Amir Albazi continued to build momentum as a flyweight contender on Saturday when he defeated Kai Kara-France 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.
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MMA Junkie
Your #UFCVegas74 main event has arrived 👊
Tune into @ESPN for @KaiKaraFrance vs @AmirAlbazi NOW! pic.twitter.com/vKbS8WtbHX
— UFC (@ufc) June 4, 2023
Fightnomics Reed
On the opening bell, Albazi’s line immediately floats to -130.
Was a pick ‘em all week. #UFCVegas74 pic.twitter.com/GMMNTzskmv— Fightnomics Reed (@Fightnomics) June 4, 2023
UFC
The step up in competition @AmirAlbazi has been looking for!
[ #UFCVegas74 | LIVE on @ESPN ] pic.twitter.com/tjJKiRStOx
— UFC (@ufc) June 4, 2023
UFC
The first main event for New Zealand’s @KaiKaraFrance 🇳🇿
[ #UFCVegas74 | LIVE on @ESPN ] pic.twitter.com/dnSFoHWYxY
— UFC (@ufc) June 4, 2023
UFC
Flyweights take centerstage! 🔦
The time has come for our #UFCVegas74 main event! Who takes it? pic.twitter.com/HrrloIU76Y
— UFC_Asia (@UFC_Asia) June 4, 2023
Cageside Press
R1 – Kai vs. Amir – Amir lunging in looking to land the jab.
Kai moving lateral. Amir doin a decent job of cutting him off. Lands a left hook.
Kai right hand. Amir shoots! #UFCVegas74
— Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) June 4, 2023
Sean Sheehan
Looks like that first calf kick has badly hurt Albazi. #UFCVegas74
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) June 4, 2023
UFC
Adding some spice to this main event 🌶
Round 2️⃣ starting now! #UFCVegas74 pic.twitter.com/Fk3n85DOWl
— UFC (@ufc) June 4, 2023
Tommy Toe Hold
Always makes me laugh when a fighter gets in their opponent’s face between rounds. You’ll be engaging again in a minute lol.
— Tommy Toe Hold (@TommyToeHold) June 4, 2023
Scott Fontana
R1 10-9 Kara-France in a close one that lacked big moments. #UFCVegas74
— Scott Fontana (@Scott_Fontana) June 4, 2023
Belal Muhammad
Amir needs to low kick more
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) June 4, 2023
Jed Meshew II
This is not exactly the barn-burner I was hoping for.
— Jed Meshew II (@JedKMeshew) June 4, 2023
Scott Fontana
R2 10-9 Kara-France, going up 20-18. Not a big round but a nice one. Good leg kicks. #UFCVegas74
— Scott Fontana (@Scott_Fontana) June 4, 2023
Mookie Alexander
Albazi's legit but also this looks a lot like KKF is going to accept a low-volume loss where he also gets outwrestled.
— Mookie Alexander (@mookiealexander) June 4, 2023
Cageside Press
More right hands from Amir as he tries to force Kai to move! Amir finally gets to the back!
Amir switches to the body triangle!
Amir hunting for the neck! MIGHT BE UNDER THE NECK! KAI DEFENDING!! #UFCVegas74
— Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) June 4, 2023
AMIR WITH OVER A MINUTE TO WORK!
MIGHT BE UNDER!!!!! ITS UNDER!!!!!
KAI ESCAPES!!!! #UFCVegas74
— Cageside Press (@Cagesidepress) June 4, 2023
Caposa
Wow Kai. Survives the choke then shakes him off
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) June 4, 2023
Sean Sheehan
It's 5am and I've very tired but 2-1 Albazi for me #UFCVegas74
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) June 4, 2023
Ariel Helwani
Wow. I thought Kai was done there. Great fight.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) June 4, 2023
Belal Muhammad
Man that choke was close
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) June 4, 2023
UFC
15 minutes down!
📝 What are those scorecards looking like headed into main event rounds? #UFCVegas74 pic.twitter.com/qriOzRk27W
— UFC (@ufc) June 4, 2023
Jarred Brooks
How to beat Kai Kara finish him early and albazzi wrestle with him for a round and he gasses
— Jarred Brooks (@The_monkeygod) June 4, 2023
Dan Tom
Weekly reminder that striking stats are unofficial on the night and that regardless of number accuracy, they DO NOT TELL THE STORY OF THE FIGHT.
Judges also don’t have access to these numbers, nor should they. Hate me numbers people but this is true. #UFCVegas74
— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) June 4, 2023
Hyon Ko
France picking apart Albazi on the feet. The jab is finding a home repeatedly and the pace is elevated. 2-2 #UFCVegas74
— Hyon Ko (@KoreanJohn_) June 4, 2023
Fight Ghost
KKF -150 entering final round live wagering #ufcvegas74
— Fight Ghost (@Fight_Ghost) June 4, 2023
Bloody Elbow
Round 5 Kara-France is what I kinda expected to see from the beginning. On the front foot, flurrying, landing solid. Took a while for him to get there. #UFCVegas74
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) June 4, 2023
Daniel Cormier
3-2 Kara France that’s the score #UFCVegas74
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) June 4, 2023
Jason Floyd
Unofficial fight stats. I have it 3-2 Kara-France #UFCVegas74 pic.twitter.com/ZCRBTsbxbe
— Jason Floyd (@Jason_Floyd) June 4, 2023
MMA Junkie
#UFCVegas74 results: Amir Albazi (@AmirAlbazi) def. Kai Kara-France via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)
Full coverage: https://t.co/UAx54va36u pic.twitter.com/aixllk0c7a
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) June 4, 2023
Michael Carroll
Amir Albazi ties Muhammad Mokaev for the longest active UFC win streak in the flyweight division with his 4th consecutive win at 125 lbs. #UFCVegas74
— Michael Carroll (@MJCflipdascript) June 4, 2023
Marc Raimondi
Albazi by split decision. Just a massive win for him in the biggest fight of his career so far. Puts him near the top of the division. #UFCVegas74
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) June 4, 2023
UFC
Listen in as Bruce reads the split decision for…… #UFCVegas74 pic.twitter.com/ffPpeQz4CY
— UFC (@ufc) June 4, 2023
Israel Adesanya
Nah bro…
Fuck yous!!!— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) June 4, 2023
Daniel Cormier
I was wrong #UFCVegas74
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) June 4, 2023
Niko Price
Well then…
— Niko Price (@Nikohybridprice) June 4, 2023
Belal Muhammad
First main event, great performance @AmirAlbazi
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) June 4, 2023
UFC
After a big win tonight, @AmirAlbazi makes his case for a title shot 🏆 #UFCVegas74 pic.twitter.com/u3wnWwqnYe
— UFC (@ufc) June 4, 2023
Sergio Pettis
Poor Kai. Had him winning that fight.
— Sergio Pettis (@sergiopettis) June 4, 2023
Muhammad Mokaev
Tf is that decision 😂
— Muhammad Mokaev (@muhammadmokaev) June 4, 2023
Michael Carroll
Judge Chris Lee gave R4 to Albazi despite significant strikes landed in the frame going to Kara-France by an advantage of 27 to 5. Plus, Kara-France landed the lone takedown in the round. Neither fight mounted more than 23 seconds of control in the round. #UFCVegas74
— Michael Carroll (@MJCflipdascript) June 4, 2023
Israel Adesanya
Fire Chris Lee & Sal Deez nuts.
— Israel Adesanya (@stylebender) June 4, 2023
Muhammad Mokaev
Amir has no wrestling no wonder he never accepted the fight
— Muhammad Mokaev (@muhammadmokaev) June 4, 2023
Alexander Volkanovski
Giving Amir rd 4 is just insane
— Alex Volkanovski (@alexvolkanovski) June 4, 2023
