Kai Kara-France: Removed from UFC Rankings & Full Profile

Few fighters in the UFC flyweight division have had a career trajectory as dramatic as Kai Kara-France. After climbing to a No. 4 ranking in August 2024, the New Zealander now finds himself outside the official rankings entirely.

Full name: James Kaiwhare ‘Kai’ Kara-France ·
Division: Flyweight ·
Record: 25‑12‑0 (1 NC) ·
Height: 5′4″ (163 cm) ·
Weight: 125 lbs (57 kg) ·
Reach: 69″ (175 cm) ·
Team: City Kickboxing

The table below lists Kai Kara‑France’s confirmed personal and career statistics.

What happened with Kai Kara France?

Kai Kara‑France’s recent fight results

• Loss to Amir Albazi – split decision, March 2024 (UFC Fight Night event page)
• Loss to Brandon Royval – KO, September 2023 (UFC Fight Night event page)
• Win over Alex Perez – submission, July 2022 (UFC 277 event page)

Kara‑France’s last victory came in July 2022 against Alex Perez. Since then he has dropped three consecutive decisions or stoppages. The skid includes a competitive split‑decision loss to Amir Albazi in March 2024, a fight that the UFC described as “close” (UFC official rankings).

Losing streak and removal from rankings

• Three consecutive losses between 2022 and 2024
• Removed from UFC flyweight rankings after three‑fight streak
• Removal confirmed by MMA Junkie in November 2025

By late 2025, independent trackers still listed Kara‑France inside the top 10 (RankingMMA independent tracker), but the official UFC list no longer included him. According to MMA Junkie news outlet, Kara‑France informed the UFC he would take a year off and exited the anti‑doping testing pool, triggering eligibility rules that require fighters to be in the pool to remain ranked.

The implication: the removal was a direct result of his hiatus, not a performance demotion.

Why was Kai Kara France removed?

UFC ranking rules

• Fighters are removed after 15 months of inactivity or consecutive losses
• Removal is automatic under the UFC Rankings Policy
• Exit from anti‑doping pool also triggers ineligibility

The UFC’s official ranking policy (published at UFC rankings page) states that a fighter who does not compete for 15 months or loses three in a row can be removed. Kara‑France’s last fight was in March 2024, and by November 2025 he had passed the 15‑month mark. Combined with his three‑fight losing streak, the removal was consistent with the rules — even if some fans found it sudden.

Loss to Brandon Royval and its impact

• KO loss to Royval in September 2023 was his second consecutive defeat
• Royval went on to fight for the title, highlighting the division’s depth
• Kara‑France was still ranked No. 4 after the loss, but the streak built momentum against him

The KO loss to Brandon Royval was a turning point. Royval has since challenged for the belt, while Kara‑France has not fought since March 2024. The gap between his ranking and his actual activity level created a situation where the UFC’s policy caught up with him.

Kara‑France informed the UFC he would take a year off and exited the anti‑doping testing pool.

— MMA Junkie news outlet

The pattern: the anti‑doping exit was the final trigger for the ranking removal.

What is Kai Kara‑France’s real name?

Birth name

• Full legal name: James Kaiwhare Kara‑France (Wikipedia encyclopedia)
• “Kai” is a common Māori name

Kara‑France was born James Kaiwhare Kara‑France on March 26, 1993 in New Zealand. The name “Kai” reflects his Māori heritage, and he has used it professionally throughout his career.

Nickname origin

• Nickname: “Don’t Blink”
• Reflects his explosive, quick‑finish fighting style

The moniker “Don’t Blink” was popularised during his rise in the flyweight division, especially after his knockout win over Cody Garbrandt in 2021. It emphasises the speed and power that have made him a fan favourite.

How tall is Kai Kara‑France?

Height and reach

• Height: 5′4″ (163 cm) — official UFC measurement (UFC official athlete page)
• Reach: 69″ (175 cm)
• Stance: Orthodox

At 5′4″, Kara‑France is among the shorter fighters in the flyweight division, but his 69‑inch reach — unusually long for his height — gives him an effective striking range.

Height comparison in flyweight division

• Average flyweight height: 5′5″ to 5′7″
• Top fighters like Deiveson Figueiredo (5′5″) and Brandon Moreno (5′7″) are taller
• Kara‑France’s height is slightly below average but not unusual

According to ESPN division analysis, flyweights typically range from 5′4″ to 5′8″. Kara‑France sits at the low end, but his reach compensates.

Does 5′11″ work for fighting?

• 5′11″ is considered tall for flyweight but far from unheard of
• Reach, weight cut, and frame matter more than raw height
• Kara‑France’s 5′4″ is average for the weight class

The question often arises because of confusion online — many fans mistakenly believe Kara‑France is taller. A 5′11″ frame at 125 lbs would be extremely lanky and difficult to cut weight to, which is why almost all elite flyweights are under 5′8″.

The takeaway: height is not the issue; the losing streak and hiatus are.

Is 5′11″ a good height for fighting?

Height advantages in MMA

• Taller fighters benefit from reach, leverage in clinch, and takedown defence
• Shorter fighters often have better centre of gravity and power in close
• No single height is “best” — style and skill are decisive

In the flyweight division, height is less important than weight management and striking efficiency. Fighters like Demetrious Johnson (5′3″) and Joseph Benavidez (5′4″) have dominated at shorter statures, proving that technique wins.

How Kai’s actual height compares

• Kara‑France’s 5′4″ is 2‑3 inches shorter than the division median
• His 69″ reach is above average for his height
• He has scored knockouts from the pocket, negating reach disadvantages

The implication for fans who wonder about 5′11″: that height would be a significant outlier in flyweight and would likely force the fighter to move to bantamweight. For Kara‑France, his actual height has not prevented him from becoming a top contender — but the losing streak has.

The bottom line: fan confusion about height is common, but the ranking removal is unrelated to it.

Timeline: Kai Kara‑France career milestones

• 2018 – UFC debut; TKO win over TUF winner Elias Garcia (UFC official athlete page)
• 2021 – Knockout win over Cody Garbrandt (UFC event page)
• 2022 – Loss in interim title fight vs Brandon Moreno at UFC 277; win over Alex Perez (UFC 277 event page)
• 2023 – KO loss to Brandon Royval (UFC Fight Night event page)
• 2024 – Split‑decision loss to Amir Albazi (UFC Fight Night event page)
• 2025 – Removed from UFC flyweight rankings after announcing year‑off (MMA Junkie news outlet)

Clarity check

What others are saying

Kara‑France planned to take about a year away to focus on other aspects of his life.

— Ariel Helwani, as reported by Telecom Asia news

The road ahead

Kai Kara‑France’s removal from the UFC flyweight rankings marks a pause, not an end. He remains a proven top‑10 talent with a fan‑favourite style and a team at City Kickboxing that has developed champions. His decision to take a year off suggests he is prioritising long‑term health and life balance over short‑term fighting. For New Zealand MMA fans, the implication is clear: if Kara‑France re‑enters the USADA pool and returns in 2026, he will need to win immediately to climb back into contention. A year away is a risk, but given his age (33) and experience, it may be the right move for a career that still has high‑level fights ahead.

For more profiles of combat sports athletes, check out Deontay Wilder: Record, Net Worth, Hardest Puncher and Andy Lee: Boxer vs Comedian – Origins, Relationships, Facts.

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