MELBOURNE, Australia – After a “Fight of the Night” octagon debut, Kai Kara-France is competing for something more than a paycheck and a win at UFC 234.

“I’m focused to get a finish and showcase why the flyweights should be in the UFC and why we’re exciting,” Kara-France told reporters, including MMAjunkie, prior to a meeting with Raulian Paiva on Saturday at Rod Laver Arena.

Kara-France (18-7 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has shown himself adept at making a good impression. As a member of Team Cejudo on “The Ultimate Fighter 24,” he got his start on the reality show with a first-round knockout. Although outpointed by Alexandre Pantoja in his next fight, the UFC signed him to a contract with a surprise announcement.

Cejudo has urged the promotion not to shut down the flyweight division, though he’s also pushed for a shot at T.J. Dillashaw’s bantamweight title after a first-round knockout last month. That doesn’t exactly help the case of 125-pound fighters.

Kara-France would rather see Joseph Benavidez get a rematch with Cejudo for the flyweight title. But in the meantime, he’ll do his part by delivering exciting fights. After all, that’s the best job security.

To hear more from Kara-France, watch the video above.

For more on UFC 234, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.