Kai Kara France Bio
James Kaiwhare “Kai” Kara-France (born 26 March 1993) is a New Zealand professional mixed martial artist who currently competes in the flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Fighting out of Auckland under the nickname “Don’t Blink,” he is widely regarded as one of the most exciting action fighters in the 125-pound division. His professional career has spanned more than a decade and has included bouts across Asia, the Pacific, and the international UFC roster.
Kara-France trains at City Kickboxing, one of the most respected gyms in the sport, and holds a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. With a professional record of 25 wins and 12 losses, he has earned multiple post-fight bonuses for his performances inside the Octagon.
Early Life and Background
Kara-France was born on 26 March 1993 in Auckland, New Zealand, and raised in the city. He is of Māori ancestry, with family connections to Waikato, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Kahungunu, and Tūhoe. He began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the age of 10 but stepped away from the mats after two years, before later returning to combat sports in a more complete way.
He attended Mount Albert Grammar School in Auckland, where his small stature made him a target for bullying. That difficult chapter pushed him toward mixed martial arts as a way to build confidence and skill. After high school, he briefly enrolled at Unitec Institute of Technology, but he soon chose to leave university behind to pursue fighting full time.
Path to MMA
Kara-France launched his professional mixed martial arts career in November 2010, when he stopped Ray Karaitiana by first-round TKO in Auckland. The victory launched a long stretch of regional bouts in New Zealand and the broader Pacific region. Looking to accelerate his development, he dropped out of university after spotting a Facebook post promoting a scholarship at the famed Tiger Muay Thai gym in Phuket, Thailand. He won a place in the try-outs and relocated to Thailand in 2013, where he built his record against opponents from across Asia and the Pacific.
His time in Phuket sharpened his striking and broadened his experience. In 2016, he returned to New Zealand and linked up with City Kickboxing, the Auckland-based gym that has produced several UFC champions. That same year, he earned a place on the 24th season of The Ultimate Fighter, the UFC’s long-running reality competition, where he scored a 30-second knockout of Terrence Mitchell before being eliminated in the quarterfinals by Alexandre Pantoja.
Kai Kara France Career
Early Career (2010–2015)
Kara-France’s early professional years were spent mostly in his home country, with additional appearances throughout the Asia-Pacific circuit. He racked up wins that established him as a rising flyweight and bantamweight prospect. His decision to leave university for Tiger Muay Thai reflected a clear commitment to making fighting his career.
Training in Phuket gave him daily access to elite sparring partners and coaches. Those development years helped him round out his stand-up game, preparing him for the bigger stages that followed once he returned to New Zealand and linked up with City Kickboxing.
The Ultimate Fighter and UFC Arrival (2016–2018)
Kara-France’s 2016 appearance on The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions gave him national visibility, even though his tournament run ended against Pantoja. The experience prepared him for the bright lights of the UFC, and the promotion officially signed him in July 2018.
He made his UFC debut on 1 December 2018 at UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Tuivasa, stepping in on short notice against Elias Garcia after Ashkan Mokhtarian withdrew due to injury. After both men were knocked down, Kara-France earned a unanimous decision and collected a $50,000 Fight of the Night bonus in his very first UFC appearance.
Building a Flyweight Resume (2019–2020)
Following his debut, Kara-France won a split decision over Raulian Paiva at UFC 234 in February 2019, then outpointed Mark De La Rosa at UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Zhang. He was later matched with Brandon Moreno in late 2019, a bout he lost by unanimous decision, but one that signaled his willingness to face top-tier opposition.
In 2020, he rebounded with a unanimous decision win over Tyson Nam at UFC Fight Night 168. A planned bout with Alex Perez later that year was pushed back due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and he instead met Brandon Royval at UFC 253. The two engaged in a wild back-and-forth contest, with Kara-France ultimately falling by second-round submission, but the performance earned him another Fight of the Night award.
City Kickboxing Era (2021–2023)
Kicking off a new four-fight UFC contract, Kara-France knocked out Rogério Bontorin in the first round at UFC 259 in March 2021, a win that earned him the Performance of the Night bonus. Months later, at UFC 269, he delivered a first-round TKO over former bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt, collecting a second consecutive Performance of the Night award and announcing himself as a real contender at 125 pounds.
He handed Askar Askarov his first professional loss via unanimous decision at UFC on ESPN 33 in March 2022, then challenged Brandon Moreno for the interim UFC Flyweight Championship at UFC 277 in July 2022. Though he dropped a third-round TKO, the bout earned him a fourth Fight of the Night bonus. He closed the stretch with a controversial split-decision loss to Amir Albazi at UFC on ESPN 46 in June 2023, with 19 of 21 media outlets scoring the fight in his favor. A planned bout with Manel Kape at UFC 293 fell through after a training concussion forced him out.
Late Career and Hiatus (2024–2025)
Kara-France returned to form at UFC 305 in August 2024, dispatching Steve Erceg by first-round TKO to claim another Performance of the Night bonus. A title opportunity against Alexandre Pantoja was originally booked for UFC 314, then shifted to UFC 316, and finally took place at UFC 317 on 28 June 2025. Pantoja won by rear-naked choke in the third round.
On 18 November 2025, it was reported that Kara-France stepped away from competition for a year-long hiatus to focus on personal matters, and he was subsequently removed from the UFC rankings.
Notable Events and Milestones
His first-round TKO of Cody Garbrandt at UFC 269 stands as one of the signature moments of his career, as did his 30-second KO of Terrence Mitchell on The Ultimate Fighter. Multiple Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses underline his reputation as one of the flyweight division’s most entertaining competitors.
Kai Kara France Career Wins
Across his professional career, Kara-France has accumulated 25 verified victories, including 3 by knockout, 4 by submission, and 5 by decision, with 13 additional stoppages spread across his record. He has scored memorable finishes in regional shows, on The Ultimate Fighter, and inside the UFC Octagon.
UFC Highlights
His UFC wins include a first-round knockout of Rogério Bontorin at UFC 259, a first-round TKO of Cody Garbrandt at UFC 269, a unanimous decision over Askar Askarov at UFC on ESPN 33, a unanimous decision win over Tyson Nam at UFC Fight Night 168, and a first-round TKO of Steve Erceg at UFC 305. Each of those performances came with a post-fight bonus, underscoring how often his bouts have thrilled UFC audiences.
Kai Kara France Family
Family Background and Lineage
Kara-France is of Māori ancestry, with tribal connections to Waikato, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Kahungunu, and Tūhoe. He grew up in Auckland and has spoken about the importance of representing his heritage on the global MMA stage.
Personal Life
Kara-France is married to his wife, Chardae, and the couple has a son. He is based in Auckland, where he continues to train at City Kickboxing.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 campaign was headlined by Kara-France’s long-awaited title shot against Alexandre Pantoja. Originally booked for UFC 314, the bout was pushed to UFC 316 and then rescheduled again before ultimately playing out at UFC 317 on 28 June 2025. Pantoja finished the challenger by rear-naked choke in the third round, ending Kara-France’s latest push for championship gold.
Outside of the title fight, the year was defined by uncertainty, as several scheduled appearances were reshuffled around global UFC cards. The result placed Kara-France back into a familiar role as a must-watch contender in the flyweight division, with another run at the belt likely waiting once he returns.
On 18 November 2025, reports confirmed that Kara-France had announced a year-long hiatus from competition to address personal matters, and he was removed from the official UFC rankings. The decision paused his career momentum and opened the door for the flyweight division to move on while he recharges away from the sport.