Battle Between Kai Kara-France and Steve Erceg Will Give UFC 305 Another Exciting Fight for Local Fans

July 4, 2024

2 days

New Zealand native and flyweight Kai Kara-France has to be jealous of Steve Erceg. Kara-France was dropped into the snake pit not long after he started with the UFC. MMAfighting latest news shows that Kara-France had to fight several strong contenders before he earned a chance to fight for the interim championship.

Without even fighting one of the top contenders, Erceg, an Australian fighter, earned an opportunity to fight Alexandre Pantoja for the championship at UFC 301 in Brazil. Erceg’s title shot was partially because he picked up three quick wins after debuting in the UFC. But Erceg was a fresh face in a division where flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja had beaten the other top-ranked contenders at least once.

Erceg looked timid at the start of his championship fight, but some people thought the fight was tied going into the fifth round. While Pantoja leaned on his experience to survive the final round, Erceg earned the respect of skeptics who thought his title shot came too quickly.

But now Erceg has to show that he can grow from a loss. Taking a loss in MMA isn’t like boxing. There is always a chance in the UFC that a quick winning streak can quickly vault people up the rankings. This fight between Kara-France and Erceg is essentially a title eliminator in the flyweight division.

It will also provide Kara-France with an opportunity to improve his image as a fighter who can’t win the big one.

With UFC 305 already set to feature New Zealand resident Israel Adesanya attempting to regain his middleweight title against Dricus du Plessis, there should be a lot of local fight fans interested in it.

Kara-France Hasn’t Had His Moment Yet

There is a lot for Kara-France to prove still. MMA latest updates show that Kara-France’s worst moments in the UFC have been when he’s taken a step up in competition. After debuting in the promotion with three straight victories, Kara-France was paired up with future flyweight champion Brandon Moreno at UFC 245. Kara-France lost that fight by decision.

It was the start of a trend for Kara-France. While Kara-France knocked out former champion Cody Garbrandt at UFC 269, he couldn’t produce big victories when he stepped up in competition. Kara-France was submitted by future title challenge Brandon Royval at UFC 253, and he lost an interim title fight by TKO to Moreno at UFC 277.

Kara-France is on a two-fight losing streak overall. If Kara-France is ever going to be a serious contender at flyweight, he will need to produce an impressive performance in this fight. Kara-France has lost two straight fights, including a split decision loss to Amir Albazi last June.

Kara-France had 35 professional fights under his belt. He has won 14 of his 24 career wins by finish.

Erceg Must Prove Himself

Erceg impressed everyone during his title fight with Pantoja, including his future opponent. It has been an amazing rise for Erceg, who seems like a mostly unassuming guy. Erceg doesn’t display a lot of emotion during his walkouts or in the promotion for the fight.

When Erceg was growing up in Australia, he dabbled in several different sports. He won a gold medal in the 65-kilogram division at the Australian national freestyle wrestling championships. Erceg also competed in Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitions.

Erceg started his professional MMA career with a 1-1 record. However, he was able to build a strong reputation on the regional scene quickly. Erceg ran off eight straight wins before earning a contract with the UFC.

Once Erceg debuted in the UFC, he showed that he had the ability to win fights on the ground or on his feet.

Australia Has Hosted More Than a Few Memorable Fights Recently

Adesanya’s return to the octagon will electrify the fight fans in Perth. The UFC has put on several strong fights in Australia over the years. Most famously, Ronda Rousey’s myth of invincibility was shattered by Holly Holm. When Holm landed the head kick heard round the world, it changed everything.

More recently, Alexander Volkanovski had an all-time classic fight with Islam Makhachev last year. Volkanovski, who was going up a weight class, surprised everyone by taking the fight to the scorecards. While Volkanovski couldn’t finish off the upset, anyone who saw it will remember the legacy of the fight.

Adesanya knocked out Australian Robert Whittaker in the main event at UFC 221 to win the middleweight crown. Reclaiming the championship against du Plessis would be another impressive accomplishment for Adesanya. He is coming off one of the most shocking losses of his career. Adesanya looked outclassed in a unanimous decision loss.

Tuivasa Will be Back in Action as Well

Tai Tuivasa is a man who likes having a good time. But when Tuivasa reached the top of the heavyweight division, the Australian heavyweight suffered four consecutive losses. Now, Tuivasa has another opportunity to fight in his home country.

Tuivasa will take on Jairzinho Rozenstruik, a dangerous striker with knockout power. It should be a fun fight for the fans to see, but it has the potential to bring Tuivasa’s career in the promotion to an end if he takes another loss.

The best MMA news sites show Tuivasa is usually in a cheery mood on fight day, but this one may make him more serious. Tuivasa is known for drinking beer out of shoes after he wins fights. That disgusting concoction may taste better than ever if he can pull off this win.

Here’s a look at the rest of the fight card that has been announced so far: