Kai Kara-France Net Worth 2024, Record, Height, Wife & Endorsements

Who is Kai Kara-France?

Kai Kara-France is one of the rising names in the UFC's flyweight division. He is a New Zealand-based fighter who has fought in the sport's bantamweight and flyweight divisions. He has taken part in competitions like the Legend Fighting Championship, Pacific Xtreme Combat, and Bandung Fighting Club in different parts of the world. Kara-France currently stands at the fourth place in the UFC flyweight rankings. 

Kai Kara-France’s Early Life 

Kai Kara-France, born on March 26, 1993, in Auckland, New Zealand, has become one of the prominent figures in the world of mixed martial arts (MMA), particularly in the UFC's Flyweight division. However, before his rise in the MMA world, Kai had a humble beginning that shaped his path to success. Kai grew up in Auckland, where he was raised in a supportive family environment.

He is of Māori and Samoan descent, and his upbringing was steeped in the values and traditions of his cultural heritage. His early life was marked by the discipline and respect often emphasized in Polynesian cultures, which later played a significant role in his approach to martial arts.

As a child, Kai was active and energetic, showing an early interest in sports. He began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) at the age of 10, a martial art that would later become a crucial aspect of his MMA skill set. He attended Mount Albert Grammar School in Auckland, where he continued his education while balancing his growing passion for martial arts. Despite the challenges of juggling academics and training, Kai was determined to excel in both areas.

His school years were also a time when he began to explore other combat sports, including Muay Thai and boxing, which added to his versatility as a fighter. After completing high school, Kara-France decided to fully commit to a career in mixed martial arts. He moved to Thailand, a renowned hub for combat sports, to train in Muay Thai, one of the most effective striking disciplines in MMA. During his time in Thailand, he honed his skills, learning from some of the best trainers in the world and competing in local circuits to gain experience.

Kai's time in Thailand was transformative, not only in terms of his fighting skills but also in shaping his mentality as a professional athlete. The rigorous training and the competitive environment pushed him to new limits, preparing him for the global stage of MMA. Upon returning to New Zealand, Kai began competing in regional MMA promotions, gradually building his reputation as a formidable fighter. His early career was characterized by his relentless work ethic, sharp striking, and solid grappling skills, which he had developed through years of dedicated training.

Before he entered the UFC, Kai competed in several international promotions, including the Chinese-based Kunlun Fight and the Australian-based Eternal MMA, where he amassed a record that caught the attention of UFC scouts.

Kai Kara-France’s Wife and Children

Kai Kara-France likes to keep his personal life private and thus there is hardly any information about his family. However, we do know that he tied the knot with Chardae in lockdown as the couple are parents to two children. Their firstborn is named Cobi, and both Kai-Kara and Chardae have often shared his snaps via their official social media accounts.

However, not much is known about their second-born. They announced the second pregnancy on Instagram in 2023 but have kept the details of their second child private.

Kai Kara-France’s Net Worth 2024

Kai-Kara France is said to have a net worth of $500,000. The fighter earns a major chunk of his income via UFC in the form of base salary and bonuses, while he also has partnerships and endorsement deals to his name. Speaking of his salary in Dana White's promotion, the fighter has a base pay of $150,000 while, as per Mediareferee, in his last bout, he took home a total amount of $232,000.

Kai Kara-France’s Career Timeline

After signing with the UFC in 2018, Kai made his debut on December 1, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 142, where he dominated Elias Garcia to secure a unanimous decision victory. This win marked the beginning of his rise in the Flyweight division.

Kai continued to build momentum, earning a split decision win over Raulian Paiva at UFC 234 in February 2019 and followed it up with another unanimous decision victory against Mark De La Rosa at UFC Fight Night 156 in August 2019. However, his first major test came in December 2019 at UFC 245 when he faced Brandon Moreno, a top-ranked contender.

Despite a valiant effort, Kara-France suffered his first UFC loss by a unanimous decision, a setback that would only fuel his drive to improve. Bouncing back stronger, the fighter defeated Tyson Nam in February 2020 at UFC Fight Night 168 in his hometown of Auckland, New Zealand, once again showcasing his striking skills. Yet, the unpredictable nature of MMA struck again when he faced Brandon Royval in September 2020 at UFC 253.

In a thrilling back-and-forth fight, Kai dropped Royval early but ultimately succumbed to a guillotine choke in the second round. Undeterred, the fighter returned with a vengeance in March 2021 at UFC 259, where he delivered a stunning first-round knockout of Rogerio Bontorin. This victory not only earned him a Performance of the Night bonus but also reasserted his presence as a top contender in the division. Kai's knockout power and tenacity were on full display, reminding everyone of his potential.

In December 2021, he faced his biggest challenge yet when he stepped into the Octagon with former UFC Bantamweight Champion Cody Garbrandt at UFC 269. In a spectacular performance, Kai knocked out Garbrandt in the first round, securing another Performance of the Night bonus and solidifying his position as a legitimate title contender.

His journey then took him to an interim Flyweight title fight against Brandon Moreno at UFC 277 in July 2022. In this highly anticipated rematch, Kai fought valiantly but was stopped by a body kick in the third round. Despite the loss, his performance reaffirmed his status as one of the division’s elite fighters.

In his most recent fight, in June 2023, Kara-France faced rising contender Amir Albazi at UFC Fight Night, also known as UFC Vegas 74. In a closely contested bout, Kai lost by split decision, but the fight demonstrated his continued growth and determination to remain at the top of the Flyweight division.

Kai Kara-France's UFC career is a tale of perseverance, marked by spectacular victories, tough losses, and an unwavering commitment to achieving his dream of becoming a UFC champion. As his journey continues, fans eagerly await what’s next for this talented fighter from New Zealand.

Kai Kara-France’s Partnerships and Endorsements

The flyweight fighter has partnerships and endorsement deals as a second source of income. He has contracts with YouKnowClothing and Onnys.co. 

Kai Kara-France’s Career Stats and Record

Kai Kara-France has a total of 24 pro-MMA victories to his name, while 11 of his bouts ended in a defeat and one in a no-contest. He won 11 fights via KO/TKO, three via submission, and ten via decision. As far as his UFC career is concerned, he has a total of seven victories and four defeats to his name.

Kai Kara-France’s Major Achievement and Awards

• Fight of the Night (Three times)


• Performance of the Night (Two times)

Kai Kara-France’s Social Media Accounts