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Nicolas Atkin

They call Kai Kara-France “Don’t Blink” for a reason.
The 27-year-old Kiwi flyweight (22-9) secured a dramatic walk-off KO against Rogerio Bontorin (16-3, one no contest) at UFC 259 on Saturday night, five seconds before the buzzer of what had been a one-sided first round for the Brazilian.
Bontorin had come close to getting a finish of his own with multiple choke attempts, with Kara-France finding himself in a terrible position over and over again.
But he made it out of there with some phenomenal defence, and once it was back on the feet at the Apex facility in Las Vegas, he landed a huge right hook that crumpled the 28-year-old to the Canvas.

Another look at that wild walk-off by @kaikarafrance

Stream #UFC259 on ESPN+ ️ https://t.co/pOphkmMf0r pic.twitter.com/8zpMfecWtM
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) March 7, 2021

There was initial confusion, with Kara-France being urged to go back in by his head coach Eugene Bareman and land another shot, despite Bontorin being clearly knocked out.
Referee Herb Dean appeared to some observers slow to intervene, but did step in and prevent Kara-France from landing another shot.


So the Kiwi walked off – channelling his famous compatriot Mark Hunt, the former UFC heavyweight – as Bontorin tried to get to his feet but simply stumbled into Dean’s arms.
Adding to the confusion, the buzzer to signify the end of the round sounded seconds later, but the fight was well and truly over.
“My first finish in the UFC … I got a nickname, ‘Don’t Blink’, but had no finishes in the UFC,” he told Joe Rogan in his post-fight interview.

“I was caught early, weathered the storm, got back up. Turned into my guard. Just had to stay calm. We train jiu-jitsu just as much, just because it’s called City Kickboxing … we put in the work.
“I’ve been in the sport so many years, I wanted to show my experience. He couldn’t get the finish, which gave me the confidence. I turned around, hit him once with a nice right hook, it landed. Mark Hunt walk away, vintage. Let’s go.”
With victory, Kara-France avoided a 1-3 skid, and called for rematches with Brandon Royval and Brandon Moreno, who have handed him his only defeats in the UFC.

How it started vs. how it ended for Kai Kara-France #UFC259 pic.twitter.com/3OkNsWLONa
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) March 7, 2021

“’IDGT’, I don’t get tired,” he added. “I’m a flyweight, we’ve all got cardio. At City, we’ve got the best gym in the world. It’s the takeover.
“Israel’s [Adesanya] gonna be the double champ, and it just continues. Credit to [head coach] Eugene Bareman, all the coaches, they prepared me and my teammates, this is for them.
“I just put all the flyweight on notice. Anyone in top five can get it, let’s go.”


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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

UFC 259: Kai Kara-France gets ‘vintage Mark Hunt walk-off’ knockout after chaotic end to fight

Kai Kara-France punches Rogerio Bontorin in their flyweight fight during UFC 259. Photos: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 06: (L-R) Rogerio Bontorin of Brazil attempts to secure a rear choke against Kai Kara-France of New Zealand in their flyweight fight during the UFC 259 event at UFC APEX on March 06, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

UFC 259: Tim Elliott calls Jordan Espinosa ‘woman beater’ mid-fight while choking him in wild trash talk exchange

Tim Elliott punches Jordan Espinosa in their flyweight fight during UFC 259. Photos: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

UFC 259: Dominick Cruz challenges Hans Molenkamp to charity fight in bizarre call out after beating Casey Kenney

Dominick Cruz punches Casey Kenney in their bantamweight fight during UFC 259. Photos: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 06: (L-R) Casey Kenney punches Dominick Cruz in their bantamweight fight during the UFC 259 event at UFC APEX on March 06, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

UFC 259: Jan Blachowicz uses wrestling to hand Israel Adesanya first defeat, retain light heavyweight title

Jan Blachowicz celebrates after his victory over Israel Adesanya in their light heavyweight championship fight during UFC 259. Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 06: (R-L) Israel Adesanya of Nigeria punches Jan Blachowicz of Poland in their UFC light heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 259 event at UFC APEX on March 06, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 06: (R-L) Jan Blachowicz of Poland punches Israel Adesanya of Nigeria in their UFC light heavyweight championship fight during the UFC 259 event at UFC APEX on March 06, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

UFC 259: Petr Yan ‘didn’t mean to do illegal shot’ vs Aljamain Sterling – ‘you make mistakes’

Petr Yan punches Aljamain Sterling in their bantamweight championship fight during UFC 259. Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

UFC 259: Amanda Nunes makes light work of Megan Anderson, and warns ‘no one’s going to stop me’

Amanda Nunes punches Megan Anderson in their UFC featherweight championship fight during UFC 259. Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


‘Don’t Blink’ secures first finish in UFC after nearly being submitted multiple times in first round by Rogerio Bontorin
Confusing finish sees buzzer sound for end of round despite referee Herb Dean stepping in to stop the fight



Confusing UFC 259 finish sees buzzer sound despite Kai Kara-France knocking Rogerio Bontorin out with five seconds to go in first round, after surviving multiple choke attempts.
