Kai Kara-France after his win against Tyson Nam in 2020. Photo: photosport
When Kai Kara-France steps into the octagon, he brings the warrior spirit of all his ancestors with him.
The Kiwi mixed martial artist is out to make history this month with a shot at becoming the first ever Māori UFC flyweight champion.
Kara-France (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Ati Awa), said he feels bullet-proof carrying his culture into the cage.
"I channel it when I step in there, and it gives me a lot of clarity and gives me clear intentions that I can do this. When I'm in there, there's no team to hide behind, but I'm not alone. I have all my tipuna behind me and it just allows me to kind of go inwards. I don't have to go looking for answers. It's always in me.
"It's my identity, it's my anchor. Fighting is my mahi, it's what people know me as. But long before I was a fighter, that's the reason why I'm a fighter, is because of my ancestors, my, and that's the blueprint I go off because they would've been navigating and all these challenges that they've had to go through."
Since entering the UFC in 2018, Kara-France has proudly showcased Māoridom to the world.
"That's what makes our culture so beautiful. So what I'm doing now in the modern day, I bring culture with me and I want to let everyone know where I come from and I'm very proud of it, be unapologetically Māori, and what better way than to become the first flyweight Māori champion? And if I don't do it, who else will?"
Kara-France said he was chasing mana for his sons.
"That's what's fuelling me. When I'm in there, I'm that warrior version of myself. When I'm back home with my family, I'm that sensitive, compassionate, unconditional love that I give to my wife and my two boys. It's being able to navigate those different roles and responsibilities as a man to let a younger generation that you can do it all and there is a time and place for everything, but also just prioritising what is important, and that's culture, that's whānau.
"I want to win this belt, defend a few times, and step away from the sport with a brain. Go up north, put my feet up, go fishing, hunting, and just live off the land and know that I've got no regrets, and show my boys that are looking up to me that their dad went out there and he chased his dreams."
Kara-France wanted to inspire not only his sons, but all rangatahi.
"When I first started, there wasn't a fight scene here. It was very underground. People used to see it as savage or thugs and it's cool to see that kind of support around us and know that the next generation is saying, 'I don't want to just be an All Black, I want to be a UFC fighter like Izzy or Kai or Dan.' It's cool that we're leaving that legacy behind."
UFC 317
Kai Kara-France vs Alexandre Pantoja
UFC Flyweight title
29 June
New Zealand UFC flyweight Kai-Kara France. Photo: Facebook - Kai Kara France
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