June 27, 2025 • 18 mins
Kai Kara-France joins Daniel Cormier for a DC check-in ahead of his CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT against Alexandre Pantoja, one of the GOATs of the division, in the co-main event of UFC 317. Kai breaks down his TKO win over Steve Erceg. He also talks about his title fight against Pantoja, and why he's sure he'll be THE FIRST guy to KNOCK OUT Pantoja. Kara-France also gets deep into his roots and heritage, and why generational trauma in his family has influenced who he is today. #Volume #Herd
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
The volume. Well, some guys, I'm here with cay Car France,
who fights for the UFC Flyway Championship of the World
this weekend.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
I always get that confused.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Bandamweight, flyway strawweight, Like why can't we just say one
twenty five.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
I don't even know pounds. I know now, you see.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
That's why they gotta give it those nicknames. So before
we get into that, before we get into this. So
I read this. I put this down in the notes.
It wasn't moving, so you don't have to worry about
getting boat sick or falling off.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
The fights were fluquet.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
My teammates have to come on the cruise ship and
watching I was fighting a Filipino fighter, and it was
funny because all the workers on the cruise ship were Filipino.
They all came out of the kitchen and came out
when we were fighting. It felt like I was fighting
Manny Pacquiao in the Philippines.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
But I ended up winning.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
It was less than thirty seconds to fight. Then we
got the party on the boat for two days. What
in the world is that, Doug, You were fighting on
a boat cruise.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
It was like a movie. Really, I can see my opponent.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
When I first saw him, he looked like it was
on holiday, and I was like, we're gonna fight. First
about going on this cruise ship and having a holiday,
We're gonna throw it down.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
What was he doing partying? I could just see it
in his face.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
He was kind of dancing and like it just just overwhelmed,
like he was like, where am I I'm actually to work?
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Not that is the craziest thing.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
So overnight we flew to Malaysia, and overnight from Malaysia
to Pukett. We came on the boat, so I took
about I don't know five hours to get back to
Puket and then we docked at the port, so I
wasn't moving. And then on the top deck on the
tenth story, no roof, nothing, It was out on the
open x of the pool.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Like people are like, wait, well, it's just like normal
people on the cruise and they got to watch a fight. Yeah,
so they were poured and they didn't leave yet and
they watched all fight.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Yeah, they're all just in the pool hanging out and
the fights. They were like, if it rains, that's probably
going to be canceled. So hopefully it doesn't rain and
then yeah, we're warming up next to the cocktail bar.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Oh my god.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
And then I said we're walking and then I think
the theme of the cruise ship was like a pirate thing,
so like the announcer was dressed as a pirate and
all of this. But yeah, when I walked out, I
was like, well, I've got business first and then I
can party after.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
You must had a great time. It was like a
vacation to fight in a vacation.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
It was I think twenty seconds the whole fight.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
I dropped them straight away for our hand of the
first punch and then from their uppercuts until the rift.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Pulled me off. And then yeah, I had two days
to this party and hang out with my friends. So
that's amazing. Yeah, it was pretty cool bucket list.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
So the last fight, right, you fought on that cruise ship.
You probably fought all over the place to get to
where you are today. We're in Australia. You're fighting Steve
ver Saig, who's a tremendous boxer. You hit him, put
him out clean. You had been gone for a while, right,
taking some time off to recover, get right to have
that performance there?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
What did it feel like like this was his hometown.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Like New Zealand and Australia, we're seeing there's one, but
when we're fighting each.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Other, it's it's a rivalry.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Yeah, and it's the shots you don't see coming that
hurt you. And he didn't see it coming. He didn't
adjust for the extra step I took, and he's a
great counterfighter.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
But I got we game plan for that.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
He would try pull and he didn't pull far enough
and then that's when that you know, people know him
as from my right hand, but the leys stand is
the one that landed, So yeah, just from there, it's instinct.
You know, I've done this so many times now I
know when someone's hurt and that's a skill. And you
know when I saw he was wobbling and I knew, okay,
I just need to rush the sky now he wants
(03:49):
his way out. And then the ref saw seen enough
when I landed that right hand and he just shelled up,
And yeah, it was just perfect kind of welcome, welcome
back party and welcome, welcome back fight for myself and
just cemented me right where I wanted to be.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
And that's at the top.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
You were in the octagon after and I'm interviewing you. Yeah,
and I said, boy, what a left hand, because very
few one five partners can put you out like that.
And you said, I'm MILDI bro, and the place went
absolutely crazy.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
I didn't realize how big that was until I went
back home, saying, yeah, that when superviral and really it
on the Zellen and everywhere I went. You know, it
was such a simple sentence but so powerful at the
same time, and just going like I was speaking my truth.
(04:41):
I didn't rehearse any of that when you told me
when you asked me that question. None, None of that
was rehearsed.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
I was just going off of how I felt the emotion. Yeah,
just emotion. You know who I am.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
I don't I don't shy away from being emotional, and
in my culture and moldor culture showing emotion as a
sign of strength. Yeah, and yeah, I was just being
been an honest So when I said that and I
went back home, man, so many people coming up to me.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
They didn't wash the fight. They just saw that. And really,
you don't know how much you've done for your people, and.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Just knowing that you're able to change someone's I guess
mood or reaction just from one sentence. It just I
just knew that, like the next big fight that I'm doing,
I'm embodling all of this, bringing all my culture with me.
It's my superpower. It's something that I draw on for strength.
(05:34):
It's something that I draw on for protection. But you
don't know until you see it, like a hucker or
our culture, how beautiful it is. So yeah, That's why
I get emotional talking about my culture and everything because
it means so much to me.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
It is me.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
You said it from your chest. But earlier we were
talking in the fighter meeting, and that hasn't always been
like the thing, write your name your full need. You
were telling me a beautiful story about your name, and
Kamorrowschmann had a very similar story. Everybody used to call
him Marty in Rustling because to call him by his
real name was a little bit different. And you were
speaking about your name and how much now you like
(06:14):
embraced everything about your culture. But when you were younger
and your kids gave you that traditional name, your parents
give you that traditional name, you were like, just call
me Kai because kids were making funny for your name.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
And my first name was was James, and you know,
taking it really and that's his generational trauma. So my
our grandparents, they had to change their names, haven't. They
had MOLDI names, but they had to change to English
names because they were dealing with racism. They were dealing
with segregation because of just their name. Well, and then
(06:49):
in schools they couldn't speak their native language, they used
to get beaten and it was stripped of them. So
now full circle, you know, that was still a f
around when I was scrowing, not not getting beden.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
Because we asked you, why did they ever call you
by your name James, and.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Then you said, no, no, my family have never called
me James. They called me kind That's the only name
I know.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
But when I was in primary school, everyone keep missing
up my name. They didn't they don't know how to
pronounce it properly, and you know, you're.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Still trying to figure it.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
I was young, Yeah, I was young, and I didn't
know how powerful your name can be to help you,
and just navigating all of that, I just had enough
people mispronouncing my name. I just want to be James,
James Frans James France, which is, you know, the widest
name in the you can get. But that that's because
(07:44):
that's been passed on generational trauma from you know, our
grandparents and their grandparents, because that was seen as lockdown upon,
you know, and I wanted to just yeah, full circle.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Now. You know, my kids they have Maldi names, and
I'm proud.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
I'm proud to know that they're going to be growing
up speaking fluent to theirl Maldi before English.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
And that's that's how far we've come.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
You know, when our grandparents were growing up, they couldn't
speak their language, so that's why it was lost, that
was lost through our generation. But now that it's such
a unique thing and it's such an advantage to be
able to speak to theirl Maldi, and now there's such
a high demand that there's like a year long wait
(08:30):
list to get into.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Schools schools now, so full circle.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
That's why I'm very emotional about my name, because I've
had to go through a lot of stuff just to
be proud of it and be full circle now with
my kids, you know, walking that path off them reconnecting
with culture, but knowing where they come from to know
where they're heading. So I'm heading to the top bringing
culture with me, and you know, that's that's why it's
(08:54):
means so much to me.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
That's beautiful, all right, guys.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
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Speaker 1 (10:16):
Speaking of the top this weekend, you fight the champ Pantosia.
You said about him that he's stubborn. If he tries
to wrestle you and take you down, it'll be difficult.
You have the highest takedown defense in the division. Ye
you're too fast, you're too quick. But then he'll become stubborn.
And when he becomes stubborn, it starts marching forward. You
will have opportunities to put him out. When you break
(10:39):
down Pantosia and you see that, what level of confidence
does that give you going into this fight? Because we
have seen a guy now who's defended the belt three
times on his fourth title defense against you, and what
we see is this great champion, but you see a
lot of opportunity.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Have you been seeing and you know this from experience
regularly back to back five rounders.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
It takes a toll. And it's not just the fight,
it's the camps.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Yeah, the camp show what's hard.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Yeah, that's what we'll retire you.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
So knowing that, you know he's gone through a lot
of these five round camps and his coaches are trying
to get the best out of him.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
It's hard to stay at the top.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
And I know that from my teammates that have been
fighting the best guys as a champion, you know, and
Izzy and Volks. So I just know it takes a
toll on you. And I'm coming this after nearly a
year off. But I've been in the gym just grinding,
and I've had to be pulled back a few times
because I was overtraining. I was going too hard where
(11:36):
I thought I was fighting in Miami and they're like, no, no,
you're not till you know, during on International fight week.
So like I'm bringing in my career best and that's
just me giving myself the best chance, preparing the only
way I know how, and that's just go all in.
Like I've been all in since the start of this year.
My family have known it. They know my wife knows.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Okay, cool.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
I need to pick up the slack of the kids
and make sure or they're sorted because I've got a
job to do and I'm that focused. And this fight's
bigger than me because of who I'm representing and where
I come from, and yeah, that's that's what I'm feeding off.
So whatever Pantosia is bringing to the table, you know,
I'll have an answer for it. And like I said,
(12:19):
I want to be the first guy that knocks this
guy out. Like I know he's tough, I know he's durable,
but everyone's got an off button. You just need to
hit them hard enough and hit them on the right spot.
So I feel like if you think so, aligning perfectly
my maturity as a person, as a man and as
a fighter, that's all coming together and having that day
strength and that power because I'm aldi, is going to
(12:39):
be all the difference.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
You and Pantusia fought way back in the day on
The Ultimate Fighter.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Can you take anything from that?
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Or is that just completely water under the bridge because
you guys were so young in your careers.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
I knew Pantosia was going to be one of the
best fighters. He was the number one Seeds back then,
and he was you know, people were afraid of him
cause you just had that look. And I never backed
down for him a challenge. You know, it was only
a two round fight. He did what he needed to
and he got the win. But it doesn't tell the
full story if you just watched that fight and you
(13:12):
and you think, Okay, it's gonna be the same this weekend.
I was a boy back then. Yeah, now I'm a man. Now,
I know what I'm fighting for.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
I know that I know my skill set and I
have that confidence.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
So going through you know the heis and loves of
this fight game, you figure out I've had to figure this, uh,
this career out on the job.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
You know.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
I first had my first fight when I was seventeen,
So I took a few losses earlier in my career,
but I always knew how to come back for them.
And coming back from this loss, I get to run
this back and yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Make history, making history. And earlier you said what you
represent If you win this belt this week, you'll be
only the second New Zealand uh UFC world champion. What
would that mean to Kay cor re France.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
It's not the title, and you know the belt that
is what I'm chasing, is what it brings. That's what
I'm chasing, and that brings manna. So when you walk
into a room, you have a present that demands respect
and and my culture, it's the highest honor. So that's
what I'm chasing and what and what it means for
(14:20):
my people, and it gives us hope, inspiration and something
to celebrate. And you know, like we talked about and
our cord it or talking about full circle of being
proud of who you are and where you come from.
It just embodies everything. So that's why this fight is
bigger than me. And that's what I've tapped into this
fight camp, just having that connection. And when I'm in
(14:42):
dark times and I'm gonna go through go through the fire,
I've got a strong enough why to push me through
and get me through whatever happens in this fight. So
I don't say it lightly when I say I'm not
leaving without this belt, because I'm willing to do whatever
and took that year bucket listed to be a world champion.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
I get to do it. Do that Saturday and Tottle.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
You have fought for the belt once before, it didn't
go your way. You take those lessons apply it to
the second time. How much did you learn in that
opportunity from the build from all this that comes with
fighting for a UFC championship that you know now that
you can apply to.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
This Saturday.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
The fight might not have went you way in Dallas,
but boy, that was a nice after party.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Hey, the boy was in there.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
The boy was in that after party.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
It was nice.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Guy, that's the last time I've been out.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
It was a nice at the last. That was a
nice after party. It was a while ago, and I know,
like a week before that.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
They're like, I'm surprised that the after parties here there
was a shootout here.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
I was like, Okay, what are we still doing here? Yeah,
shootout at the place with boy.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Any club that has a shootout, Gerry Pryor is a
good place to hang out. Party.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
It's just fun.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
But now, you know, I learned a lot from that experience,
just going through it, coming out the other side and
pick myself back up. I knew that I moments in
that fight, and Brandon did. Brandon Morena did really well
to capitalize on his moments, and that's the difference at
the top. It's those those game of ventures and that's
the difference between walking out off that belt. So it
(16:16):
wasn't my time, you know, heads off to Brandon Moreno
and what he's done in his career. But now you know,
full circle, I've climbed my way back to a title
fight for UFC three one seven against Pantosia and now
it's Kim.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Means was that it's food time, food time, Hey hungry?
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Have you allowed yourself to see that moment when they
put that belt around you? Have you allowed yourself to
just close your eyes and envision Dana putting that belt
on you.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
It makes me tear up because you know I want
I want this so bad, so sweet, I want this
so bad. I know you've you've felt it time and
time again, and there's no bit of feeling. But I
know I've got a tough ask in front of me,
and when I once I earn it by by taking
this sky out, man, the satisfaction that I'm going to
get Just to know that how far I've come and
(17:07):
through all the doubt, all the you know, head noise
and all the you know, you know what I've had
to come through, it was all for something. So that's
what I'm looking forward to. And I'll visualized for fifteen years,
you know, since I started the sport, that's all I've
ever wanted to do. I've I've never been good at
anything else than fighting, and yeah, that's what's kept me
(17:28):
in the gym because I haven't took that off.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
So I can't wait.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
And yeah, and you fight very good guys. Kai Car
France fights for the UFC Flyweight Championship Saturday. You have
C three three one seven three seventeen co main event
against the champ Alessandri Pantosian. Tapping everything this young man
is doing from Instagram to TikTok to everything else, make
(17:51):
sure you tap in to Kai Carl France until next time.
Like subscribing to tell you friends about my YouTube channel
because I'm checking out with my Maudi friend Kai Car
Front Until next time, Peace,
The volume. Well, some guys, I'm here with cay Car France,
who fights for the UFC Flyway Championship of the World
this weekend.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
I always get that confused.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
Bandamweight, flyway strawweight, Like why can't we just say one
twenty five.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
I don't even know pounds. I know now, you see.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
That's why they gotta give it those nicknames. So before
we get into that, before we get into this. So
I read this. I put this down in the notes.
It wasn't moving, so you don't have to worry about
getting boat sick or falling off.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
The fights were fluquet.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
My teammates have to come on the cruise ship and
watching I was fighting a Filipino fighter, and it was
funny because all the workers on the cruise ship were Filipino.
They all came out of the kitchen and came out
when we were fighting. It felt like I was fighting
Manny Pacquiao in the Philippines.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
But I ended up winning.
Speaker 1 (00:57):
It was less than thirty seconds to fight. Then we
got the party on the boat for two days. What
in the world is that, Doug, You were fighting on
a boat cruise.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
It was like a movie. Really, I can see my opponent.
Speaker 3 (01:12):
When I first saw him, he looked like it was
on holiday, and I was like, we're gonna fight. First
about going on this cruise ship and having a holiday,
We're gonna throw it down.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
What was he doing partying? I could just see it
in his face.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
He was kind of dancing and like it just just overwhelmed,
like he was like, where am I I'm actually to work?
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Not that is the craziest thing.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
So overnight we flew to Malaysia, and overnight from Malaysia
to Pukett. We came on the boat, so I took
about I don't know five hours to get back to
Puket and then we docked at the port, so I
wasn't moving. And then on the top deck on the
tenth story, no roof, nothing, It was out on the
open x of the pool.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Like people are like, wait, well, it's just like normal
people on the cruise and they got to watch a fight. Yeah,
so they were poured and they didn't leave yet and
they watched all fight.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
Yeah, they're all just in the pool hanging out and
the fights. They were like, if it rains, that's probably
going to be canceled. So hopefully it doesn't rain and
then yeah, we're warming up next to the cocktail bar.
Speaker 1 (02:11):
Oh my god.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
And then I said we're walking and then I think
the theme of the cruise ship was like a pirate thing,
so like the announcer was dressed as a pirate and
all of this. But yeah, when I walked out, I
was like, well, I've got business first and then I
can party after.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
You must had a great time. It was like a
vacation to fight in a vacation.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
It was I think twenty seconds the whole fight.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
I dropped them straight away for our hand of the
first punch and then from their uppercuts until the rift.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Pulled me off. And then yeah, I had two days
to this party and hang out with my friends. So
that's amazing. Yeah, it was pretty cool bucket list.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
So the last fight, right, you fought on that cruise ship.
You probably fought all over the place to get to
where you are today. We're in Australia. You're fighting Steve
ver Saig, who's a tremendous boxer. You hit him, put
him out clean. You had been gone for a while, right,
taking some time off to recover, get right to have
that performance there?
Speaker 2 (03:08):
What did it feel like like this was his hometown.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Like New Zealand and Australia, we're seeing there's one, but
when we're fighting each.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Other, it's it's a rivalry.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
Yeah, and it's the shots you don't see coming that
hurt you. And he didn't see it coming. He didn't
adjust for the extra step I took, and he's a
great counterfighter.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
But I got we game plan for that.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
He would try pull and he didn't pull far enough
and then that's when that you know, people know him
as from my right hand, but the leys stand is
the one that landed, So yeah, just from there, it's instinct.
You know, I've done this so many times now I
know when someone's hurt and that's a skill. And you
know when I saw he was wobbling and I knew, okay,
I just need to rush the sky now he wants
(03:49):
his way out. And then the ref saw seen enough
when I landed that right hand and he just shelled up,
And yeah, it was just perfect kind of welcome, welcome
back party and welcome, welcome back fight for myself and
just cemented me right where I wanted to be.
Speaker 2 (04:02):
And that's at the top.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
You were in the octagon after and I'm interviewing you. Yeah,
and I said, boy, what a left hand, because very
few one five partners can put you out like that.
And you said, I'm MILDI bro, and the place went
absolutely crazy.
Speaker 3 (04:20):
I didn't realize how big that was until I went
back home, saying, yeah, that when superviral and really it
on the Zellen and everywhere I went. You know, it
was such a simple sentence but so powerful at the
same time, and just going like I was speaking my truth.
(04:41):
I didn't rehearse any of that when you told me
when you asked me that question. None, None of that
was rehearsed.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
I was just going off of how I felt the emotion. Yeah,
just emotion. You know who I am.
Speaker 3 (04:50):
I don't I don't shy away from being emotional, and
in my culture and moldor culture showing emotion as a
sign of strength. Yeah, and yeah, I was just being
been an honest So when I said that and I
went back home, man, so many people coming up to me.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
They didn't wash the fight. They just saw that. And really,
you don't know how much you've done for your people, and.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Just knowing that you're able to change someone's I guess
mood or reaction just from one sentence. It just I
just knew that, like the next big fight that I'm doing,
I'm embodling all of this, bringing all my culture with me.
It's my superpower. It's something that I draw on for strength.
(05:34):
It's something that I draw on for protection. But you
don't know until you see it, like a hucker or
our culture, how beautiful it is. So yeah, That's why
I get emotional talking about my culture and everything because
it means so much to me.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
It is me.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
You said it from your chest. But earlier we were
talking in the fighter meeting, and that hasn't always been
like the thing, write your name your full need. You
were telling me a beautiful story about your name, and
Kamorrowschmann had a very similar story. Everybody used to call
him Marty in Rustling because to call him by his
real name was a little bit different. And you were
speaking about your name and how much now you like
(06:14):
embraced everything about your culture. But when you were younger
and your kids gave you that traditional name, your parents
give you that traditional name, you were like, just call
me Kai because kids were making funny for your name.
Speaker 3 (06:26):
And my first name was was James, and you know,
taking it really and that's his generational trauma. So my
our grandparents, they had to change their names, haven't. They
had MOLDI names, but they had to change to English
names because they were dealing with racism. They were dealing
with segregation because of just their name. Well, and then
(06:49):
in schools they couldn't speak their native language, they used
to get beaten and it was stripped of them. So
now full circle, you know, that was still a f
around when I was scrowing, not not getting beden.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
Because we asked you, why did they ever call you
by your name James, and.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Then you said, no, no, my family have never called
me James. They called me kind That's the only name
I know.
Speaker 3 (07:13):
But when I was in primary school, everyone keep missing
up my name. They didn't they don't know how to
pronounce it properly, and you know, you're.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Still trying to figure it.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
I was young, Yeah, I was young, and I didn't
know how powerful your name can be to help you,
and just navigating all of that, I just had enough
people mispronouncing my name. I just want to be James,
James Frans James France, which is, you know, the widest
name in the you can get. But that that's because
(07:44):
that's been passed on generational trauma from you know, our
grandparents and their grandparents, because that was seen as lockdown upon,
you know, and I wanted to just yeah, full circle.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Now. You know, my kids they have Maldi names, and
I'm proud.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
I'm proud to know that they're going to be growing
up speaking fluent to theirl Maldi before English.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
And that's that's how far we've come.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
You know, when our grandparents were growing up, they couldn't
speak their language, so that's why it was lost, that
was lost through our generation. But now that it's such
a unique thing and it's such an advantage to be
able to speak to theirl Maldi, and now there's such
a high demand that there's like a year long wait
(08:30):
list to get into.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
Schools schools now, so full circle.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
That's why I'm very emotional about my name, because I've
had to go through a lot of stuff just to
be proud of it and be full circle now with
my kids, you know, walking that path off them reconnecting
with culture, but knowing where they come from to know
where they're heading. So I'm heading to the top bringing
culture with me, and you know, that's that's why it's
(08:54):
means so much to me.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
That's beautiful, all right, guys.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
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Speaker 1 (10:16):
Speaking of the top this weekend, you fight the champ Pantosia.
You said about him that he's stubborn. If he tries
to wrestle you and take you down, it'll be difficult.
You have the highest takedown defense in the division. Ye
you're too fast, you're too quick. But then he'll become stubborn.
And when he becomes stubborn, it starts marching forward. You
will have opportunities to put him out. When you break
(10:39):
down Pantosia and you see that, what level of confidence
does that give you going into this fight? Because we
have seen a guy now who's defended the belt three
times on his fourth title defense against you, and what
we see is this great champion, but you see a
lot of opportunity.
Speaker 3 (10:57):
Have you been seeing and you know this from experience
regularly back to back five rounders.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
It takes a toll. And it's not just the fight,
it's the camps.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Yeah, the camp show what's hard.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Yeah, that's what we'll retire you.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
So knowing that, you know he's gone through a lot
of these five round camps and his coaches are trying
to get the best out of him.
Speaker 2 (11:15):
It's hard to stay at the top.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
And I know that from my teammates that have been
fighting the best guys as a champion, you know, and
Izzy and Volks. So I just know it takes a
toll on you. And I'm coming this after nearly a
year off. But I've been in the gym just grinding,
and I've had to be pulled back a few times
because I was overtraining. I was going too hard where
(11:36):
I thought I was fighting in Miami and they're like, no, no,
you're not till you know, during on International fight week.
So like I'm bringing in my career best and that's
just me giving myself the best chance, preparing the only
way I know how, and that's just go all in.
Like I've been all in since the start of this year.
My family have known it. They know my wife knows.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Okay, cool.
Speaker 3 (11:57):
I need to pick up the slack of the kids
and make sure or they're sorted because I've got a
job to do and I'm that focused. And this fight's
bigger than me because of who I'm representing and where
I come from, and yeah, that's that's what I'm feeding off.
So whatever Pantosia is bringing to the table, you know,
I'll have an answer for it. And like I said,
(12:19):
I want to be the first guy that knocks this
guy out. Like I know he's tough, I know he's durable,
but everyone's got an off button. You just need to
hit them hard enough and hit them on the right spot.
So I feel like if you think so, aligning perfectly
my maturity as a person, as a man and as
a fighter, that's all coming together and having that day
strength and that power because I'm aldi, is going to
(12:39):
be all the difference.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
You and Pantusia fought way back in the day on
The Ultimate Fighter.
Speaker 2 (12:44):
Can you take anything from that?
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Or is that just completely water under the bridge because
you guys were so young in your careers.
Speaker 3 (12:51):
I knew Pantosia was going to be one of the
best fighters. He was the number one Seeds back then,
and he was you know, people were afraid of him
cause you just had that look. And I never backed
down for him a challenge. You know, it was only
a two round fight. He did what he needed to
and he got the win. But it doesn't tell the
full story if you just watched that fight and you
(13:12):
and you think, Okay, it's gonna be the same this weekend.
I was a boy back then. Yeah, now I'm a man. Now,
I know what I'm fighting for.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
I know that I know my skill set and I
have that confidence.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
So going through you know the heis and loves of
this fight game, you figure out I've had to figure this, uh,
this career out on the job.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
You know.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
I first had my first fight when I was seventeen,
So I took a few losses earlier in my career,
but I always knew how to come back for them.
And coming back from this loss, I get to run
this back and yeah.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Make history, making history. And earlier you said what you
represent If you win this belt this week, you'll be
only the second New Zealand uh UFC world champion. What
would that mean to Kay cor re France.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
It's not the title, and you know the belt that
is what I'm chasing, is what it brings. That's what
I'm chasing, and that brings manna. So when you walk
into a room, you have a present that demands respect
and and my culture, it's the highest honor. So that's
what I'm chasing and what and what it means for
(14:20):
my people, and it gives us hope, inspiration and something
to celebrate. And you know, like we talked about and
our cord it or talking about full circle of being
proud of who you are and where you come from.
It just embodies everything. So that's why this fight is
bigger than me. And that's what I've tapped into this
fight camp, just having that connection. And when I'm in
(14:42):
dark times and I'm gonna go through go through the fire,
I've got a strong enough why to push me through
and get me through whatever happens in this fight. So
I don't say it lightly when I say I'm not
leaving without this belt, because I'm willing to do whatever
and took that year bucket listed to be a world champion.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
I get to do it. Do that Saturday and Tottle.
Speaker 1 (15:06):
You have fought for the belt once before, it didn't
go your way. You take those lessons apply it to
the second time. How much did you learn in that
opportunity from the build from all this that comes with
fighting for a UFC championship that you know now that
you can apply to.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
This Saturday.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
The fight might not have went you way in Dallas,
but boy, that was a nice after party.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
Hey, the boy was in there.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
The boy was in that after party.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
It was nice.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Guy, that's the last time I've been out.
Speaker 2 (15:36):
It was a nice at the last. That was a
nice after party. It was a while ago, and I know,
like a week before that.
Speaker 3 (15:42):
They're like, I'm surprised that the after parties here there
was a shootout here.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
I was like, Okay, what are we still doing here? Yeah,
shootout at the place with boy.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Any club that has a shootout, Gerry Pryor is a
good place to hang out. Party.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
It's just fun.
Speaker 3 (15:55):
But now, you know, I learned a lot from that experience,
just going through it, coming out the other side and
pick myself back up. I knew that I moments in
that fight, and Brandon did. Brandon Morena did really well
to capitalize on his moments, and that's the difference at
the top. It's those those game of ventures and that's
the difference between walking out off that belt. So it
(16:16):
wasn't my time, you know, heads off to Brandon Moreno
and what he's done in his career. But now you know,
full circle, I've climbed my way back to a title
fight for UFC three one seven against Pantosia and now
it's Kim.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Means was that it's food time, food time, Hey hungry?
Speaker 1 (16:35):
Have you allowed yourself to see that moment when they
put that belt around you? Have you allowed yourself to
just close your eyes and envision Dana putting that belt
on you.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
It makes me tear up because you know I want
I want this so bad, so sweet, I want this
so bad. I know you've you've felt it time and
time again, and there's no bit of feeling. But I
know I've got a tough ask in front of me,
and when I once I earn it by by taking
this sky out, man, the satisfaction that I'm going to
get Just to know that how far I've come and
(17:07):
through all the doubt, all the you know, head noise
and all the you know, you know what I've had
to come through, it was all for something. So that's
what I'm looking forward to. And I'll visualized for fifteen years,
you know, since I started the sport, that's all I've
ever wanted to do. I've I've never been good at
anything else than fighting, and yeah, that's what's kept me
(17:28):
in the gym because I haven't took that off.
Speaker 2 (17:29):
So I can't wait.
Speaker 1 (17:31):
And yeah, and you fight very good guys. Kai Car
France fights for the UFC Flyweight Championship Saturday. You have
C three three one seven three seventeen co main event
against the champ Alessandri Pantosian. Tapping everything this young man
is doing from Instagram to TikTok to everything else, make
(17:51):
sure you tap in to Kai Carl France until next time.
Like subscribing to tell you friends about my YouTube channel
because I'm checking out with my Maudi friend Kai Car
Front Until next time, Peace,
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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