Kai Kamaka by no means took his first stint with the UFC with no consideration, however now he’s extra decided than ever earlier than to return to his previous stomping floor.
The 22-fight veteran solely spent 4 fights with the UFC earlier than his contract wasn’t renewed, nevertheless it didn’t take lengthy for Bellator to snap him up with a contract provide. Kamaka spent the subsequent two years competing there whereas amassing a 4-1 report total together with his solely loss coming by way of cut up choice.
However his last combat with Bellator got here similtaneously rumors began to flow into that the promotion was up on the market. Barely a month after he defeated Henry Corrales, Bellator formally offered to the PFL and Kamaka had a brand new residence but once more.
“I had the bizarre UFC stint [but] I’m doing properly in Bellator, selecting up steam, climbing these rankings, the competitors begins selecting up,” Kamaka instructed MMA Preventing. “[I’m] type of getting my toes beneath me on my athletic preventing aspect the place the competitors can step up after which growth, I’m doing properly. Then I combat [Henry] Corrales, however earlier than I combat Corrales, the rumors are coming that [Bellator] goes to promote. Ultimately they promote shortly after if not at that occasion.
“I find yourself within the transition of the PFL. My competitors goes up once more. Bubba Jenkins, Pedro Carvalho, Brendan Loughnane, do properly to the place I’m the backup within the championship combat for the PFL.”
Kamaka joined the 2024 PFL season at featherweight the place he went 2-1, however he fell to Loughnane in one other hard-fought cut up choice within the semifinals.
Whereas he appreciated the provide to function the backup for the ultimate combat of the season, Kamaka finally needed to cross on the chance.
“I don’t find yourself going to Saudi Arabia as a result of we all know the backup scenario for PFL will not be one,” Kamaka defined. “You make $10,000 for a world title combat as a backup. It simply didn’t make a complete lot of sense, particularly for my crew.
“We’re going to go to Saudi Arabia as a backup with no different card alternative. That’s some huge cash that we’re not making. We don’t go as a result of they’re not giving us anymore incentive. Give us an undercard combat and we will all make this make sense to go to Saudi Arabia.”
After passing on the backup position for the PFL Finals card, Kamaka obtained phrase that the promotion was all in favour of deliver him again for the subsequent yr however the format is altering from an everyday season and playoffs to a straight up event. The prize cash additionally modified with the eventual champion incomes $500,000 versus the $1 million handed out for the season lengthy format beforehand held by the PFL.
However the cash wasn’t a deterrent that prevented Kamaka from returning to the PFL.
It was the precise contract time period.
“It was like Christmas Eve, and so they despatched out new yr contracts and simply normally time period it’s a three-year contract,” Kamaka revealed. “In order that’s fairly long run in MMA. My pay wouldn’t go up and it was assured solely six fights in three years.
“I’m like I simply hit my prime. My final objective, very like different individuals, is to get again to the UFC, particularly for me to rewrite that first time. I’m like I don’t know if I wish to do this. It’s not life altering cash to alter my goals. I’m like can we negotiate? Can we deliver this time period down?”
Kamaka says PFL did provide him a one-year deal for 2 fights, however he wouldn’t be a part of the event.
Whereas he was nonetheless weighing his choices, Kamaka began listening to a couple of new upstart promotion referred to as International Struggle League that was signing a slew of veteran fighters, most of whom constructed their names within the UFC.
Quite a lot of contracts have been handed out with a ton of cash being promised to the athletes, however Kamaka wasn’t oblivious to the truth that GFL may find yourself being a pipe dream simply based mostly on the sheer quantity of fighters the promotion was signing.
Nonetheless, Kamaka took a shot and finally signed with GFL, however he did so together with his eyes extensive open concerning the chance that the promotion won’t ever get off the bottom.
“These guys are providing cash,” Kamaka mentioned. “We are able to do it right here, generate profits and get again to the UFC. I can get these regional degree fights on the GFL. I’m actually getting into my prime, preventing older competitors and with names. That’s a plan.”
Sadly, Kamaka’s fears have been realized after GFL cancelled two debut playing cards deliberate for Could with no definitive phrase on whether or not or not the occasions are literally going to be rescheduled. Many fighters who signed contracts with the GFL have already spoken out the entire ordeal with UFC veteran and former BKFC champion Alan Belcher calling the entire mess a “rip-off.”
Kamaka doesn’t disagree based mostly on his personal expertise however GFL cancelling these playing cards as soon as once more left him with no place to combat and the months of inactivity have been beginning to mount.
He lastly bought booked at a Tuff-N-Uff card in Las Vegas the place Kamaka scored a second-round knockout win over Joshua Weems in his first motion in eight months.
The win mixed with the tumultuous trip he’s endured ever since Bellator was offered served as the absolute best motivation to persuade Kamaka that he wanted to get again to the UFC.
“That’s the place my coronary heart is,” Kamaka mentioned. “That’s why I moved my household to Las Vegas. That’s your MMA second is getting that decision to the UFC. You don’t get that feeling except it’s the UFC. You don’t get that draft day second except it’s the UFC.”
Reality be instructed, Kamaka doesn’t maintain any unwell will in the direction of PFL, GFL or anyone else however deep down inside, he at all times knew that the longterm objective was getting again to the UFC. The way in which issues performed out over these previous couple of years solely strengthened his resolve.
“I’m right here to bash any promotion,” Kamaka mentioned. “Enterprise is tough. You’ve bought to make it work, nevertheless it makes it exhausting for us as a result of it’s like what are we chasing?”
“My private frustration is I wish to get again to the UFC and I’m doing no matter I can to make that occur. I’m preventing one of the best exterior [the UFC]. In Bellator, I used to be preventing one of the best degree that I might.”
From the day he began preventing MMA, Kamaka at all times wished to make it to the UFC and finally incomes a contract there was a dream come true.
Sadly, Kamaka’s UFC tenure solely lasted 4 fights however now with practically 4 years handed and much more expertise on his report, he looks like he’s really prepared to return.
“There’s little question about it. I at all times wished to be again,” Kamaka mentioned. “To me rising up, it’s UFC or bust. No matter that meant, that may imply I bought to LFA or the Bellator prelims, this or that, but when I simply saved striving for UFC or bust [and] that simply instructed me to be one of the best. Be one of the best model I can. Now, this enterprise exterior retains altering and now it truly is UFC or bust.”
As a lot as he needs to return to the UFC, Kamaka acknowledges that his return may actually come right down to timing and alternative. Fighters fall off playing cards on a regular basis and replacements are wanted on quick discover however that’s no completely different than how the vast majority of his appearances within the UFC got here collectively anyhow.
“At 25 years previous, my 4 fights within the UFC, I had one camp,” Kamaka mentioned. “I had one precise timed camp. A camp meant longer than 4 days’ discover for Tony Kelley. I had seven days’ discover for Jonathan Pearce and two weeks’ discover for Danny Chavez. I had one camp for T.J. Brown. I didn’t actually have a true time within the UFC. I had a yr and a half of three quick discover fights.
“That mentality is true now the identical coming in however now I’m rather more seasoned to be doing that type of factor. After all this subsequent one might be going to return on these phrases. I’ve already confronted that reality. However I even have much more expertise going into that cage, my combat IQ is manner increased than what it was. That mentality is now.”
