Kai Kamaka III is eager to get back into the Octagon and get the bad taste out of his mouth from his last fight.
Kamaka is coming off a controversial stoppage loss to Luke Riley back at UFC 329. Referee Kerry Hatley appeared to stop the bout early, and Kamaka said he’s talked to the commission to not have Hatley ref anymore of his fights.
“I haven’t met a good person who said it was a great stoppage. It was weird. I walked out of there; no one had to help me out. I’m not going to judge myself on that short instance. I’m going to judge myself as a martial artist,” Kamaka said to BJPENN.com.
Although Kamaka lost his last fight, he’s arguably getting a bigger fight this time around. The Hawaiian is set to take on Andre Fili at UFC Vegas 122 in what should be a fun fight.
“I feel like, in a weird way, it’s not a step back,” Kamaka said. “Riley is a good prospect, but Fili is a great name, and in the MMA space, he’s a lot more well-known than Luke Riley. I can’t complain. … He’s very sound and experienced. He’s going to be there to fight; he’s very skilled. You have to take him seriously. A lot of tape on him, just like me. A lot of stuff out there to study, but at the same time, he’s making adjustments to beat me, too. It’s a great fight for two martial artists.”
Kai Kamaka III expects to finish Andre Fili
Although Kamaka knows Fili is a tough out for anyone, he is confident in his skill.
Also, the bout will take place in the smaller cage at the UFC Apex, which Kamaka believes favors him and his pressure, which will lead to a big knockout win over Fili.
“I think my pressure and my skill, I can touch his chin or beat him up to the body. In the small cage, it favors my style more than his. I have to go out there and show it, but I do think the small cage doesn’t favor him,” Kamaka said.
If Kamaka does finish Fili, he knows it could put him in line for a big opponent next. And he’s hopeful he can sneak one more fight in this year, if all goes his way on Saturday at UFC Vegas 122.
“If I put on a good showing and get past Fili, it doesn’t erase the Riley loss, but it lets people have the same feelings before that fight. After this one, give me a young prospect again or give me someone to put me in a good position. But I do think winning this fight puts me in a good position, period,” Kamaka concluded.
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This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
