Kai Kara-France is a New Zealand flyweight star known for his explosive knockout power and heart-warming personal story, and as of 2026 he’s on a self-imposed career break to focus on personal and cultural growth.
Kai Kara-France’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | James Kaiwhare Kara-France |
| Nickname | Don’t Blink |
| Date of Birth | March 26, 1993 |
| Age | 33 years |
| Birthplace | Auckland, New Zealand |
| Religion | N/A |
| Nationality | New Zealander (of Maori descent) |
| Height | 5’4″ (163 cm) |
| Weight Class | Flyweight (125 lbs) |
| Reach | 69 inches (175 cm) |
| Gym/Team | City Kickboxing, |
| Professional Debut | November 27, 2010, vs Ray Kaitiana |
| Current Ranking | Unranked (voluntarily removed from UFC rankings, November 2025) |
| MMA Record | 25 wins, 12 losses, 1 no contest |
| Net Worth | Estimated between $500,000 and $2 million |
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Spouse | Chardae Kara-France |
| Children | Two (son Cobi, plus a second child) |
| Instagram Profile | @kaikarafrance |
Kara-France built his career the hard way, moving from small regional shows in Southeast Asia all the way to UFC title contention. He’s currently taking a break from active competition, which is why his UFC ranking shows as vacant right now.
Early Career
Kara-France started jiu-jitsu at age 10 after being bullied for his small size, then moved into MMA at 15. He turned pro at 17 and later won a scholarship to Tiger Muay Thai in Phuket, Thailand, where he sharpened his striking.
Over the next six years he fought 19 times across promotions like Legend FC and Pacific Xtreme Combat, building a strong regional record before landing a spot on The Ultimate Fighter season 24 in 2016.
Professional Career
Kara-France made his official UFC debut in December 2018, beating Elias Garcia by unanimous decision. He climbed the flyweight ranks with wins over Raulian Paiva, Mark De La Rosa, and Rogerio Bontorin, and challenged for interim gold twice against Brandon Moreno.
His biggest recent moment came at UFC 305 in August 2024, knocking out Steve Erceg in the first round to earn a shot at champion Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 317 in June 2025, which he lost by submission. After that fight, he stepped back from the sport for personal reasons.
Wife
Kai Kara-France is a married family man. He tied the knot with his longtime partner, Chardae, in a private backyard wedding during the pandemic in 2021. The couple welcomed their first child, a son named Cobi, in February 2021, just months before officially marrying, and they have since had a second child together.
Kai Kara-France’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Kai Kara-France’s net worth is estimated between around $500,000 – $2 million. Most of his income comes from UFC fight purses, win bonuses, and pay-per-view points, supplemented by smaller sponsorship deals. His career disclosed earnings from official bout agreements at around $377,000, though that figure doesn’t capture sponsorships or PPV bonuses.
Fight Purses
| Opponent | Event | Year | Purse |
| Elias Garcia | UFC Fight Night 142 | 2018 | $12,000 |
| Raulian Paiva | UFC 234 | 2019 | $24,000 |
| Mark De La Rosa | UFC Fight Night 157 | 2019 | $30,000 |
| Brandon Moreno | UFC 245 | 2019 | $38,000 |
| Tyson Nam | UFC Fight Night 168 | 2020 | $48,000 |
| Brandon Royval | UFC 253 | 2020 | $75,000 |
| Rogerio Bontorin | UFC 259 | 2021 | $75,000 |
| Cody Garbrandt | UFC 269 | 2021 | $85,000 |
| Askar Askarov | UFC on ESPN 33 | 2022 | $85,000 |
| Brandon Moreno (2) | UFC 277 | 2022 | $150,000 |
| Amir Albazi | UFC on ESPN 46 | 2023 | $210,000 |
| Steve Erceg | UFC 305 | 2024 | $300,000 |
| Alexandre Pantoja | UFC 317 | 2025 | $400,000 |
Career Earnings
| Source | Estimated Amount |
| Total disclosed fight purses | ~$377,000 |
| Total career earnings including bonuses/sponsorships | Over $2 million |
| Net worth estimate range | $500,000 – $2 million |
Endorsements
Kara-France has kept a relatively low-key sponsorship profile compared to bigger UFC stars, with most of his income deriving from fight purses rather than major brand deals.
He has occasionally worked with combat sports and lifestyle brands connected to his gym, City Kickboxing, and has represented causes tied to his charity work and Maori heritage on social media. Specific endorsement contract values are not publicly available.
Championships & Achievements
| Title/Achievement | Details |
| Junior New Zealand Kickboxing Title | Regional amateur title |
| ‘Bragging Rights’ Flyweight Champion | Perth, Australia |
| KOZ Flyweight Championship | Won September 2015 vs Shantaram Maharaj (TKO) |
| UFC Interim/Title Challenges | Two failed title challenges vs Brandon Moreno (2022) and Alexandre Pantoja (2025) |
| Performance/Fight of the Night bonuses | Multiple, including vs Rogerio Bontorin and Brandon Royval |
Fight Record
| Opponent | Result | Method | Event | Date |
| Alexandre Pantoja | Loss | Submission (Rd 3) | UFC 317 | June 28, 2025 |
| Steve Erceg | Win | KO/TKO (Rd 1) | UFC 305 | August 17, 2024 |
| Amir Albazi | Loss | Decision | UFC Fight Night | June 3, 2023 |
| Brandon Moreno | Loss | KO/TKO (Rd 3) | UFC 277 | July 30, 2022 |
| Askar Askarov | Loss | Decision | UFC on ESPN 33 | March 2022 |
| Cody Garbrandt | Win | KO/TKO | UFC 269 | December 11, 2021 |
| Rogerio Bontorin | Win | KO (Rd 1) | UFC on ESPN 22 | March 2021 |
| Brandon Royval | Loss | Submission (Guillotine) | UFC Fight Night | September 26, 2020 |
FAQs
1. Who is Kai Kara-France?
James Kaiwhare “Kai” Kara-France is a New Zealand mixed martial artist born on March 26, 1993, in Auckland. He fights out of City Kickboxing under head coach Eugene Bareman and competes in the UFC flyweight division.
2. What is his professional MMA record?
As of his most recent bout, Kara-France holds a professional record of 25 wins and 12 losses, with one no-contest. He has 12 wins by knockout, three by submission, and 10 by decision.
3. When did he start his MMA career?
Kara-France began jiu-jitsu at age 10 and moved into MMA at 15, later turning professional in November 2010 with a technical knockout win over Ray Katiana in Auckland. He had his first professional fight at age 17.
4. How did he get to the UFC?
After training in Thailand for four years at Tiger Muay Thai on a scholarship and fighting across the Asian MMA circuit, Kara-France appeared on The Ultimate Fighter Season 24 as part of Team Cejudo. He made his official UFC debut in 2018 in Adelaide, Australia, winning by decision and earning a Fight of the Night bonus.
5. Has he ever fought for a UFC title?
Yes, Kara-France has challenged for the UFC flyweight championship on more than one occasion but has not won the belt. His notable title-eliminator and title-shot bouts include a knockout loss to Brandon Moreno for the interim flyweight title at UFC 277 in July 2022.
6. What are some of his most notable UFC wins?
Kara-France has recorded wins over ranked contenders including Cody Garbrandt (KO/TKO at UFC 269), Rogerio Bontorin, Askar Askarov, and Steve Erceg, whom he stopped via strikes in the first round at UFC 305 in August 2024. He has earned three Fight of the Night and three Performance of the Night bonuses in his UFC career.
7. Who has he lost to recently?
His most recent losses came against Amir Albazi by split decision in June 2023, Brandon Moreno by KO/TKO in July 2022, and Alexandre Pantoja by submission at UFC 317 in June 2025.
8. Is Kai Kara-France married, and does he have children?
Kara-France is married to his wife, Chardae, whom he wed in a backyard wedding during the pandemic in late 2021. The couple has a son named Cobi, born in February 2021, and later welcomed a second child.
9. What is his fighting style and background?
Kara-France fights out of an orthodox stance and is a blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, also representing New Zealand in wrestling. His favorite techniques are the double-leg takedown and the overhand right, and he stands 5’4″ with a 69-inch reach.
10. What did Kai Kara-France do before becoming a fighter?
Before dedicating himself fully to MMA, Kara-France worked at the Auckland Zoo Cafe and had put a Bachelor of Sport degree on hold to pursue his fighting career. He has described overcoming childhood bullying over his size as a key motivation for starting martial arts training.