“He now remembers my name”- Kai Kara France scorns Cody Garbrandt for all the disrespect before UFC 269, likens it to Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston beef
Kai Kara France says Cody Garbrandt will "Remember my Name".
Kai Kara France may have been the so-called “B-side” heading into his UFC 269 matchup with Cody Garbrandt, but he changed perceptions in relatively short order on Saturday night.
Kara France earned the most high-profile victory of his career to date, as he defeated the former bantamweight title holder via first-round technical knockout in a featured bout at the T-Mobile Arena. The City Kickboxing member floored “No Love” with an overhand right during an early exchange and then later put Garbrandt away with a salvo of heavy punches against the fence at the 3:21 mark of Round 1.
“I had to go to the body first. I know he’s got good head movement, one of the best boxers in the UFC,” Kara France said in a post-fight interview. “So I knew the head would be moving a lot, but the chest and the body, it’s gonna stay still. I had to pick my spots. Once I landed the first right hand, he’s wobbled. I thought, OK it could be finishing here. Thankfully, I was able to get a finish, another first-round knockout, another ‘Don’t Blink’ moment. Just carrying on this momentum, and it’s not too late to jump on the hype train.”
Kara-France is proud of his stoppage win over Garbrandt. He feels the former UFC champ was underestimating him and the skill level of the division. He felt very disrespected and even compares it to the Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston beef.
“He thought he was going to take over the flyweight division, so I shut that off tonight,” Kara-France said. “I might’ve retired him. That’s just what we do at City Kickboxing: We fight the best in the world, and I know we have the best in the world. We proved that tonight. It was pretty special. I’m lucky to have all my teammates and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
Kara France also gave his respect to Cody when he said, “All the respect to Cody, such a legend of the sport. But like I said in the press conferences and the weigh-ins, it’s my time. I just told him, nothing but love. I know his nickname’s ‘No Love.’ I said nothing but love and respect, you’re a legend of the sport.”
“This puts me in the line for a title shot”- Kai Kara France believes he desrves a title shot after his win at UFC 269
“I think I made a statement tonight,” Kara-France told reporters, following his win. “I took out a former champ. It’s a great story. Brandon Moreno vs Figueiredo, this will be the third time they’re fighting. I fought Brandon three years ago in 2019. It was a close fight. He’s done well since then and improved a lot, but so have I.”
He added, “I feel like the other flyweights that were ahead of me in the rankings, they’re not here tonight. I’m here. It was my show tonight, so I feel like I leaped-frogged them, and I’m next in line for the title shot.” It’s quite possible that Garbrandt — a UFC favorite — might have been fast-tracked to a title shot with a win. Kara France wants to receive the same treatment following a finish over a marquee name.
“I just knew what was stake, fighting a former champ,” Kara France said. “This puts me in line for the title. I train with world champions day in and day out. I know what it takes. I’ve just been so focused for the last four months. This is all I’ve been thinking about: getting a highlight-reel finish on a former world champion.”
Kara France is now counted by many to be worthy of being included in the title picture, as Dana White himself looks very impressed and may give him several opportunities in the future.
Kushagra Sharma
(47 Articles Published)