Charles Johnson wants Kai Kara-France or Manel Kape next: 'I've done enough to show I'm ready for that'

LAS VEGAS – Charles Johnson is calling for a step up in competition.

Now on a four-fight winning streak, Johnson (17-6 MMA, 6-4 UFC) is hoping to get one of the bigger names in the flyweight division – Kai Kara-France or Manel Kape. This request comes after Johnson defeated Su Mudaerji (16-7 MMA, 3-4 UFC) in a unanimous decision on the main card of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 245.

“I would love to fight a Kai – not Asakura, but the other one: Kara-France,” Johnson said at the UFC Fight Night 245 post-fight press conference. “I would love to fight a Manel Kape. I would love to fight those guys in the top eight. I think I’ve done enough to show I’m ready for that.”

Johnson is hoping the UFC pushes him more in opportunity and promotion. He believes he could make big noise at 125 pounds, a division needed of big names.

“It feels like I’m getting every undefeated guy, every tough challenge before I get that opportunity and I just want to show them I’m an American, I can talk, I’ve got the swag,” Johnson said. “I’ve got everything this weight class needs. Y’all need somebody to market? These guys can’t speak English. Just because they’re foreign, I’ve got nothing against them. But they don’t know how to market themselves. Nobody is talking. … I just think I’m in a prime position to take over and do what needs to be done to make this a weight class people are excited about.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 245.