Moreno’s win that night was his first since the UFC cut him in 2018, and he turned that win into a three-fight streak that took him into the first of three fights against the current flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo a year after beating Kara-France. Moreno would spend the next 13 months locked in this trilogy, which currently sits even at 1-1-1.
Along the way, Moreno has earned fan-favorite status due to his relatable and infectious personality, as well as his propensity for engaging in entertaining fights, and Kara-France anticipates and fully embraces what is likely to be a crowd. strongly pro-Moreno in Dallas in combat. night.
Photo Gallery: Kai Kara-France trains for UFC 277 in Dallas
“I’m happy about it,” Kara-France said. “I feed off of their energy and I know everyone at home is going to watch it. It is also the energy that I feed on, knowing that all my family, my friends, New Zealand, all my ancestors, my tupuna, are going to be there in my corner to watch me and help me do what I have to do. I’ll just channel it, and when I release my song ‘Poi E’ (by Pātea Māori Club), it just reminds me of who I stand for, why I’m doing this and what I’m doing about. What I’m going to do is be present, stay calm, calculated, use my composure, and eventually, we’ll find the shot.
While Kara-France’s evolution is evident, he questions the stagnation Moreno might have experienced while preparing for the same opponent three camps in a row. To Moreno’s credit, he moved his training camp to Glory MMA under James Krause before this fight, and Kara-France anticipates the best version of the former champ.
That said, composure is key to the biggest spotlight of his career. It’s a time he feels prepared for, but it’s also where he taps into the experiences of the elite company he keeps around City Kickboxing.
