The UFC will be making history this weekend because a title fight will finally be touching Chinas’ grounds when the UFC enters the Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre. Although it’s a card filled with many repping China’s flag (many of whom have others outside of the Chinese MMA scene probably scratching their head) including the challenger in the main event. However, our fight to watch is one of the few fights that don’t feature a native fighter. It’s a bout between two fighters fighting on foreign land– representing New Zealand will be Kai Kara-France (19-7-0,1 NC) and his opponent will be the USA’s own Mark De La Rosa (11-2-0, 1 NC).
A post shared by Mark De La Rosa (@markdelarosamma) on Jul 15, 2019 at 11:14am PDT
Kara-France is looking down a barrel with an opportunity to be victorious in his first 3 fights inside the octagon. Both victories coming by decision but nonetheless, in the UFC nothing is given and a 3-fight win streak is far from easy. Training out of the same gym as Dan Hooker and upcoming title challenger, Israel Adesanya. It’s fair to say that the right people are in his corner and what an impressive feat it will be if the 26 year old New Zealander is able to get his hand raised this Saturday.
A post shared by Kai "Dontblink" Kara France (@kaikarafrance) on Aug 10, 2019 at 6:20pm PDT
Looking to crash the New Zealander’s party will be Mark De La Rosa. Mark is a fighter who many in the UFC scene are probably more familiar with because of his wife (Montana De La Rosa) due to her time on TUF. However, De La Rosa has been staying active and doing the most in an effort to forge his own lane. Entering the UFC as an undefeated prospect, he has split his first 4 fights but this will be the first fight where he actually has had a full camp and won’t just be stepping in to fill a void. He’s looking forward to showing the fans all around the world what kind of fighter he can be and the kind of product he can display when he’s able to properly prep for a fight. Letting it be known that he feels his strength in this fight will be on that mat and that he can finish Kara-France if this fight goes to the ground.
A post shared by Mark De La Rosa (@markdelarosamma) on Aug 17, 2019 at 7:22am PDT
This is a can’t miss fight and one that I think fans will definitely get their bargain for especially if it comes at the cost of your sleep, here on the states’ side. Be sure to tune in EARLY Saturday morning on ESPN+ for our “Fight to Watch” along with the Strawweight title on the line in the main event from Shenzhen, China.■
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