Tag: Kai Kara-France

Cody Garbrandt Makes Flyweight Debut Against Kai Kara-France

Cody GrabrandtCody Garbrandt is finally making his long rumored drop down to the flyweight division a reality. The former UFC bantamweight champion has teased the move for quite some time. After starting his career 11-0, including a title-winning performance against Dominick Cruz, Garbrandt lost 3 straight before rebounding with win over Raphael Assuncao at UFC 250. […]

Cody Grabrandt

Cody Garbrandt is finally making his long rumored drop down to the flyweight division a reality.

The former UFC bantamweight champion has teased the move for quite some time. After starting his career 11-0, including a title-winning performance against Dominick Cruz, Garbrandt lost 3 straight before rebounding with win over Raphael Assuncao at UFC 250. He was then expected to make his flyweight debut in a title fight against then-champion Deiveson Figueiredo, but a severe case of COVID-19 put an end to those plans. Garbrandt would instead stay at 135, but suffered a decision loss to Rob Font in the main event of UFC Vegas 27 in May.

Now, his official move to 125 is schedule to take place against Kai Kara-France in December. Brett Okamoto initially broke the news on Twitter.

Kara-France is seeded at #7 in the UFC Official Rankings. He made his way to the UFC after appearing on The Ultimate Fighter, and started off 3-0 in the promotion. He is just 2-2 in his last 4, but is coming off a first-round knockout victory over Rogerio Bontorin in March and has picked up performance bonuses in his last 2. Like Garbrandt, he is known for his stand-up prowess, owning 10 victories by way of knockout.

If the fight does stay together, Garbrandt and Kara-France should be a near lock for ‘Fight of the Night’. They both prefer to keep the fight standing, combining for 23 finishes in 34 wins. The fight should provide both men with some understanding of where they stand in the division, with the winner being close to a title opportunity.

The December 11 event does not yet have a name or location. That should be made available once more fights are announced for the card.

Who do you think wins between Cody Garbrandt and Kai Kara-France? Let us know!

Cody Garbrandt Set To Make His Flyweight Debut On Dec. 11 Against…

Cody Garbrandt is ready for his flyweight premiere, Mr. DeMille. After several months of talk, speculation, and publicized intentions, Cody “No Love” Garbrandt is officially ready to venture into flyweight territory. ESPN reported late Monday night tha…

Cody Garbrandt is ready for his flyweight premiere, Mr. DeMille. After several months of talk, speculation, and publicized intentions, Cody “No Love” Garbrandt is officially ready to venture into flyweight territory. ESPN reported late Monday night that Garbrandt will be making his flyweight debut on December 11 against Kai Kara-France. Garbrandt and a horde of others […]

Continue Reading Cody Garbrandt Set To Make His Flyweight Debut On Dec. 11 Against… at MMA News.

UFC 259 Bonuses: Kara-France, Medic, Nzechukwu & Ulberg

UFC 259UFC 259 was hyped to be one of the biggest PPV events of the year, and for the most part, it delivered in an emphatic fashion. However whilst the main card had some impressive performances, most notably Amanda Nunes’ clinical finish of Megan Anderson, all of the events bonuses took place on the prelims. However, […]

UFC 259

UFC 259 was hyped to be one of the biggest PPV events of the year, and for the most part, it delivered in an emphatic fashion. However whilst the main card had some impressive performances, most notably Amanda Nunes’ clinical finish of Megan Anderson, all of the events bonuses took place on the prelims.

However, with six finishes out of ten fights, it is clear to see why. Petr Yan and Aljamain Sterling’s high paced bantamweight title fight would likely have found a place in the post-fight bonuses, had Yan not landed an illegal knee that led to him being disqualified. Israel Adesanya and Jan Blachowicz’s much anticipated main event fight was somewhat of a lacklustre affair, becoming somewhat of a point fighting matchup up for most of the bout.

Fight Of The Night

There are debatably several fights that could have contested for this post-fight honour, but it was Kennedy Nzechukwu’s KO victory over Carlos Ulberg that claimed the award. Ulberg came out incredibly aggressive, appearing to hurt Nzechukwu early with a barrage of strikes. However, Kennedy survived, and it soon became apparent that Ulberg only appeared to have one thought on his mind, relentless pressure.

Unfortunately, he did not have the cardio or defence to maintain such a gameplan. After having some success towards the end of the first round, Nzechukwu came into the second looking like the considerably less fatigued of the two. As Nzechukwu being pressing forward, Ulberg’s only defence appeared to be reactionary head movement, as he left his hands at this hips. As has been seen on many other occasions, reactions can only keep you safe for so long. Once Ulberg’s back was against the cage, Nzechukwu landed a brutal hook that dropped the New Zealand native.

Performance Of The Night

Uros Medic made an instant impression on the 155lb division, as he put a completely one-sided beat down on Aalon Cruz. Medic dropped Cruz early and swarmed him on the ground. After landing repeated ground and pound to a clearly concussed Cruz, referee Mark Smith eventually called the fight off. A clearly star stuck Medic then gave one of the more unique post-fight interviews with Joe Rogan.

Performance Of The Night

Kai Kara France put on one of the most memorable comeback performances in recent memory to pick up the second FOTN award. Rogerio Bontorin was able to take Kara France down early and secured a body triangle. From there he began working a rear-naked choke, which the commentary team thought was going to result in an early stoppage. However, Kara France continuously hand fought, eventually breaking free with 20 seconds to go. From there he lived up to his nickname ‘Don’t Blink.’ A rapid flurry of strikes led to the walk-off KO for the CKB flyweight and a much deserved post-fight bonus.

Did the right people get bonus cheques at UFC 259?

Kai Kara-France Scores Comeback Knockout Win Over Rogerio Bontorin – UFC 259 Highlights

Kai Kara-FranceTonight seems to be the night of the comeback win. City Kickboxing striker, Kai ‘Don’t Blink’ Kara-France has notched the facilties’ first victory of the night — rallying to knockout Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu player, Rogerio Bontorin with a bizzare walk-off knockout. Almost succumbing to a number of rear-naked choke attempts from the active Brazilian, Kara-France gave […]

Kai Kara-France

Tonight seems to be the night of the comeback win. City Kickboxing striker, Kai ‘Don’t Blink’ Kara-France has notched the facilties’ first victory of the night — rallying to knockout Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu player, Rogerio Bontorin with a bizzare walk-off knockout.

Almost succumbing to a number of rear-naked choke attempts from the active Brazilian, Kara-France gave up his back on multiple occasions midway through the first round. Hand fighting and keeping his composure, the Kiwi eventually returned to his feet — and sensing a sway in the direction of the fight, sprang with a massive right hook.

Following up with a big uppercut, Kara-France then dropped Bontorin with just five seconds left in the opening round, before wheeling away in celebration, as Bontorin momentarily face-planted, as some confusion grew. Returning following his victory lap, Kara-France attempted to land another ground striker, however, referee, Herb Dean eventually waved the fight off.

Below, check out Kara-France’s comeback knockout win over Bontorin.

UFC 253: Adesanya vs. Costa Bonuses

AdesanyaEarlier tonight (Saturday, September, 26th. 2020) UFC 253: Adesanya vs. Costa took place from the Flash Forum on ‘Fight Island’ on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Taking main event status, UFC middleweight champion, Israel ‘The Last Stylebender’ Adesanya lodged the second successful defence of his ever-growing middleweight legacy, with a rather one-sided knockout win […]

Adesanya

Earlier tonight (Saturday, September, 26th. 2020) UFC 253: Adesanya vs. Costa took place from the Flash Forum on ‘Fight Island’ on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Taking main event status, UFC middleweight champion, Israel ‘The Last Stylebender’ Adesanya lodged the second successful defence of his ever-growing middleweight legacy, with a rather one-sided knockout win over challenger, Paulo ‘The Eraser’ Costa. Scoring a multitude of leg kicks to a seemingly gunshy, Costa – the City Kickboxing mainstay managed to draw some claret from the right eyebrow of the Belo Horizonte native with a left head kick, before countering with a check left hook – resulting in a knockdown. Leaping to guard, Adesanya rained down with strikes, forcing referee Jason Herzog to jump to Costa’s defence.

In our first of two title fights of the night, Poland crowned their newest UFC titleholder, as Jan Blachowicz claimed vacant light heavyweight spoils with a crushing second-round knockout win over Californian striker, Dominick ‘The Devastator’ Reyes. Ripping the body with a stiff kick on the end of multiple combinations, Blachowicz managed to stop Reyes with strikes in the pocket in the second-round – finishing up with ground-and-pound to claim the 205-pound throne.

Taking Fight of the Night bonuses, our flyweight main card clash between exciting contenders, Kai ‘Don’t Blink’ Kara-France, and Brandon ‘Raw Dawg’ Royval. In an explosive back-and-forth in the opening frame, both scored quickfire knockdowns, with Royval connecting with a spinning back-fist, as Kara-France found home with a massive right hand. Surviving an early guillotine attempt, the latter fell victim early in the second frame, with Royval submitting the New Zealand native with a second-round attempt. Royval adds Kara-France to a debut Octagon victory over one-time title challenger, Tim Elliott in May of this year.

In the first of our two Performance of the Night bonuses, the above named, B?achowicz scored the light heavyweight crown as well as an additional $50,000 payday. The former KSW light heavyweight best extended his undefeated run to four-fights off the back of his finish of Reyes, adding the Hesperia native to a winning streak which includes recent Bellator signing, Corey Anderson, and former Strikeforce middlewieght champions, Jacaré Souza, and Luke Rockhold.

Despite former two-time gold holder, Jon Jones vacating the throne in search of spoils a division higher in a long-awaited move, B?achowicz still called for a pairing with the former, with Jones sitting front-row during the Pole’s UFC Fight Night Rio Rancho demolition of the above mentioned, Anderson.

Taking our final bonus of the night with Performance of the Night spoils, curtain-closer, Adesanya. Following up his rather forgettable March title defence opposite multiple-time title challenger, Yoel ‘The Soldier of God’ Romero – Adesanya was back to his sparkling best with a second-round battering of Costa.

Brandon Royval Wraps Guillotine on Kai Kara-France After Firefight – UFC 253 Highlights

RoyvalFormer LFA flyweight best, Brandon ‘Raw Dawg’ Royval continues his rise in the UFC. The Factory X mainstay scores his second win under the promotion’s banner, with a quickfire second-round guillotine win over Kai Kara-France. In an absolute barnburner in the opening round, both Kara-France and Royval dropped each other in the space of mere […]

Royval

Former LFA flyweight best, Brandon ‘Raw Dawg’ Royval continues his rise in the UFC. The Factory X mainstay scores his second win under the promotion’s banner, with a quickfire second-round guillotine win over Kai Kara-France.

In an absolute barnburner in the opening round, both Kara-France and Royval dropped each other in the space of mere seconds, with the former uncorking a massive right-hand before the latter found a home for a spinning back-fist.

Threatening with a brief guillotine attempt in the opening-frame, Royval readjusted in the second round when the opportunity opened once more, triangulating his guard before forcing a tap from the gritty, Kara-France.

Expect Royval to leapfrog the top-ten, and lay claim to Kara-France’s #7 rank come the release of the updated rankings next week.

Below, check out the highlights from Royval’s second Octagon success.