Kai Kamaka III Record: 18-8-1

UFC run

He made the most of his debut. At UFC 252 in August 2020, Kamaka beat Tony Kelley by unanimous decision in a fight that announced him as a tough out at featherweight. The follow-up was harder: he dropped a 2020 fight to Jonathan Pearce via ground-and-pound stoppage, lost a 2021 split decision to TJ Brown, and fought to a majority draw with Danny Chavez — competitive, close results that defined his first UFC stint.

Rebuilding through Bellator and PFL

Rather than fade, Kamaka rebuilt his stock on the regional and major-promotion circuit. He took a 2022 split-decision loss to unbeaten Justin Gonzales, then reeled off wins, including a 2023 decision over Adli Edwards, before testing himself in the Professional Fighters League. There he beat respected names and reached the playoffs, where he lost a 2024 split decision to PFL standout Brendan Loughnane in a fight he could have won. He answered with a strong run, including a 2025 TKO of Joshua Weems, that earned him a UFC return.

Back in the UFC

Kamaka made his UFC return in April 2026, edging Dakota Hope by split decision to confirm he still belonged on the sport's biggest stage. He is next scheduled to face unbeaten prospect Luke Riley at UFC 329, a step-up bout that will measure how far his rebuild has taken him.

Fighting style

Kamaka is a wrestler-pressure fighter built for the long haul. His record tells the story plainly: of his 18 wins, 14 have come by decision, with three knockouts and one submission, for a modest 22% finish rate. He wins by volume, grappling control and a relentless pace that wears opponents down over 15 minutes, and many of his fights land in the close, split-decision territory that comes with that style. The trade-off is that he rarely closes the show early and has had several razor-thin results go against him. But his toughness, motor and ability to hang with high-level competition across multiple major promotions are not in question.

Career highlights

• Fight-of-the-night debut — beat Tony Kelley at UFC 252 to open his UFC tenure on a high.
• PFL playoff run — tested himself among the Professional Fighters League's best and reached the playoffs before a split-decision loss to Brendan Loughnane.
• Earned his way back — rebuilt his stock and returned to the UFC, beating Dakota Hope in 2026 to re-establish himself.