Kai Kamaka opens up on experience gained ahead of second UFC run
After five years competing in other promotions, Kai Kamaka returns to the UFC for a second run, feeling like a different fighter.
After nearly five years fighting in other promotions, Kai Kamaka is back in the UFC for a second run. While Kamaka (17-7-1 MMA, 1-2-1 UFC) has always had it in his mind that he would return to the UFC, the call came unexpectedly for a short-notice fight at UFC Fight Night 272 against newcomer Dakota Hope. "Honestly, it just feels more like a relief," Kamaka told MMA Junkie.
"Everybody knows how hard I've been working at this, how hard I've been trying to rewrite the story that I had five years ago in the UFC, and that's just been my main goal. We're here again, and we get to go again Saturday, so cannot really complain. Just grateful – grateful for all the lessons learned along this journey, along the past five years, the past year since becoming a free agent.
So, lots of feelings, but the one feeling I'm really comfortable with is knowing what this feels like. " Kamaka's first UFC run began in August 2020 at UFC 252, where he won a Fight of the Night decision over Tony Kelley. Unfortunately, that would be the only time he got his hand raised, as he lost the next two fights, and then fought to a majority draw before his exit.
He then fought in Bellator and PFL for his next eight fights, going 6-2. Kamaka's most recent fight was a second-round finish of Joshua Weems under the Tuff-N-Uff banner last April. Things have come full circle, as he feels this is now a chance to make things right in the UFC as a more experienced fighter who has a better handle on things inside and out of the cage.