse has gone 1-4. Aside from a sole KO against Raphael Assunção, Garbrandt has fallen to losses against TJ Dillashaw, Pedro Munhoz, and Rob Font. He’ll now look to reinvent his career with a move down to 125 pounds.
During an interview with It’s Time For Sports, Kara-France discussed what it’s like preparing to face a name as big as Garbrandt’s. The New Zealander claimed a top opponent has been long overdue.
“It’s cool when the guys that, you know, I took their style and tried to put it into my fight game and now I’ll be standing across the cage from them and getting ready to throw down… I just can’t wait to get in there. I wanna test myself against the best. I’ve been asking the UFC for a high-profile fight, so, they finally gave it to me.”
Kara-France also analysed the matchup. While he described the fight as a fan-favorite stylistic clash, “Don’t Blink” suggested Garbrandt won’t have the speed advantage he’s used to when he faces flyweights. Despite being the underdog heading into his ninth walk to the Octagon, Kara-France offered a warning to bettors looking to back “No Love.”
“I guess if you know, you’re a fight fan, and you watch the UFC, you’ll know this is a great matchup. Just momentum and timing’s everything. A few years ago, Cody was the face of the UFC. He had everything, had the belt, and he was undefeated. He was part of that elite division where they were undefeated all the way until they got a title. But he never really evolved with his style. He just came forward, always swung; that’s like, his default. Whenever he gets hurt or gets clipped, he’ll resort back to swinging, which hasn’t worked out the best for him.
Image Credit: Noah K. Murray of USA TODAY Sports
“It’s one of these fights where I don’t need to worry about getting taken down. I know he’s too stubborn to do that. He’ll rather just go out on his shield than play it safe… Stylistically, we’re a great matchup. I come forward, I like to swing and kickbox. I’ve got great cardio. He’s always had the speed advantage at bantamweight, but now coming down to flyweight, he won’t have that speed advantage because we’re all fast… People, if they’re underestimating me, don’t put money on Cody, because you’re gonna lose it.”
Both men will be looking to make their case for a title shot with an impressive performance at UFC 269. In the opening pay-per-view of 2022, Moreno is set to defend his belt in a trilogy bout against Deiveson Figueiredo. While the injured Askar Askarov certainly looks to be at the front of the queue to face the victor, a convincing win for Garbrandt or Kara-France on December 11 could be enough for them to leapfrog the undefeated Russian.
Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 269, Kai Kara-France or Cody Garbrandt?
Former UFC Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt has admitted that he’s “scared” ahead of his move down to the flyweight division later this year. After over six years as part of the 135-pound weight class, Garbrandt will be dropping down in an effort to rejuvenate his faltering career. Since extending his unbeaten record to 11-0 and […]
Former UFC Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt has admitted that he’s “scared” ahead of his move down to the flyweight division later this year.
After over six years as part of the 135-pound weight class, Garbrandt will be dropping down in an effort to rejuvenate his faltering career. Since extending his unbeaten record to 11-0 and dethroning Dominick Cruz to become champ, “No Love” has lost four of his last five fights. Back-to-back defeats to T.J. Dillashaw left him beltless and on a losing skid, before a crazy first-round knockout at the hands of Pedro Munhoz succumbed him to three consecutive setbacks. A KO of the year contender in 2020 against Raphael Assunção brought Garbrandt back into the win column, but a five-round loss against surging contender Rob Font earlier this year left the 30-year-old at a crossroads.
As many expected, Garbrandt decided to work towards a flyweight switch. The division, which looked at threat of being abolished following Henry Cejudo’s departure last year, has developed into one of the exciting in the promotion. Given the opponent he’ll be facing for his divisional debut, it stands to reason Garbrandt’s first appearance at 125 pounds will fit with that narrative.
Cody Garbrandt (@Cody_Nolove) is headed to a new weight class. UFC finalizing Garbrandt’s flyweight debut against Kai Kara-France (@kaikarafrance) for an event on Dec. 11, per sources. pic.twitter.com/Vni5pZL9Vp
At UFC 269, Garbrandt will meet #6-ranked Kai-Kara France. The new Zealander never fails to entertain, and he’ll be looking to use the former bantamweight champ as a leapfrog to a shot at Brandon Moreno’s 125-pound gold. With two bonuses in his last two bouts, France will certainly be bringing the fight to Garbrandt come December 11.
In a recent episode of his Rollin with the Homies podcast, Garbrandt admitted that he has to make a statement against France. The Ohio native also suggested that he fears the unanswered questions heading into his flyweight debut. Despite that, he revealed he’s feeling good about making the new weight limit and finding success at 125 pounds.
“I’ve got to make a statement, and I’m known to,” Garbrandt said. “This is a huge fight for me, (a) huge opportunity for my career. I’m as scared of this as any fight because I’ve never made 125. I’ve never fought here. There’s a lot of unanswered questions. Just like going into the Dominick Cruz fight – yeah, I could go in there and knock him out. But could I go five rounds? Could I do this? Could I do that?
“There’s so many unanswered questions that it scares me and motivates me in the sense of doing the extra. Not that I haven’t in the past, but it’s more. You have to add more onto it, then figure it out. So I think that this will be a great weight for me. My energy levels feel good. I’ve been on a diet for about two months now, so I’ve already shaved off five to seven pounds, give or take. I’m feeling good.” (h/t MMA Junkie)
Seeing out 2021 with the lightweight gold on the line…
Per @bokamotoESPN, Charles Oliveira Dustin Poirier is a done deal for #UFC269 on December 11
UFC 269, which will be the final pay-per-view of 2021, is stacked. Alongside Garbrandt’s flyweight debut, three title fights will go down inside the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. In the main event, Charles Oliveira will look to make his first title defense against top contender Dustin Poirier. Elsewhere, Amanda Nunes will finally face Julianna Peña in their rearranged bantamweight bout. Completing the trio will be a trilogy fight between Mexico’s first UFC champ Brandon Moreno and “Deus Da Guerra” Deiveson Figueiredo.
Despite three belts being on the line after his bout, Garbrandt will be hoping to steal the show with an impressive first appearance at the lowest men’s weight class in the UFC.
Do you think Cody Garbrandt will be successful in his flyweight debut at UFC 269?
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Dustin Poirier is a done deal for 
