Kai Kara-France has booked a quick turnaround fight to feature in the UFC's return to Auckland.

Kai Kara-France has spent little time dwelling on his first setback in the UFC.

Less than two weeks since an entertaining decision defeat to Brandon Moreno at UFC 245 in Las Vegas, Kara-France (20-8) has already locked in his next bout and he couldn't wish for a better location.

The eighth-ranked flyweight is the latest Kiwi added to the Fight Night card in Auckland on February 23, where he will square off against experienced Hawaiian Tyson Nam (18-10).

Kara-France's swift rise up the division hit a speedbump in the form of the fifth-ranked Moreno, ending a eight-fight win streak, the last three of which came in the UFC.

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But plans to feature in the global MMA promotion's return to New Zealand were set in motion immediately after that fight.

Once he was cleared of injury and a suitable opponent found, given many of the top-10 ranked flyweights are currently booked, Kara-France's quick turnaround was confirmed.

BRENDON RATNAYAKE/PHOTOSPORT Kai Kara-France meets Hawaiian Tyson Nam at the UFC Fight Night in Auckland.

And the City Kickboxing fighter wouldn't have it any other way.

"It was a close fight, it could have gone either way. But it's just one of those things when you're fighting top-tier guys, it's a game of inches," Kara-France told Stuff as he reflected on the bout against Moreno.

"Hat's off to Brandon, he was a better fighter on the night. But there's a lot of positives to take away. Just to get to that fight night was a massive occasion and it reiterated that I'm where I should be.

"I've already started to make the adjustments from what I did wrong with Eugene (Bareman) and Doug (Viney) (City Kickboxing coaches), that's how you grow and learn.

"I've got to adapt and I've got to evolve. We're not going to dwell on what's happened, we're going to move forward, get out there and do it again."

Competing in Las Vegas on one of the biggest cards of the year was a dream fight for Kara-France and performing in the octagon in his hometown will be another major box ticked.

It will be only the third UFC event in New Zealand since 2014 and the 26-year-old would likely have faced a long wait had he missed out this time.

"Fighting in Auckland was always the dream," he said. "I've missed out twice now, the second time it was close to happening but I was campaigning a little bit too late.

"I remember being there and visualising what it would be like to fight in front of my friends and family and to have that homecoming feeling. Now it's actually going to be happening."

While Nam only made his UFC debut in September (losing to Sergio Pettis), he has been competing professionally in various promotions around the world for 13 years.

He probably would have joined the UFC much earlier were it not for a contract dispute with Bellator and holds notable victories over former Bellator bantamweight champion Eduardo Dantas in 2012 and ex-UFC flyweight title contender Ali Bagautinov in 2017.

Kara-France recharged over Christmas by visiting his mother in the Hawke's Bay. He also took the opportunity to pay respects to friend and owner of The Lab Training Centre in Napier, Pat O'Brien, who died in a car accident last month.

But it's back to Auckland on Thursday to begin his training camp alongside City Kickboxing teammates Dan Hooker and Brad Riddell, who he joins on the card at Spark Arena.

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Hooker headlines the event with a top-10 lightweight clash against American Paul Felder, while Riddell meets Russian Magomed Mustafaev.

"It's nice to refuel outside of fighting and get things in perspective. It reiterates why you do this sport, for your loved ones and family," Kara-France said.

"That's all the motivation and inspiration I need to pick myself up and go forward for this fight in Auckland.

"We're just going to hit the ground running come 2020. A lot of guys (at City Kickboxing) are getting ready for fights so we'll all be in camp together."