It’s going down at 145 pounds on Saturday night as Andre Fili faces Kai Kamaka III at UFC Fight Night: Allen vs. Duncan inside the Meta APEX.
Fili (25–14, 13–13 UFC [1 NC]) has dropped back-to-back fights, capped by a second-round TKO loss to Vinicius Oliveira in June. Kamaka (18–8–1, 2–3–1 UFC) looks to rebound from a first-round stoppage loss to Luke Riley at UFC 329 in June.
Fili enters as a -148 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Kamaka is a +124 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 2.5 rounds.
Andre Fili vs. Kai Kamaka III Fight Preview
Andre Fili
- 25–14 (13–13 UFC, 1 NC)
- 10–5 (T)KO
- 3–3 SUB
Despite his veteran status, Andre Fili is still searching for consistency inside the Octagon. The Washington native, 36, has largely alternated wins and losses since his 2013 UFC debut and is now looking to recover from consecutive losses.
“Touchy” Fili is active on the feet but tends to absorb more damage than he doles out; his finishing upside and durability have also faded in the twilight of his career. That said, Fili enters Saturday night with superior cage experience, a grappling edge, and a towering size advantage — four inches in height, five in reach — over Kai Kamaka III.
Kai Kamaka III
- 18–8–1 (2–3–1 UFC)
- 3–3 (T)KO
- 1–0 SUB
While getting stopped by undefeated prospect Luke Riley is far from the end of the world, Kai Kamaka III enters Saturday night still looking to establish himself at the UFC level. “The Fighting Hawaiian,” 31, was initially cut from the promotion in 2021 before returning earlier this year; two fights into his second stint, Kamaka’s best result is a split-decision win.
Kamaka likes to push the pace on the feet with solid combinations and a healthy diet of calf kicks. However, he lacks true stoppage prowess and, like Fili, gets hit a ton. His middling defensive grappling (55 percent takedown defense) is also a potential concern. While his chin should still be intact following the Riley loss, he may struggle to find his rhythm against his much longer opponent.
Andre Fili vs. Kai Kamaka III Pick, Best Bet
Saturday’s matchup between Andre Fili and Kai Kamaka III should deliver some thrilling striking exchanges, with the former likely holding an edge behind his unmatched experience, massive size advantage, and grappling threat. That said, a stoppage either way seems incredibly unlikely. Despite their aggressive styles, Fili has recorded only four finishes across 26 UFC fights, while Kamaka has never stopped someone inside the Octagon. This one should be fun for the full 15 minutes.
