MMA: Kiwi UFC flyweight Kai Kara-France shines in Shenzhen

Kiwi Kai Kara-France wanted a statement win at UFC Shenzhen on Saturday night - and he did exactly that, negotiating a game Mark De La Rosa for his most comprehensive UFC victory to date.

The 26-year-old Aucklander produced a head-turning display of diverse striking, using his speed to win the scrambles and repel the American's takedown attempts on his way to a third consecutive victory in the Octagon.

'Don't Blink' lived up to his nickname, dropping De La Rosa in the second round with a heavy overhand right that would've put weaker chins to sleep, then dipping into his full kit of kicks through a high-tempo contest to make the rest of the division sit up further and take notice.

And as he'd spelled out before the fight, 'Don't Blink' wasted no time campaigning to be added to the UFC 243 card - along with City Kickboxing stablemates Israel Adesanya and Dan Hooker - and singling out an old foe for a chance at revenge.

“Pretty much everyone that’s in front of me, I’ve got eyes on,” Kara-France said afterwards. “But you know what fight really speaks out to me - it’s Alexandre Pantoja.”

“If he’s not injured, I’d love to have a quick-turnaround fight in five weeks in Melbourne.”

The Brazilian got the better of Kara-France during their time on The Ultimate Fighter reality show, prevailing in a quarter-final match-up, via unanimous decision.

Currently ranked fourth in the UFC's official divisional standings, Pantoja is the only fighter in the top five without a fight booked, making him the perfect fit for a showdown at the likely history-making event in Melbourne next month.

SHENZHEN, CHINA - AUGUST 31: (R-L) Kai Kara-France of New Zealand punches Mark De La Rosa in their flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre on August 31, 2019 in Shenzhen, China. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC)
Photo credit: Getty

“I’m in this sport to make money and I’m in this sport to fight,” Kara-France said. “That’s the best way to climb the ranks, is stay active. 

"If he’s available and he wants to fight, let’s run it back.

“It should have gone to the third round back then when we fought. We’re completely different fighters now. 

"Obviously he’s done really well in his career. Now I have to make a little momentum - eight-fight winning streak, three in a row in the UFC."

His coach during his TUF tenure was Henry Cejudo - the division's current champion and a fighter making headlines for anything but fighting in recent months, including a bizarre call-out of women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko.

Kara-France has been open with his distaste for what he described as "ridiculous" antics. He insists the respect is there, but that's the belt he's coming for - eventually.

"I'm just taking it one fight at a time - I’m not looking past. 

"People are saying, ‘Do you want to fight Henry Cejudo?’ Obviously, I want to do that eventually, but I know I have to take steps to get to that and I’m in the right direction."

Still undefeated since his promotional debut in December 2018, Kara-France should improve his current ranking of 10th and - in a relatively shallow division - is on the brink of the title bubble.

In other action on the night, Weili Zhang stunned Jessica Andrade with an opening-minute blitz to earn a knockout win and become China's first UFC champion, while compatriot Li JingLiang impressed with a TKO finish in the final minute of his bout against Zaleski Dos Santos.

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