Paul Karns

Paul "The Haitian Sensation" Karns faces Kendell Ward at Crash Combat 8 for the 125 lb bare-knuckle Muay Thai title — a bout he notes would make him the first Haitian and the first fighter in Kansas to compete for a bare-knuckle Muay Thai title. He was born in Carrefour, Haiti, just outside Port-au-Prince, one of eighteen children raised by an Ohio missionary who came to Haiti in the early 1970s and stayed to change lives there. He started judo at fifteen and switched to karate after losing a friendly challenge match to a karate friend. He prefers striking to grappling. He lives and fights out of Dodge City, Kansas, training at Lopez Boxing Gym under Miguel Lopez, whom he credits with making the striking click. He admires Aaron Pryor above all and, among active fighters, Sean Strickland. He has real respect for his opponent: "People might look at his record and say whatever they want, but that guy is the definition of heart." His goal is simpler: "I'm bringing that belt back to Dodge City." Source: Crash Combat pre-fight interview, August 2026.