Brandon Moreno TKOs Kai Kara-France to Claim Interim Flyweight Title
Brandon Moreno put on a dominant performance to finish Kai Kara-France with a body kick and punches in the third round of their interim flyweight title fight at UFC 277 on Saturday night.
Moreno, who previously defeated Kara-France by unanimous decision in 2019, controlled the fight from the outset, using his range and technical striking to keep Kara-France at bay. Kara-France struggled to find his range and was only able to land a few significant strikes in the first two rounds.
In the third round, Moreno landed a hard body kick that buckled Kara-France’s knees. Moreno followed up with punches and Kara-France was forced to cover up. Moreno continued to land punches until the referee stepped in and stopped the fight at the 4:33 mark of the round.
With the victory, Moreno becomes the interim flyweight champion. He will now face Deiveson Figueiredo for the undisputed title later this year.
Moreno’s dominant performance
Moreno was the clear aggressor throughout the fight, using his range and technical striking to keep Kara-France at bay. He landed a variety of punches and kicks, and he never allowed Kara-France to get into a rhythm.
Kara-France did have some success in the third round, but it was too little too late. Moreno landed the decisive blow with the body kick, and he finished the fight from there.
Moreno’s second shot at the flyweight title
Moreno won the flyweight title in June 2021 with a submission victory over Figueiredo. However, he lost the title back to Figueiredo in January 2023 in a controversial split decision.
With his victory over Kara-France, Moreno has earned a second shot at the undisputed flyweight title. He will now face Figueiredo in a rubber match later this year.
Figueiredo reacts to Moreno’s victory
Figueiredo was in attendance at UFC 277 and he watched Moreno’s victory over Kara-France from the cage-side. After the fight, Figueiredo praised Moreno’s performance and said that he wanted to fight him again in Brazil.
“Moreno is a great fighter,” Figueiredo said. “He deserves to be the champion. I want to fight him again in Brazil. I want to show the world who the real champion is.”
Moreno vs. Figueiredo 4: A rubber match for the ages
Moreno and Figueiredo have already fought twice, and they have split the two fights. Their first fight was a draw, and their second fight was a controversial split-decision victory for Figueiredo.
The rubber match between Moreno and Figueiredo is sure to be a highly anticipated fight. Both fighters are coming off impressive victories, and they are both hungry to prove that they are the best flyweight in the world.
The fight is expected to take place later this year in Brazil. It is sure to be a must-see fight for any fan of mixed martial arts.