Last updated: August 2026
| Net Worth | Estimated $500,000 – $2 million (unverified) |
| Born | March 26, 1993 |
| Profession | Professional MMA Fighter (UFC Flyweight) |
| Nationality | 🇳🇿 New Zealander |
Kai Kara-France is a New Zealand mixed martial artist who competes in the UFC’s flyweight division. Reported net worth figures for Kara-France vary widely across MMA finance sites, generally ranging from around $500,000 to $1.5 million — a hedged range of $500,000 to $2 million reflects the uncertainty in publicly available fight-purse data.
Early Life & Family
James Kaiwhare “Kai” Kara-France was born on March 26, 1993, in Auckland, New Zealand. He is of Maori descent, with whakapapa to the Waikato Tainui and Ngati Kahungunu iwi, and began training in combat sports as a young man in Auckland before moving into professional MMA.
Rise to Fame
Kara-France built his name on the New Zealand and Australian regional MMA circuit before gaining wider international attention through an appearance on The Ultimate Fighter in 2016. He signed with the UFC in 2018 and quickly established himself in the flyweight division, training out of the well-regarded City Kickboxing gym in Auckland alongside other prominent New Zealand fighters.
Career History
Since joining the UFC, Kara-France has built a professional record of 25 wins against 12 losses, including notable victories over former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt and previously unbeaten contender Askar Askarov. He has earned multiple post-fight performance bonuses across his UFC career. In June 2025, he challenged Alexandre Pantoja for the UFC Flyweight Championship, losing by third-round submission. In November 2025, Kara-France announced a year-long hiatus from competition to focus on personal matters, and was subsequently removed from the UFC rankings.
How They Built Their Wealth
Kara-France’s income comes primarily from UFC fight purses, which typically increase with seniority and include win bonuses, plus additional performance-of-the-night bonuses he has earned multiple times during his career. He has also drawn income from sponsorships tied to his profile as one of New Zealand’s most prominent MMA exports.
Personal Life
Kara-France is married to his wife, Chardae, and the couple have a son, Cobi.
Kai Kara-France’s net worth is best estimated in the $500,000 to $2 million range, built through a UFC career that has included a flyweight title challenge and wins over some of the division’s most respected names.