Kai Kara-France

James Kaiwhare "Kai" Kara-France

Mixed martial arts career Early career In November 2010, Kara-France began his professional MMA career in his home city of Auckland, with a first-round TKO win over Ray Karaitiana.

Kara-France decided to drop out of the university after seeing a Facebook post promoting Tiger Muay Thai gym scholarship. He won his first fight with a 30-second KO win over Terrence Mitchell. His second and final fight in this tournament was in the quarterfinals, where he lost by decision to Alexandre Pantoja.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Kara-France was signed by the UFC in July 2018 and he made his UFC debut on 1 December 2018, at UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Tuivasa against Ashkan Mokhtarian. However, on 21 November 2018, Mokhtarian was pulled from the fight, citing an injury, and he was replaced by Elias Garcia. After both fighters getting knocked down, Kara-France won the fight via unanimous decision. Both fighters were awarded US$50,000 Fight of the Night bonuses.

Two months later, Kara-France faced Raulian Paiva on 10 February 2019, at UFC 234. He won the fight via split decision.

Kara-France faced Mark De La Rosa on 31 August 2019, at UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Zhang. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Kara-France was briefly linked to a bout against Sergio Pettis on 14 December 2019, at UFC 245. However, in early October, Pettis revealed that he was entertaining offers from other promotions after the completion of his previous contract and did not currently have a fight lined up with the promotion. Kara-France instead faced Brandon Moreno. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Kara-France faced Tyson Nam on 23 February 2020, at UFC Fight Night 168. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Kara-France was expected to face Alex Perez on 16 May 2020. However, on 9 April, Dana White, the president of UFC, announced that the event had been postponed to a future date due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Kara-France faced Brandon Royval on 27 September 2020 at UFC 253. After both fighters were knocked down in the first round, Kara-France lost the fight via submission in the second round. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.

As the first bout of his new four-fight contract, Kara-France faced Rogério Bontorin on 6 March 2021, at UFC 259. He won the fight via knockout in round one. This fight earned him the Performance of the Night award.

Kara-France next faced former UFC Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt on 11 December 2021, at UFC 269. He won the fight via TKO in the first round. The win also earned Kara-France his second consecutive Performance of the Night bonus award.

Kara-France faced Askar Askarov on 26 March 2022, at UFC on ESPN 33. He spoiled Askarov's undefeated record, handing him his first loss via unanimous decision.

Kara-France faced former flyweight champion Brandon Moreno in a rematch on 30 July 2022, with the interim UFC Flyweight Championship on the line, at UFC 277. He lost the fight via TKO in the third round. The bout earned him his fourth Fight of the Night award.

Kara-France was scheduled to face Alex Perez on 12 February 2023, at UFC 284. However, Kara-France was pulled out of the fight, citing a knee injury.

Kara-France faced Amir Albazi on 3 June 2023, at UFC on ESPN 46. He lost the fight via a highly controversial split decision. 19 out of 21 media outlets scored the bout in favor of Kara-France.

Kara-France was scheduled to face Manel Kape on 10 September 2023, at UFC 293. However Kara-France pulled out of the fight in late August after suffering a concussion during training, and was replaced by Felipe dos Santos.

Kara-France faced former UFC Flyweight Championship challenger Steve Erceg on 18 August 2024, at UFC 305. He won the fight by technical knockout in the first round. This fight earned him another Performance of the Night award.

Kara-France was reportedly scheduled to face Alexandre Pantoja for the UFC Flyweight Championship on 12 April 2025, at UFC 314. However, for unknown reasons, the bout was reportedly moved to 7 June 2025 at UFC 316 but never came to fruition. The bout was rescheduled and took place on 28 June 2025 at UFC 317. Kara-France lost the fight via a rear-naked choke submission in the third round.

On 18 November 2025, it was reported that Kara-France was removed from the UFC rankings after announcing a year-long hiatus from competition to focus on personal matters.

Personal life Kara-France and his wife Chardae have a son.

Championships and accomplishments Mixed martial arts Ultimate Fighting Championships Fight of the Night (Three times) Third highest takedown defense percentage in UFC Flyweight division history (88.0%)

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Alexandre Pantoja Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC 317

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Steve Erceg TKO (punches) UFC 305

Perth, Australia Loss

Amir Albazi Decision (split) UFC on ESPN: Kara-France vs. Albazi

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Brandon Moreno TKO (body kick and punches) UFC 277

Dallas, Texas, United States Win

Askar Askarov Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Blaydes vs. Daukaus

Columbus, Ohio, United States Win

Cody Garbrandt TKO (punches) UFC 269

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Rogério Bontorin KO (punches) UFC 259

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Brandon Royval Submission (guillotine choke) UFC 253

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Win

Tyson Nam Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker

Auckland, New Zealand Loss

Brandon Moreno Decision (unanimous) UFC 245

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Mark De La Rosa Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Zhang

Shenzhen, China Win

Raulian Paiva Decision (split) UFC 234

Melbourne, Australia Win

Elias Garcia Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Tuivasa

Adelaide, Australia Win

Shi Xiaoyu Submission (rear-naked choke) Glory of Heroes: New Zealand vs. China

Auckland, New Zealand Win

Huoyixibai Chuhayifu Decision (unanimous) WLF W.A.R.S. 19

Zhengzhou, China Win

Aori Qileng Decision (unanimous) WLF W.A.R.S. 14

Zhengzhou, China Win

Wu Ze TKO (punches) WLF W.A.R.S. 13

Zhengzhou, China Win

Rodolfo Marques KO (punch) Hex Fight Series 8

Melbourne, Australia Loss

Tatsumitsu Wada Decision (unanimous) Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 2nd Round

Saitama, Japan Win

Crisanto Pitpitunge TKO (cartwheel kick and punches) Pacific Xtreme Combat 52

Mangilao, Guam Win

Josh Duenas TKO (punches) Pacific Xtreme Combat 50

Mangilao, Guam Win

Shantaram Maharaj TKO (punches) Bragging Rights 7

Perth, Australia Win

Dindo Camansa KO (punches) Malaysian Invasion: Mixed Martial A'rr

Andaman Sea, Thailand Win

Jang Ik-hwan TKO (punches) PRO Fighting 10

Taipei, Taiwan Loss

Ayideng Jumayi Decision (unanimous) Kunlun Fight 18

Nanjing, China Loss

Mark Striegl Submission (rear-naked choke) Malaysian Invasion 2: Grand Finals

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Loss

Gustavo Falciroli Submission (brabo choke) Australian FC 9

Melbourne, Australia Win

Wu Tieyin Decision (unanimous) Kunlun Fight 1

Pattaya, Thailand NC

Gustavo Falciroli No Contest (Kara-France fell out of the ring) Australian FC 7

Melbourne, Australia Win

Wu Tieyin Submission (guillotine choke) World Team USA: Fight for Peace

Manila, Philippines Win

Yudi Cahyadi Decision (unanimous) Bandung Fighting Club 1

Bandung, Indonesia Win

Kim Ho-joon KO (head kick) PRO Fighting 8

Taipei, Taiwan Loss

Danaa Batgerel Decision (unanimous) Legend FC 11

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Win

Caleb Lally Decision (unanimous) Rage in the Cage

Tauranga, New Zealand Win

Sam Chan Submission (guillotine choke) Legend FC 10

Hong Kong, SAR, China Loss

Agustin Delarmino KO (punches) Legend FC 8

Hong Kong, SAR, China Loss

Chad George KO (punch) The Cage 2

Whakatāne, New Zealand Win

Ray Kaitiana TKO (punches) Supremacy Cage Fighting 7

Auckland, New Zealand

Mixed martial arts exhibition record Loss

Alexandre Pantoja Decision (unanimous)

Win

Terrence Mitchell KO (punch)