In the main event of UFC Vegas 74, Amir Albazi secured a razor-close split decision victory over Kai Kara-France and now has his sights firmly set on the gold. The fight was a back-and-forth battle for the duration, with Albazi coming agonizingly close to securing a finish via submission in the third round. Despite this, Kara-France displayed superior speed and accuracy in his striking throughout but it was Albazi’s powerful punches that made the difference in the eyes of the judges.

The fight ultimately ended with two judges awarding Albazi the win with 48-47 scores while the third scored it 48-47 in Kara-France’s favor. Despite the close call, Albazi remained undefeated in the UFC with his sixth consecutive win. Albazi’s strategy was to implement forward aggression, taking control of the center of the octagon and aiming to pressure Kara-France to the fence to set up takedowns.

Albazi continued to push for takedowns throughout and eventually found success in the third round, taking Kara-France to the ground and searching for a dominant position. Though Kara-France showed resilience in resisting Albazi’s wrestling, it seemed that it was only a matter of time before the fight hit the canvas.

Despite not necessarily putting on the statement performance he had hoped for, Albazi’s win over a high-profile fighter in Kara-France was a huge step forward for his career and has made him a strong contender for the title. Albazi has even set his sights firmly on his next opponent, calling out the winner of the upcoming flyweight title fight between Brandon Moreno and Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 290 in July, stating that he intends to be next in line for a title shot.

In the aftermath of his victory, Albazi reflected that although the fight didn’t go exactly as planned, he had demonstrated the passion and fighting spirit that he brings to the table. He also acknowledged that in his next fight, he hopes to put on a better show and secure a finish. Ultimately, Albazi believes that the only thing that matters now is winning the title, with his sights firmly set on Abu Dhabi in October where he aims to take his shot at gold.