Kai Kara-France (image via UFC/YouTube)

By FCF Staff

Kai Kara-France understands that Amir Albazi is a talented fighter on the rise. But, the flyweight contender plans to show Saturday that he’s on another level, altogether.

Kara-France and Albazi will square off in the headliner of UFC Vegas 74, which will be hosted by the Apex Facility, June 3rd.

While speaking to the media ahead of the event, the 30-year-old Kara-France weighed-in on his upcoming bout with Albazi (quotes via MMA Junkie).

“Amir was the guy who was closest to my ranking and available, so these contenders that are on win streaks with momentum and hype, they want to take my spot,” Kara-France said. “I’m No. 3 (in the UFC rankings) and I welcome it. I want to fight the best guys. He’s a great fighter, he’s a great grappler, great wrestlers. He’s got momentum, but I’m here to take all that. I’m here to show him that there’s levels to this and that’s what I’m going to be doing on Saturday.”

Kara-France (24-10) is coming off a stoppage loss to Brandon Moreno last July, which was for the promotion’s interim flyweight title. Moreno went on to unify the titles by defeating Deiveson Figueiredo. Kara-France had won three straight prior to facing the current champ.

“There’s a lot of positives we can take away from that last fight where it showed we’re right there with the best guys,” Kara-France said, while reflecting on his loss to Moreno. “If we went back that night and things went a bit differently, I could be there with the belt now. It’s just what happens at the highest level of sport. That’s just how it is. It’s a game of inches.”

The 29-year-old Albazi (16-1), meanwhile, knocked out Alessandro Costa in his last outing, which took place in December. Albazi is riding a five-fight winning streak.

Kara-France is ranked #3 in the UFC’s flyweight division heading into this weekend’s action and Albazi is ranked #7.