Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Many MMA notables, including Israel Adesanya, were surprised by Amir Albazi’s split decision win over Kai Kara-France at UFC on ESPN 45.
[autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag] continued to build momentum as a flyweight contender on Saturday when he defeated [autotag]Kai Kara-France[/autotag] in the UFC on ESPN 45 main event.
Albazi (17-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) remained undefeated in the octagon in his first UFC headliner with a split decision victory over former interim title challenger Kara-France (24-1 MMA, 7-4 UFC) at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Check below for the top Twitter reactions to Albazi beating Kara-France at UFC on ESPN 45.
* * * *
Check out what the UFC on ESPN 45 winners and guest fighters had to say backstage at Saturday’s event.
LAS VEGAS – UFC on ESPN 45 took place Saturday with 13 bouts on the lineup. We’ve got you covered with backstage winner interviews from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
You can hear from all the UFC Fight Night 224 winners by checking out their post-fight news conferences below.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 45.
Analyzing Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 45 odds and lines between Kai Kara-France vs. Amir Albazi with MMA picks, tips and predictions.
In a flyweight bout in the main event, Kai Kara-France and Amir Albazi meet Saturday at UFC on ESPN 45 — also known as UFC Vegas 74 — at UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC on ESPN 45: Kara-France vs. Albazi odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.
The prelims are on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET, with the main card on ESPN/ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET.
Watch this card with ESPN+ by signing up here.
Kara-France is coming off a 3rd-round KO/TKO title fight loss against Brandon Moreno at UFC 277 in July 2022. That halted a 3-bout win streak which included a knockout of Cody Garbrandt at UFC 269 in Dec. 2021.
Kara-France has secured victories in 7 of his 10 fights since arriving at the UFC level, with 6 of those 10 bouts needing the help of the judges to decide a winner. He has 2 wins via KO/TKO, with one loss via the KO/TKO, and he was also submitted by Brandon Royval at UFC 253 in Sept. 2020.
Albazi is on a 5-fight win streak, including all 4 of his fights since arriving at the UFC level. He picked up a 3rd-round KO/TKO against Alessandro Costa last time out in mid-December and just one of his fights has ended up going the distance.
The 30-year-old Kara-France holds a 4.70-to-3.54 significant strikes landed per minute at the UFC level, although Albazi easily has the advantage in the ground game with a 2.47 takedown average and 0.82 submission average, compared to a 0.51 takedown average and 0.00 submission average for Kara-France.
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:02 a.m. ET.
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Records: Kara-France (24-10-0) | Albazi (16-1-0)
KARA-FRANCE (-105) is a slight underdog, but this opponent is a huge step up for Albazi.
It’s been more than 8 calendar years since Kara-France has lost consecutive fights, falling in the 3 straight outings at the Australian Fighting Championship, Malaysia Invasion 2 Grand Finals and Kunlun Fight 18, back in 2014 and 2015.
Kara-France throws a lot of punches, although he isn’t nearly as accurate as Albazi. “The Prince” Albazi lands his significant strikes at 53.77% rate compared to just 44.58% for the underdog.
As long as Kara-France can avoid going to the mat, where Albazi is a stud, he should be able to outlast the Iraqi flyweight who fights out of Xtreme Couture.
YES (+110): FIGHT TO GO THE DISTANCE? is a solid value play at plus money. Kara-France will look to frustrate Albazi and keep the fight upright.
While Albazi has gone the distance in just 1 of his 4 fights at the UFC level, Kara-France has needed the assistance of the judges to figure out a winner in 6 of his 10 fights in the UFC.
OVER 3.5 ROUNDS (-165) is not priced out of line if you’d like a little wiggle room for a potential finish in the 2nd half of Round 4 or all of Round 5.
Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
Follow Kevin J. Erickson on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and us on Facebook.
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[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=2559]
Check out our staff members’ picks for the UFC on ESPN 45 main card in Las Vegas, featuring Kai Kara-France vs. Amir Albazi at flyweight.
| Kara-France vs. Albazi |
Caceres vs. Pineda |
Altamirano vs. Elliott |
Silva vs. Souza |
Nurmagomedov vs. Zaleski dos Santos |
|
| MMA Junkie readers’ consensus picks 77-52 |
 Kara-France (56%) |
 Caceres (75%) |
 Elliott (60%) |
 Silva (74%) |
 Nurmagomedov (59%) |
| Matt Erickson @MattE 86-43 |
 Albazi |
Caceres |
 Altamirano |
 Souza |
Nurmagomedov |
| Matthew Wells @MrMWells 81-48 |
Albazi |
Caceres |
Altamirano |
Souza |
Nurmagomedov |
| Simon Samano @SJSamano 81-48 |
Albazi |
Caceres |
Altamirano |
Silva |
Nurmagomedov |
| George Garcia @MMAjunkieGeorge 78-51 |
Albazi |
 Pineda |
Altamirano |
Silva |
Nurmagomedov |
| Nolan King @mma_kings 78-51 |
Albazi |
Caceres |
Elliott |
Silva |
Nurmagomedov |
| Mike Bohn @MikeBohn 76-53  2014 Champion |
Kara-France |
Caceres |
Altamirano |
Silva |
Nurmagomedov |
| Ken Hathaway @kenshathaway -74-55 2018, 2022 Champion |
Albazi |
Caceres |
Altamirano |
Silva |
 Zaleski dos Santos |
| Farah Hannoun @Farah_Hannoun 72-57 |
Albazi |
Caceres |
Elliott |
Silva |
Nurmagomedov |
| Danny Segura @dannyseguratv 70-59 |
Albazi |
Pineda |
Altamirano |
Silva |
Nurmagomedov |
| Abbey Subhan @kammakaze 70-59 |
Albazi |
Caceres |
Altamirano |
Silva |
Nurmagomedov |
| Brian Garcia @thegoze 68-61 2017 Champion |
Albazi |
Caceres |
Altamirano |
Silva |
Zaleski dos Santos |
Editor’s note: The main card fight between Jim Miller and short-notice replacement Jesse Butler was added too late for our picks deadline and is not included.)
After a week off, the UFC is back in Las Vegas with a key flyweight fight at the top of the bill.
UFC on ESPN 45 takes place Saturday at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
In the main event, [autotag]Kai Kara-France[/autotag] (24-10 MMA, 7-3 UFC) will try to bounce back into contention after an interim flyweight title loss to Brandon Moreno in July 2022 when he meets [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag] (16-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC), who has yet to lose in the UFC.
Although the odds at most sportsbooks are a pick’em, it’s Albazi who is our closest thing to a unanimous pick on the main card this week. Our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers have it as a 10-1 blowout for Albazi.
In the co-feature, [autotag]Alex Caceres[/autotag] (20-13 MMA, 15-11 UFC) meets [autotag]Daniel Pineda[/autotag] (28-14 MMA, 5-5 UFC) in a featherweight bout. Caceres has won six of his past seven fights, is a -175 favorite at the betting window, and has a big 9-2 picks lead.
Also on the main card, [autotag]Victor Altamirano[/autotag] (12-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) takes on former flyweight title challenger [autotag]Tim Elliott[/autotag] (18-12-1 MMA, 7-10 UFC). Elliott nearly is a 2-1 betting favorite, but our pickers have Altamirano in a 9-2 blowout.
[autotag]Karine Silva[/autotag] (15-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC) meets [autotag]Ketlen Souza[/autotag] (13-3 MMA, 0-0 UFC) in an all-Brazil women’s flyweight scrap. Silva is more than a 2-1 favorite and has a big 9-2 lead from our staff members.
And to open the main card at welterweight, [autotag]Abubakar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] (17-3-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) takes on [autotag]Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos[/autotag] (23-7 MMA, 9-3 UFC). The fight has nearly even odds with Nurmagomedov at -115, but our staff members have him with a huge 9-2 picks win, as well.
In the MMA Junkie consensus picks, Kara-France (56 percent), Caceres (75 percent), Elliott (60 percent), Silva (74 percent) and Nurmagomedov (59 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 45.
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Watch the first and final staredown between Kai Kara-France and Amir Albazi ahead of the UFC on ESPN 45 main event.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Kai Kara-France[/autotag] and [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag] faced off for the first time Friday after making weight for the UFC on ESPN 45 main event.
Kara-France (24-10 MMA, 7-3 UFC) and Albazi (16-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) meet in Saturday’s flyweight headliner at the UFC Apex, which airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.
Before stepping into the octagon, though, they had a staredown.
The #UFCVegas74 main event faceoff between Kai Kara-France and Amir Albazi got intense in a hurry. 😳 pic.twitter.com/X8EuH9cTYx
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) June 2, 2023
Check out the video above to see Kara-France and Albazi face off ahead of UFC on ESPN 45.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 45.
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A rare non-title flyweight main event under the UFC banner is official for Saturday at UFC on ESPN 45.
LAS VEGAS – A rare non-title flyweight main event under the UFC banner is official for Saturday after [autotag]Kai Kara-France[/autotag] and [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag] made weight for UFC on ESPN 45.
The pair of hungry contenders will attempt to make a statement in the ESPN-televised headliner at the UFC Apex, but first they had to take care of business on the scale.
Both did just that, with Kara-France (24-10 MMA, 7-3 UFC) registering at 125.5 pounds on the scale. Albazi (16-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC), meanwhile, weighed in at 126 pounds.
OFFICIAL: Kai Kara-France and Amir Albazi have made weight for a rare non-title flyweight main event at #UFCVegas74 on Saturday.
Full story: https://t.co/tTJDHEuhFD pic.twitter.com/syPhZJV4CG
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) June 2, 2023
Check out the video above to see Kara-France and Albazi on the scale at UFC on ESPN 45 official weigh-ins.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 45.
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Amir Albazi has boldly declared “I’m going to show why I’m the next champion” Saturday in the UFC on ESPN 45 main event.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag] is not short on confidence going into his first UFC headliner on Saturday at UFC on ESPN 45.
Albazi (16-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) will attempt to continue the hot start to his UFC tenure when he meets former interim title challenger Kai Kara-France (24-10 MMA, 7-3 UFC) in a five-round flyweight bout, which takes place at the UFC Apex and airs on ESPN.
It’s a big opportunity for Albazi against his highest profile opponent to date, and he fully intends to take advantage of the situation. If all goes according to plan, Albazi said there will be no questions about who is the next contender for the UFC 290 title fight between Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja on July 8.
“I don’t need to do a callout,” Albazi told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC on ESPN 45 media day. “After this fight, they’re going to know I’m next. I know I’m next. I want to fight in Abu Dhabi for the title. I’m going to finish Kai this Saturday night, then I’m going to see how it plays out with Pantoja vs. Moreno. Either one, may the best man win, and I’m next in Abu Dhabi.”
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Albazi said he recognizes his resume doesn’t scream with top talent that would make him undeniable for a title fight. However, he said that’s largely circumstantial. He’s had multiple matchups with ranked opponents scheduled, and they have fallen through largely through no fault of his own.
He’s thrilled Kara-France accepted a bout with him and made it to fight week, and now he’s ready to deliver a statement to the UFC and the rest of the 125-pound division under the spotlight of a headlining opportunity.
“He’s a good opponent,” Albazi said. “Of course, he’s No. 3 (in the UFC rankings). But I’m the next champion for the title. So whoever they want to put in front of me, I’ll be ready. … I’m going to show people why I’m the next champion.”
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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 45.
Before UFC on ESPN 45 arrives, eight athletes from the main card are scheduled to speak to reporters Wednesday at media day.
LAS VEGAS – The UFC schedule for June kicks off Saturday with UFC on ESPN 45, which takes place at the UFC Apex with a card that airs on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
A flyweight bout serves as the main event, with [autotag]Kai Kara-France[/autotag] taking on [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag] in a matchup between two men looking to help their case toward a future 125-pound title shot.
Before fight night arrives, though, eight athletes spoke to reporters Wednesday at media day.
If you happen to miss any of the individual sessions on the live stream above, check below for the archived videos of each media day session.
Check out the full fight video of Amir Albazi’s submission win over Francisco Figueiredo at UFC 278.
[autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag] showed off his finishing prowress at one of the biggest pay-per-view cards of 2022.
At UFC 278 last August, Albazi made quick work of Francisco Figueiredo, winning the fight in the first round with a rear-naked choke submission. The victory was his third of three fights in the UFC, and his second first-round finish.
You can watch Albazi’s fantastic performance against Figueiredo in the video above.
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Albazi returns to action Saturday for his first main event under the UFC banner at UFC on ESPN 45. He takes on Kai Kara-France in a flyweight matchup. The event takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and airs live on ESPN and ESPN+.
Albazi (16-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) will look to extend his current win streak to six straight. He enters Saturday’s main even on the heels of a third-round finish of Alessandro Costa in December.
Kara-France (24-10 MMA, 7-3 UFC) will look to return to the win column after a vacant flyweight title loss to Brandon Moreno at UFC 277 last July. He won three-straight to fight for the chance at a piece of the division’s title.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 45.
The best facts and figures about UFC on ESPN 45, where Jim Miller and Andrei Arlovski can add to their places atop the UFC wins list.
The UFC opens a jam-packed June schedule on Saturday with UFC on ESPN 45, which takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas with a main card that airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.
A rare non-title flyweight bout gets the main event spotlight. Former interim title challenger [autotag]Kai Kara-France[/autotag] (24-10 MMA, 7-3 UFC) is set to takes on surging contender [autotag]Amir Albazi[/autotag] (16-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) in a high stakes matchup scheduled for five rounds.
For more on the numbers behind the headliner, as well as the rest of the card – which features two of the longest-tenured veterans on the roster – check below for MMA Junkie’s pre-event facts about UFC on ESPN 45.
