SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – While it could be Brandon Moreno again, captain Eric Albarracin has his eyes on a specific contender for Deiveson Figueiredo as a potential other option.
Figueiredo (21-2-1 MMA, 9-2-1 UFC) reclaimed the UFC flyweight title when he defeated Moreno (19-5-2 MMA, 7-2-2 UFC) via unanimous decision in the co-main event of UFC 270. Although the pair have now competed three times, the score remains 1-1-1, with their first fight ending in a majority draw.
With the trilogy being another tightly contested battle and their rivalry continuing to heat up, a fourth fight could be next for Figueiredo and Moreno. But if Moreno isn’t next, Albarracin wants Kai Kara-France (23-9 MMA, 6-2 UFC), and there’s a specific reason for that.
“It’s one of the most exciting divisions in the UFC now,” Albarracin told MMA Junkie. “There’s only one thing to do to make it more exciting, is pit those two together and finally figure it out. They got a tie, one win a piece, and let’s put that nail in that coffin and see who truly the best flyweight in the world is and let’s get this tetralogy.
“‘The Assassin Baby’ vs. ‘The God of War.’ That’s the fight to make. If you can’t make that fight, I say Kai Kara-France. Brazil vs. New Zealand 2.”
Kara-France will have to get past Askar Askarov on March 26 before he can set his sights on the title. But for Albarracin, Kara-France is his No. 1 option outside of Moreno because he trains out of City Kickboxing, who went head-to-head with Albarracin when Israel Adesanya finished Paulo Costa to retain his middleweight title at UFC 253.
“I told Figueiredo and he was on board, I go on one stipulation: I want Israel Adesanya in that corner for that fight,” Albarracin said.
He continued, “I just want to know if he’s still coming. Let’s go. Kai Kara-France, City Kickboxing and Israel Adesanya. Let’s get a world title fight, and he’s also from ‘TUF 24.’ Kai Kara-France.”
To see the full interview with Albarracin, check out the video below.
