Kai Kara-France
James Kaiwhare Kara-France[1] (born March 26, 1993) is a New Zealand mixed martial artist who competes in the flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of June 10, 2020, he is #8 in the UFC flyweight rankings.[3]
Kai Kara-France | |
---|---|
Born | James Kaiwhare Kara-France[1][2] 26 March 1993 |
Other names | Don't Blink |
Nationality | New Zealander |
Height | 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) |
Weight | 125 lb (57 kg; 8.9 st) |
Division | Flyweight Bantamweight |
Style | Kickboxing |
Fighting out of | Auckland, New Zealand |
Team | City Kickboxing |
Rank | Blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
Years active | 2010–present |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 30 |
Wins | 21 |
By knockout | 9 |
By submission | 3 |
By decision | 9 |
Losses | 8 |
By knockout | 2 |
By submission | 2 |
By decision | 4 |
No contests | 1 |
Other information | |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Mixed martial arts career
Early Career
In November 2010, Kara-France began his professional MMA career in his home city of Auckland, New Zealand, with a first-round TKO win over Ray Kaitiana.[4]
The Ultimate Fighter
In 2016, Kara-France competed in The Ultimate Fighter: Tournament of Champions - the 24th edition of the UFC-produced reality television series The Ultimate Fighter.[5] He won his first fight with a 30-second KO win over Terrence Mitchell.[6] His second and final fight in this tournament was in the quarterfinals, where he lost by decision to Alexandre Pantoja.[7]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Kara-France was signed by the UFC on July 2018[8] and he made his UFC debut on December 1, 2018 at UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Tuivasa against Ashkan Mokhtarian. However on November 21, 2018 Moktarian was pulled from the fight citing injury,[9] and he was replaced by Elias Garcia.[10] Kara-France won the fight via unanimous decision.[11] Both fighters were awarded US $50,000 Fight of the Night bonuses.[12]
Two months later, Kara-France faced Raulian Paiva on February 10, 2019 at UFC 234.[13] He won the fight via split decision.[14]
Kara-France faced Mark De La Rosa on August 31, 2019 at UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Zhang.[15] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[16]
Kara-France was briefly linked to a bout Sergio Pettis on December 14, 2019 at UFC 245.[17] 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.[18] Kara-France instead faced Brandon Moreno.[19] He lost the fight by unanimous decision.[20]
Kara-France faced Tyson Nam on February 23, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 168.[21] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[22]
Kara-France was expected to face Alex Perez on May 16, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 175.[23] However, on April 9, Dana White, the president of UFC announced that this event was postponed to a future date[24]
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championships
- Fight of the Night (One times) vs. Elias Garcia[25]
Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown | ||
30 matches | 21 wins | 8 losses |
By knockout | 9 | 2 |
By submission | 3 | 2 |
By decision | 9 | 4 |
No contests | 1 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 21–8 (1) | Tyson Nam | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. Hooker | February 23, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Auckland, New Zealand | |
Loss | 20–8 (1) | Brandon Moreno | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 245 | December 14, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 20–7 (1) | Mark De La Rosa | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Andrade vs. Zhang | August 31, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Shenzhen, China | |
Win | 19–7 (1) | Raulian Paiva | Decision (split) | UFC 234 | February 10, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Melbourne, Australia | |
Win | 18–7 (1) | Elias Garcia | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: dos Santos vs. Tuivasa | December 2, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Adelaide, Australia | Return to Flyweight. Fight of the Night. |
Win | 17–7 (1) | Xiaoyu Shi | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Glory of Heroes - New Zealand vs. China | March 4, 2018 | 1 | N/A | Auckland, New Zealand | |
Win | 16–7 (1) | Huoyixibai Chuhayifu | Decision (unanimous) | W.A.R.S. 19 | November 11, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Zhengzhou, China | |
Win | 15–7 (1) | Qileng Aori | Decision (unanimous) | W.A.R.S. 14 | May 20, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Zhengzhou, China | Catchweight (129 lbs) bout. |
Win | 14–7 (1) | Ze Wu | TKO | W.A.R.S. 13 | April 22, 2017 | 1 | 2:01 | Zhengzhou, China | |
Win | 13–7 (1) | Rodolfo Marques | KO (punch) | Hex Fight Series 8 | March 31, 2017 | 3 | 2:59 | Melbourne, Australia | Return to Bantamweight. |
Loss | 12–7 (1) | Tatsumitsu Wada | Decision (unanimous) | Rizin World Grand Prix 2016: 2nd Round | December 29, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Saitama, Japan | |
Win | 12–6 (1) | Crisanto Pitpitunge | TKO (punches) | Pacific Xtreme Combat 52 | March 18, 2016 | 3 | 0:00 | Mangilao, Guam | |
Win | 11–6 (1) | Josh Duenas | TKO (punches) | Pacific Xtreme Combat 50 | December 4, 2015 | 1 | 0:22 | Mangilao, Guam | |
Win | 10–6 (1) | Shantaram Maharaj | TKO (punches) | Bragging Rights 7 | September 27, 2015 | 1 | 1:33 | Perth, Australia | Won the KOZ Flyweight Championship. |
Win | 9–6 (1) | Dindo Camansa | TKO (punches) | Malaysian Invasion: Mixed Martial A'rr | June 1, 2015 | 1 | 0:12 | Andaman Sea, Thailand | Flyweight debut. |
Win | 8–6 (1) | Ik Hwan Jang | TKO (punches) | PRO Fighting 10 | May 9, 2015 | 1 | 0:08 | Taipei, Taiwan | |
Loss | 7–6 (1) | Jumayi Ayideng | Decision (unanimous) | Kunlun Fight 18 | January 18, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Nanjing, China | |
Loss | 7–5 (1) | Mark Striegl | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Malaysian Invasion 2: Grand Finals | May 17, 2014 | 1 | 2:10 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | |
Loss | 7–4 (1) | Gustavo Falciroli | Submission (brabo choke) | AFC 9 | May 17, 2014 | 1 | 4:55 | Melbourne, Australia | For the AFC Bantamweight Championship. |
Win | 7–3 (1) | Tieyin Wu | Decision (unanimous) | Kunlun Fight 1 | January 25, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Pattaya, Thailand | |
NC | 6–3 (1) | Gustavo Falciroli | No Contest | AFC 7 | December 14, 2013 | 2 | 3:20 | Melbourne, Australia | Kai was KO'd and fell through the ropes, controversially ruled a NC. |
Win | 6–3 | Tieyin Wu | Submission (guillotine choke) | Bandung Fighting Club | October 23, 2013 | 1 | 1:54 | Manila, Philippines | |
Win | 5–3 | Yudi Cahyadi | Decision (Uunanimous) | Bandung Fighting Club | September 29, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Bandung, Indonesia | |
Win | 4–3 | Ho-Joon Kim | KO (head kick) | PRO Fighting 8 | August 4, 2013 | 1 | 3:44 | Taipei, Taiwan | |
Loss | 3–3 | Danaa Batgerel | Decision (unanimous) | Legend Fighting Championship 11 | April 27, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | |
Win | 3–2 | Caleb Lally | Decision (unanimous) | Rage in the Cage: MMA Fighting Championship | October 13, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Tauranga, New Zealand | |
Win | 2–2 | Sam Chan | Submission (guillotine choke) | Legend Fighting Championship 10 | August 24, 2012 | 1 | 3:21 | Hong Kong, SAR, China | |
Loss | 1–2 | Agustin Delarmino | KO (punches) | Legend Fighting Championship 8 | March 30, 2012 | 3 | 0:29 | Hong Kong, SAR, China | |
Loss | 1–1 | Chad George | KO (punch) | The Cage 2: USA vs. New Zealand | December 2, 2011 | 1 | 2:04 | Whakatane, New Zealand | |
Win | 1–0 | Ray Kaitiana | TKO (punches) | Supremacy Cage Fighting 7 | 27 November 2010 | 1 | 0:00 | Auckland, New Zealand | Bantamweight debut. |
References
- "Kaiwhare Kara-France is ready for battle at UFC 245". Māori Television. Retrieved 2019-12-10.
- UFC 245 results
- "Rankings | UFC". www.ufc.com. Retrieved 2020-06-10.
- Sherdog.com. "Kai". Sherdog. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
- Doyle, Dave (2016-07-19). "TUF 24 flyweight cast revealed". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
- "Video: Kai Kara-France earns quickfire TUF KO". www.sportingnews.com. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
- "Episode No. 8 recap: 'The Ultimate Fighter 24: Tournament of Champions'". MMA Junkie. 2016-11-03. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
- "Kai Kara France received a UFC deal in a pretty cool way". MMA Junkie. 2018-07-19. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
- John Morgan (2018-11-21). "Ashkan Mokhtarian out of UFC Adelaide, UFC seeks Anzac opponent for Kai Kara-France". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
- "Elias Garcia steps in vs. Kai Kara France at UFC Fight Night 142 in Adelaide". MMA Junkie. 2018-11-24. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
- "UFC Adelaide: Kai Kara-France dominates Elias Garcia to a unanimous decision victory". FanSided. 2018-12-01. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
- Staff (2018-12-02). "Two octagon newcomers among UFC Adelaide bonus winners". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2018-12-02.
- "Kai Kara-France vs. Raulian Paiva flyweight bout added to UFC 234". MMAJunkie. 2018-12-09. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
- "UFC 234: Kai Kara-France earns split decision win over Raulian Paiva". Newshub. 2019-10-02. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
- NZME, Christopher Reive Christopher Reive is a sports reporter for (2019-07-16). "MMA: Kai Kara-France set for bout against Mark de la Rosa at UFC Shenzhen". ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
- Anderson, Jay (2019-08-31). "UFC Shenzhen Results: Kai Kara-France Improves Win Streak to Eight Straight". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2019-08-31.
- Marvin France (2019-09-29). "Kiwi Kai Kara-France books fight against Sergio Pettis at UFC 245 in Las Vegas". stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2019-10-04.
- Jesse Holland (2019-10-03). "Free agency puts Sergio Pettis vs Kai Kara-France 'on hold' for UFC 245". MMAMania.com. Retrieved 2019-10-04.
- Christopher Rieve (2019-10-04). "Kai Kara-France to fight Brandon Moreno at UFC 245, Sergio Pettis now testing free agency". nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 2019-10-04.
- Martin, Damon (2019-12-14). "UFC 245 results: Brandon Moreno puts on striking display to outduel Kai Kara-France". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2019-12-15.
- DNA, MMA. "Snelle terugkeer voor Kai Kara-France tegen Tyson Nam tijdens UFC Auckland". Retrieved 2019-12-26.
- Evanoff, Josh (February 22, 2020). "UFC Auckland Results: Kai Kara-France Outpoints Tyson Nam". Cageside Press. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
- Nolan King and Mike Bohn (2020-03-06). "Alex Perez vs. Kai Kara-France booked for flyweight fight at UFC San Diego". mmajunkie. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
- Brett Okamoto (2020-04-09). "Dana White says UFC 249 will not happen April 18". espn.com. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
- Staff (2018-12-02). "Two octagon newcomers among UFC Adelaide bonus winners". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved 2018-12-02.
- Sherdog.com. "Kai". Sherdog. Retrieved 2019-09-23.