Latest news with #CityKickboxing
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Kai Kara-France calm ahead of UFC 317 title fight: 'I know what the expectations are'
Kai Kara-France calm ahead of UFC 317 title fight: 'I know what the expectations are' Veteran Kai Kara-France finds himself in a different mindset ahead of his second UFC title bout. Kai Kara-France enters his UFC flyweight championship opportunity at a great time in his life. The veteran fighter says he's at a much better place right now as he enters the biggest fight in his MMA career. Kara-France (25-11 MMA, 8-4 UFC) takes on champion Alexandre Pantoja (29-5 MMA, 13-3 UFC) in the co-main event of UFC 317 on June 28 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Kara-France fought for a UFC interim title in 2022, but was stopped by Brandon Moreno with a third-round TKO. Kara-France plans on using that experience paired with his new mentality to bring home the belt. "This year will be my 15th year fighting professionally, so I've been doing it for a long time. But now I'm just doing it with more purpose and more fire," Kara-France told Combat TV. "I know that this is my time to do it – with age and maturity and experience. I already fought for the belt before. I know what the pressure feels like. I know what the expectations are. So (I'm) just welcoming it, and this time around ready for it, and this time around not fighting with things that aren't going your way – just letting it all flow. That's where I'm at right now. I'm at a great place and ready to bring back another belt to (City Kickboxing)." Pantoja vs. Kara-France was rumored for quite some time, and it had several potential dates prior to landing on UFC International Fight Week next month. Finally getting a date for his title opportunity was a huge relief for the Kiwi fighter. "I thought I was fighting in April against Pantoja in Miami, on the same card that (teammate) Alex (Volkanovski) was fighting on, but things just didn't work out," Kara-France said. "The UFC said, 'No, we want to push it back.' It is hard because you want to peak at the right time, and I'm all in when I get a date and time I'll be fighting, and I'll do everything I can to prepare. I train seven days a week, three times a day, so it's a bit harder when you're in limbo and don't know when that date is because you want to stay active and stay in the gym, but you don't want to take risk of injury, and your immune system is going to be compromised just because you're training so much." Pantoja, 34, looks to record his fourth flyweight title defense. After claiming the belt by winning a split decision over Moreno at UFC 290, Pantoja has defended against Brandon Royval, Steve Erceg and Kai Asakura. For Kara-France, 31, he looks to build on his first-round finish of Erceg at UFC 305 in August. Prior to that, he was on a two-fight losing skid that included the title loss to Moreno and a close split decision loss to Amir Albazi.
NZ Herald
22-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
On The Up: Aaron Tau, Lawrence Lui begin Road To UFC quest for contracts with promotion
Tau and City Kickboxing (CKB) teammate Lawrence Lui will both be fighting for UFC contracts over the coming month in the promotion's Road To UFC series at flyweight – a bracket-style tournament pitting the best prospects in the Asia-Pacific region against each other – at flyweight and bantamweight, respectively. While some may call it a shot at redemption for Tau, he's looking at it from a different direction. 'In Māori, you call it utu; the cost. The cost of me losing, to myself, to my family, to my coaches, to my supporters, to Aotearoa, is I have to do this tournament,' he told the Herald. 'I'm happy to pay that cost because I think this redirection was a part of the bigger picture and what was actually meant for me, and how I'm meant to proceed in this sport. I wouldn't say it's so much redemption, it's just alignment. 'I was realigned with what actually is for me, and I think my direction of travel now is going to be a lot quicker because the flyweight roster is not as big as the bantamweight roster, so if I get a few good wins in a row, Uncle Dana [White] is going to be my best friend real quick.' The tournament offers the athletes the potential for three bouts over a six-month period, the first of which takes place this week at the UFC Performance Institute in Shanghai, China. Tau (9-1) will meet undefeated Indonesian prospect Rio Tirto (8-0); a bout that had some heat sprinkled over it after Tau caught Tirto and his team appearing to take video of the Kiwi during a training session. For Lui, it's an opportunity that he wasn't initially certain would eventuate. Former CKB fighter and now striking coach at the UFC PI in Shanghai Mark Timms suggested him for the tournament, and Lui was originally listed as the alternate. 'Euge [Bareman] and Brogan [Anderson] told me that there was a high chance that someone was going to pull out, and, three weeks later, someone did, and here I am,' he said. Had it been an opportunity with less on the line, Lui said he might have approached it differently. But upon hearing he would be the alternate, he began training as if he had a fight. Lui (5-1 and champion with local promotion Shuriken Fight Series) will meet experienced Chinese athlete Qinghe Zhang (16-7-1) in Shanghai and although he admits the opportunity came earlier than he might have anticipated, he was ready for it. 'I did think I would have a few more fights before [getting] here, but honestly, I will take this opportunity or any opportunity that comes my way and make the most out of it. 'Give me an inch, I'll take a mile.' Road To UFC quarter-finals Aaron Tau v Rio Tirto (flyweight) – episode two, from 1am Friday Lawrence Lui v Qinghe Zhang (bantamweight) – episode four, from 1am Saturday All episodes are broadcast live on UFC Fight Pass, the promotion's subscription platform, and ESPN.
NZ Herald
14-05-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
UFC 317: Kai Kara-France to challenge Alexandre Pantoja for UFC flyweight title
'So to hear it from the UFC, from Dana [White], that it's happening, [I'm] just ready to work for the next seven weeks and bring my best to bring another belt back to CKB [City Kickboxing]; back to Aotearoa New Zealand.' The Kiwi, currently ranked at No 4 in the division, comes into the bout off the back of a first-round TKO over former title challenger Steve Erceg in Perth last August. That win saw him emerge as the logical choice as Pantoja's next challenger, and the 32-year-old has spent the majority of 2025 preparing as such. 'I've had to pull back heaps of times just because you don't want to peak too soon. It's like a preseason for rugby, that's what a fight camp is. It's a preseason, so you can only do it for so long before you're not actually getting fitter, you're just burning out,' he said. 'At the start of this year, I was guns blazing, didn't go to Vegas for the Warriors game, didn't go to Sydney for the [Sean] Strickland-DDP [Dricus du Plessis] fight, didn't go to Saudi Arabia for Izzy's [Adesanya] fight - there are a lot of things that I didn't want to distract myself because, obviously I thought I was going to be fighting earlier, but I just wanted to focus on the training and to prioritise that. 'I'm glad I did that because now, seven weeks out, if you weren't prepared, it's not that much time. But if you've already been training hard and really putting in the work, there's not much that we need to be doing now. 'It's just sticking to the process, keep turning up, and that's how we're going to bring home this belt; just keep doing what we're doing and the more time the better.' It will be the second time he has fought Pantoja, and doubles as a chance at revenge for Kara-France. Kara-France and Pantoja first squared off during season 24 of The Ultimate Fighter – a reality TV show where prospects compete for a UFC contract – in 2016. Pantoja eliminated Kara-France in the quarter-finals, claiming a unanimous decision win in the two-round exhibition bout. Now, nine years on, Kara-France said there was nothing he could take from that bout, given the circumstances. 'I had to cut weight every week for that fight. I'm not taking away anything from Pantoja, but I felt drained already before that fight even started, so I didn't showcase my skill. I was performing at probably 50%, just making flyweight every week.' It's the second time Kara-France will have fought for UFC gold, after a bout for the interim flyweight title against Brandon Moreno in 2022 saw him fall to a third-round TKO following a pinpoint kick to the liver. Kiwi heavyweight Justin Tafa has also been announced to compete on the card at UFC 317, taking on Brazilian Jhonata Diniz. Both athletes are coming into the bout off the back of TKO losses. The card will take place as the main event in the UFC's International Fight Week – an annual week-long celebration which includes the promotion's Hall of Fame festivities and several other activations for fans and athletes to enjoy. There will be Kiwi action outside of the cage during the week too, with former two-time middleweight champion Israel Adesanya to be inducted into the fight wing of the UFC Hall of Fame for his interim middleweight title bout against Kelvin Gastelum in 2019. The bout was a five-round slugfest, with Adesanya claiming a unanimous decision win, and began a run of 12 UFC title fights in a row for The Last Stylebender. 'What he's done in the sport is once in a lifetime. Someone that's been able to make waves as fast and cement a legacy that he has, he's got nothing to prove and he's something that I've always looked up to as the pinnacle,' Kara-France said of Adesanya. 'The one thing that I've always taken away from Izzy is his self-belief. He knew he was going to be a world champion before anyone else, and [I] definitely take that on board.' Confirmed UFC 317 bouts Main event: Charles Oliveira (2) v Ilia Topuria for the vacant lightweight title Middleweight: Paulo Costa (12) v Roman Kopylov (14) Lightweight: Beneil Dariush (9) v Renato Moicano (10) Heavyweight: Jhonata Diniz v Justin Tafa Flyweight: Brandon Royval (1) v Manel Kape (6) Middleweight: Jack Hermansson v Gregory Rodrigues
Economic Times
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Economic Times
Navajo Stirling shocked UFC 315; here's why everyone's talking about the unbeaten star
New Zealand's Navajo Stirling secured a unanimous decision victory over Ivan Erslan at UFC 315, extending his undefeated streak to 7-0. The light heavyweight fighter, training out of Auckland's City Kickboxing, showcased his striking prowess, nearly finishing Erslan in the third round. Stirling's win marks him as a rising talent in the UFC's light heavyweight division. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads FAQs What is Navajo Stirling's real name? Is Navajo Sterling in the UFC? What is the Navajo record in UFC? At UFC 315 in Montreal, New Zealand's Navajo Stirling extended his undefeated streak to 7-0 with a unanimous decision victory over Croatia's Ivan Erslan. The judges scored the bout 29-28, 29-28, and 29-27 in Stirling 's the third round nearly ending in a stoppage after Stirling landed a decisive straight right that floored Erslan. After landing the decisive blow, he admitted to believing he had done enough to end it: "I thought he was already gone. Do I sprawl or keep hitting him?"Stirling, a 27-year-old light heavyweight, fights out of Auckland's renowned City Kickboxing gym, home to UFC stars like Israel Adesanya. He is 6'4" tall with a 79-inch reach and has a solid kickboxing background for the octagon. His professional record boasts 4 knockouts and 3 decision Rongotehengia Navajo Hunter Stirling on November 7, 1997, he hails from Upper Hutt, Wellington. He began training in martial arts at 19, seeking direction in life. He started his journey from local fight circuits, which landed him in the UFC ascent in the UFC's light heavyweight division marks him as one of Oceania's most promising talents. As he continues to climb the ranks, fans and analysts alike are eager to see how far this Kiwi fighter can his post-fight interview, Stirling reflected on the bout, saying, "I talked it up aye so I gotta show up, I turned it back on after things not going my way."Navajo Stirling's real name is Rongotehengia Navajo Hunter Stirling. He was born in New Zealand on November 7, 1997, and is of Maori descent. He uses Navajo as a middle name, inspired by his father's love of western Navajo Stirling is currently a UFC fighter competing in the light heavyweight division. He recently won a unanimous decision at UFC 315, improving his MMA record to 7-0 and continuing his rise in the UFC ranks. Stirling is a promising New Zealand athlete known for his striking and grappling Stirling's UFC record is undefeated at 7-0 as of May 2025. He recently won by unanimous decision at UFC 315, maintaining his perfect professional MMA record with two UFC victories and five wins in other promotions. He competes in the light heavyweight division.
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Navajo Stirling shocked UFC 315; here's why everyone's talking about the unbeaten star
At UFC 315 in Montreal, New Zealand's Navajo Stirling extended his undefeated streak to 7-0 with a unanimous decision victory over Croatia's Ivan Erslan. The judges scored the bout 29-28, 29-28, and 29-27 in Stirling's favor. #Operation Sindoor India responds to Pak's ceasefire violation; All that happened India-Pakistan ceasefire reactions: Who said what Punjab's hopes for normalcy dimmed by fresh violations With the third round nearly ending in a stoppage after Stirling landed a decisive straight right that floored Erslan. After landing the decisive blow, he admitted to believing he had done enough to end it: "I thought he was already gone. Do I sprawl or keep hitting him?" Stirling, a 27-year-old light heavyweight, fights out of Auckland's renowned City Kickboxing gym, home to UFC stars like Israel Adesanya. He is 6'4" tall with a 79-inch reach and has a solid kickboxing background for the octagon. His professional record boasts 4 knockouts and 3 decision victories. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If You Eat Ginger Everyday for 1 Month This is What Happens Tips and Tricks Undo Born Rongotehengia Navajo Hunter Stirling on November 7, 1997, he hails from Upper Hutt, Wellington. He began training in martial arts at 19, seeking direction in life. He started his journey from local fight circuits, which landed him in the UFC spotlight. Stirling's ascent in the UFC's light heavyweight division marks him as one of Oceania's most promising talents. As he continues to climb the ranks, fans and analysts alike are eager to see how far this Kiwi fighter can go. Live Events In his post-fight interview, Stirling reflected on the bout, saying, "I talked it up aye so I gotta show up, I turned it back on after things not going my way." FAQs What is Navajo Stirling's real name? Navajo Stirling's real name is Rongotehengia Navajo Hunter Stirling. He was born in New Zealand on November 7, 1997, and is of Maori descent. He uses Navajo as a middle name, inspired by his father's love of western movies. Is Navajo Sterling in the UFC? Yes, Navajo Stirling is currently a UFC fighter competing in the light heavyweight division. He recently won a unanimous decision at UFC 315, improving his MMA record to 7-0 and continuing his rise in the UFC ranks. Stirling is a promising New Zealand athlete known for his striking and grappling skills. What is the Navajo record in UFC? Navajo Stirling's UFC record is undefeated at 7-0 as of May 2025. He recently won by unanimous decision at UFC 315, maintaining his perfect professional MMA record with two UFC victories and five wins in other promotions. He competes in the light heavyweight division.
