Tag: UFC Flyweight Division

Kai Kara-France Slams UFC For Awarding Title Shot To Newcomer Asakura

Kai Kara-France recently condemned the UFC’s decision to grant a title shot to Kai Asakura in his promotional debut. It’s a rare occurrence for a fighter to step into the Octagon for their first fight in a title bout, yet that’s precisely the path Asakura will take as he is set to challenge reigning flyweight […]

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Kai Kara-France recently condemned the UFC’s decision to grant a title shot to Kai Asakura in his promotional debut.

It’s a rare occurrence for a fighter to step into the Octagon for their first fight in a title bout, yet that’s precisely the path Asakura will take as he is set to challenge reigning flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja in the co-main event of UFC 310. This exciting matchup is set to take place on December 7 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

However, Kara-France, who was campaigning for a title shot himself after his first-round knockout victory over Steve Erceg at UFC 305, voiced his disapproval of Asakura receiving an immediate opportunity to fight for the belt.

During a recent interview with Sky Sport NZ, “Don’t Blink” stated that the 31-year-old Japanese fighter did not deserve a shot at UFC gold. He expressed that it feels unjust for dedicated fighters in the 125-pound category, who have put in the hard work to rise through the ranks, to be overlooked for a title shot.

“They’ve got the wrong Kai,” Kara-France said. “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’s Kai. Bro, he hasn’t even fought yet. I don’t think he deserves 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 proven 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. Hey, but if it’s going to bring in more attention to the flyweight division, you know, a bit of controversy, if this guy deserves it, yeah, he can go out there and prove it.”

Kara-France challenged for the interim flyweight title against former champion Brandon Moreno at UFC 277 in July 2022 but fell short, suffering a third-round TKO. The 31-year-old Kiwi has been a fixture in the UFC since 2018, compiling a respectable 8-4 record.

After signing an exclusive deal with the UFC, Asakura vacated his two-time RIZIN bantamweight championship, where he was a standout for nearly six years. He compiled an impressive record of 13-3 in the promotion, securing victories over notable opponents like Kyoji Horiguchi, Juan Archuleta, and Manel Kape.

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Pantoja’s Coach: Title Defense Against Former Two-Weight Champion ‘Doesn’t Make Any Sense’

UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja’s coach, Marcos “Parrumpa” da Matta of American Top Team, recently weighed on the potential opponents for “The Cannibal’s” title defense upon his return to the Octagon. Pantoja successfully defended his title for the second time with a commanding unanimous decision victory over Steve Erceg in the main event of UFC […]

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UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja’s coach, Marcos “Parrumpa” da Matta of American Top Team, recently weighed on the potential opponents for “The Cannibal’s” title defense upon his return to the Octagon.

Pantoja successfully defended his title for the second time with a commanding unanimous decision victory over Steve Erceg in the main event of UFC 301 this past May in front of his home crowd at the Farmasi Arena in Rio de Janeiro.

During a media interaction at UFC International Fight Week in June, Pantoja told journalists that he is already negotiating a major fight for his return against an opponent that “no one expects.”

While the Brazilian remained tight-lipped about the specific contender, his coach now has a particular name in mind…

‘Parrumpa’ Plays Matchmaker For Pantoja

During a recent interview with Sherdog.com, da Matta delved into the potential opponents for Pantoja’s next fight. The seasoned MMA coach highlighted that the most logical contender for Pantoja is the undefeated Japanese flyweight sensation Tatsuro Taira.

“I think that the most natural names will be—I mean, I think, to be honest, that the name that makes more sense right now is Tatsuro Taira,” da Matta said. “Because he’s already had some fights in the UFC; he finished [Alex] Perez. I’m not gonna say it was a fluke, but it was an injury. Nonetheless, it was a finish.”

He also explained why other contenders, such as Amir Albazi and former two-division UFC champion Henry Cejudo, do not make sense for Pantoja’s next title defense.

“I don’t think Albazi is ready. He’s been a long time getting hurt, trying to get better, so I don’t think he’s in a position to go for a title shot. His last fight was a while ago, and a lot of people thought he lost… I think Cejudo doesn’t make any sense for the UFC because he retired when he was on top. He beat Dominick Cruz, which was amazing, then retired. He came back, wasn’t that great, lost, and went back to retirement. Now he’s going to come back in the weight division below 135 [pounds] and fight for the belt? And then what happens if he wins? Is he going to defend, or is he going to retire again?”

Following his TKO victory over Perez at a Fight Night event in June, Taira expressed his desire for a title shot against “The Cannibal” in 2024, aiming to become the first Japanese champion in UFC history. He is set to headline an upcoming event at the UFC Apex against former title challenger Brandon Royval on October 12.

Continue Reading Pantoja’s Coach: Title Defense Against Former Two-Weight Champion ‘Doesn’t Make Any Sense’ at MMA News.

Sean O’Malley On Muhammad Mokaev’s UFC Expulsion: ‘Make The UFC’s Life Hell For Fight Week…’

Sean O’Malley recently weighed in on the UFC’s decision to release Muhammad Mokaev following his fight with Manel Kape at UFC 304. Mokaev managed to secure a unanimous decision victory over Kape last month in a bout that was fraught with trouble from the start. The tension between the two flyweights began at the hotel, […]

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Sean O’Malley recently weighed in on the UFC’s decision to release Muhammad Mokaev following his fight with Manel Kape at UFC 304.

Mokaev managed to secure a unanimous decision victory over Kape last month in a bout that was fraught with trouble from the start. The tension between the two flyweights began at the hotel, where they engaged in a heated altercation. “The Punisher” later confessed to instigating the clash by sucker-punching Kape. Their animosity continued to flare up, with the pair nearly coming to blows at several media events during the fight week.

After defeating Kape, Mokaev revealed that his UFC contract had come to an end and expressed optimism for a renewal. However, during the UFC 304 post-event presser, UFC CEO Dana White announced that the undefeated Russian would not be offered a new deal and would instead be released from the promotion.

White clarified that it wasn’t Mokaev’s performance or fighting style that led to the decision but rather a series of off-the-Octagon issues that made the matchmakers hesitant to extend another contract offer.

Mokaev admitted that his behavior was met with disapproval and issued a public apology to the UFC through a series of posts on X. Despite his contrition, White and the organization held firm in their decision, and he has now been removed from the official flyweight rankings.

“Sugar” speculates that a major reason behind Mokaev’s removal from the UFC might have been his seemingly lackluster performance against Kape…

O’Malley Finds Mokaev’s Release ‘A Bit Surprising’

During a recent episode of the TimboSugarShow, O’Malley and his coach, Tim Welch, discussed Mokaev’s removal from the UFC roster. The reigning UFC bantamweight champion admitted that he found it a bit shocking that a young, undefeated prospect was released.

However, he speculated that Mokaev’s antics and underwhelming performance in the cage might have played a significant role in the decision.

“It is surprising, though, because he’s 25 [years old], and he’s one of the few fighters I can name off the top of my head,” O’Malley said. “He’s 7-0 in the UFC, so it is a little bit surprising. But yeah, also, if you’re going to go in there and make the UFC’s life hell for fight week, and then go in there with only four punches thrown in the first round—they were separating them in the Octagon before the fight even started. Then the bell rings, and three punches were thrown in the first round.”

Mokaev recently claimed that he has already made amends for his past mistakes and even offered to fight for free if the UFC gives him another shot at redemption.

However, “The Punisher” soon hinted that he was already in discussions with another promotion about joining their ranks. Recently, he dropped another clue, suggesting that he has officially signed on, posting an image on X of a new pair of MMA gloves with the caption: “New gloves, same goal.”

Continue Reading Sean O’Malley On Muhammad Mokaev’s UFC Expulsion: ‘Make The UFC’s Life Hell For Fight Week…’ at MMA News.

Kai Kara-France Suggests Muhammad Mokaev’s Fighting Style Made UFC Release Inevitable: ‘This Isn’t Doing The Bare Minimum Just To Win…’

Kai Kara-France recently suggested that Muhammad Mokaev’s grappling-centric approach was a key factor leading to his release from the UFC. Mokaev secured a unanimous decision victory over Manel Kape in their heated grudge match at UFC 304 last month. The intense rivalry between the two flyweight contenders spilled over into an eventful fight week, marked […]

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Kai Kara-France recently suggested that Muhammad Mokaev’s grappling-centric approach was a key factor leading to his release from the UFC.

Mokaev secured a unanimous decision victory over Manel Kape in their heated grudge match at UFC 304 last month. The intense rivalry between the two flyweight contenders spilled over into an eventful fight week, marked by several unsightly confrontations and even a brief physical altercation.

Despite earning his seventh consecutive victory in the Octagon, UFC CEO Dana White revealed during the UFC 304 post-fight press conference that “The Punisher” would not be re-signed.

White clarified that the decision to release Mokaev wasn’t merely due to his perceived uninspiring fighting style but was largely influenced by a series of out-of-competition issues that made the matchmakers reluctant to offer him a new contract.

Mokaev acknowledged that his conduct was out of line and issued a public apology to the UFC through a series of posts on X. Despite his remorse and even offering to fight for free, the MMA promotion remained steadfast in their decision, leading to his removal from the official flyweight rankings.

“Don’t Blink,” who is slated to co-headline the UFC 305 card this weekend at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia, against Steve Erceg, believes that Mokaev’s release is justified…

Kara-France Takes Aim at Mokaev After UFC Release: ‘This Is The Hurt Business’

During the UFC 305 media day on Wednesday, Kara-France shared his thoughts on the current landscape of the UFC flyweight division and his upcoming bout against Erceg. The former interim title challenger emphasized that the division is wide open, with a title shot up for grabs for anyone who delivers a strong performance against top-tier opponents.

“It’s a funny time for flyweights, especially as contenders, because it’s wide open—anyone can beat anyone, and anyone can get a title shot,” Kara-France said. “When I told my coach Eugene [Bareman] and my manager Ash [Ashley Belcastro] I want to fight on this Perth card, Steve’s name came across the table, and straight away we knew this was the fight to take. We want to fight the guys that just fought for the belt, and that’s how I took it back to fighting for a world title—take him out in his hometown, and look, whoever’s the champ when it’s time to go, that’s the clear pathway.”

“Don’t Blink” went on to comment on Mokaev’s departure from the UFC, suggesting that it was largely due to his fighting style. He emphasized that in MMA, it’s not just about winning—it’s about putting on a show. Fans and the promotion want to see fighters who are willing to leave it all in the Octagon and truly entertain.

“There’s been a lot of guys that have come through and done really well. Mokaev is a guy that was obviously winning, but this isn’t wrestling, this isn’t grappling, this isn’t doing the bare minimum just to win—this is an entertainment sport, this is the hurt business. If you’re not in there to entertain and lay it all on the line, people want to see that heart, that courage, that willingness to go all in and get the knockout. Or not just the knockout, but go in there and show why you should be co-headlining, not on the prelims. That’s why Steve and I are in this position because that’s what we do—we go out there and fight, not just talk about it and build it up.”

Kara-France is returning to the Octagon after a year-long hiatus following a controversial split-decision loss to Amir Albazi in June 2023. The 31-year-old New Zealander is currently on a two-fight skid, which also includes a TKO defeat at the hands of Brendon Moreno during their interim title clash at UFC 277 in July 2022.

“Don’t Blink” is eager to reverse his fortunes and reclaim his spot in the title conversation with a decisive victory over Erceg this weekend.

Continue Reading Kai Kara-France Suggests Muhammad Mokaev’s Fighting Style Made UFC Release Inevitable: ‘This Isn’t Doing The Bare Minimum Just To Win…’ at MMA News.

Cody Garbrandt & Team Hints At Move To 125-pound division

Former UFC Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt has hinted towards a move down to the flyweight division on social media. Garbrandt was last in action at UFC Vegas 27 against fellow contender Rob Font. Despite going the distance and perhaps proving tha…

Former UFC Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt has hinted towards a move down to the flyweight division on social media. Garbrandt was last in action at UFC Vegas 27 against fellow contender Rob Font. Despite going the distance and perhaps proving that his chin isn’t as weak as believed, “No Love” was comfortably beaten on the […]

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Brandon Moreno Reveals What Figueiredo Must Do Before Trilogy Fight

UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno has revealed what Deiveson Figueiredo has do in order to earn a trilogy fight. Moreno was crowned champion when he defeated the Brazilian at UFC 263 earlier this month. “The Assassin Baby” submitted Fig…

UFC Flyweight Champion Brandon Moreno has revealed what Deiveson Figueiredo has do in order to earn a trilogy fight. Moreno was crowned champion when he defeated the Brazilian at UFC 263 earlier this month. “The Assassin Baby” submitted Figueiredo with a third-round rear-naked choke, and in doing so, he became the first Mexican-born champion in […]

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