UFC fighter Kai Kara-France has shown his dark-horse basketball abilities, hitting a half-court shot for charity in the build-up to this week's NZ Breakers All-Star Slam,
At just 1.63m (5ft 4in), Kara-France was among the last chosen for Thursday's celebrity game at Auckland's Spark Arena, eventually drafted by Breakers captain Tom Abercrombie.
But the flyweight scrapper demonstrated his sneaky hoops skills, when he connected with a long-range attempt after practice at the club's North Shore headquarters.
As Kara-France and teammates bombarded the basket from halfway, Breakers owner Matt Walsh offered to donate an extra $5000 to Starship Children's Hospital for anyone who found their mark.
Many tried, only Kara-France succeeded.
After his one-handed heave found the net, NZ Warriors captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck threw his buddy over his shoulder and carried him around the gym in celebration.
"Did we get that on film?" wondered Kara-France. "It doesn't even matter if I win or lose now - it's all about the halftime shot."
His nickname in The Octagon is 'Don’t Blink', but maybe that moniker applies just as much to the hardwood too.
