Amir Albazi, representing Iraq, showcased an impressive performance as he secured a split decision win against former interim title challenger Kai Kara-France at UFC Fight Night held in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Although it was Albazi's first bout against a flyweight ranked in the UFC's official top five, his performance, while commendable, may not immediately earn him a title shot, according to CBS Sports.
Throughout the 25-minute fight, Kara-France displayed solid defense, successfully keeping the fight within his preferred style. However, the judges ultimately favored Albazi's performance.
Both Kara-France and Albazi experienced the challenge of competing beyond three rounds for the first time. Albazi showed visible signs of fatigue entering Round 4, while Kara-France seemed to gain speed and momentum as the fight progressed, as noted by CBS Sports.
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is a prominent American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is operated by Zuffa, a wholly owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings, and is currently recognized as the world's largest MMA promotion as of 2022.
