Tag: UFC Paris

Ciryl Gane heralded after UFC Paris knockout win: He’s still very much a title contender

Ciryl Gane heralded after UFC Paris knockout win he's still title contenderCiryl Gane is back in the hunt after an absolutely dominant performance at UFC Paris. The former interim heavyweight champion suffered a massive setback in his title tilt with reigning titleholder Jon ‘Bones’ Jones in March, but ‘Bon Gamin’ put all of that behind him and had a true return to form in the City […]

Ciryl Gane heralded after UFC Paris knockout win he's still title contender

Ciryl Gane is back in the hunt after an absolutely dominant performance at UFC Paris.

The former interim heavyweight champion suffered a massive setback in his title tilt with reigning titleholder Jon ‘Bones’ Jones in March, but ‘Bon Gamin’ put all of that behind him and had a true return to form in the City of Light on Saturday night. Stepping into the main event for a showdown with fellow top-ten-ranked contender Sergei Spivac, Ciryl Gane put on a brilliant performance, securing a second-round TKO against the streaking Moldovan standout.

From the opening bell, it was clear that Ciryl Gane was in complete control, peppering Spivac with a bevy of strikes that the ‘Polar Bear’ simply had no answer for. Going into the second round, it was quite clear that Spivac wanted out as he repeatedly stood in the phone booth with Gane, but offered no offensive output for fear of what would come back his way.

Finally tired of playing with his food, Ciryl Gane unleashed a flurry of strikes that lasted nearly 20 seconds before the referee stepped in and called for a stoppage.

With the win, Gane has once again established himself as a formidable force in the heavyweight division. He is now 9-2 under the UFC banner, his only losses coming against the former and current heavyweight champions, Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones.

Fans and Fighters on X React to Ciryl Gane’s Insane Performance at UFC Paris

Multiple mixed martial artists, including Gane’s opponent at UFC Paris last year, Tai Tuivasa, reacted to the heavyweight star’s dismantling of Sergei Spivac in Saturday’s main event clash.

Ciryl Gane stops Sergey Spivak with brutal knockout in dominant headlining fight – UFC Paris Highlights

Ciryl Gane defeats Sergey Spivak in knockout win at UFC Paris HighlightsFormer interim light heavyweight champion, Ciryl Gane has landed in the winner’s enclosure once more — rebounding from a wholly dominant guillotine choke submission loss to Jon Jones back in March, with a dominant victory of his own over Moldovan grappler, Sergey Spivak in the main event of UFC Fight Night Paris. Gane, a former […]

Ciryl Gane defeats Sergey Spivak in knockout win at UFC Paris Highlights

Former interim light heavyweight champion, Ciryl Gane has landed in the winner’s enclosure once more — rebounding from a wholly dominant guillotine choke submission loss to Jon Jones back in March, with a dominant victory of his own over Moldovan grappler, Sergey Spivak in the main event of UFC Fight Night Paris.

Gane, a former interim heavyweight champion under the banner of the UFC and the current number two ranked heavyweight contender, had headlined UFC 285 back in March against Jones in the pair’s vacant division title fight — suffering a one-sided guillotine choke submission loss inside the opening frame.

Dragging the Octagon to the French capital in September of last year, Ciryl Gane managed to turn in an impressive third round KO win over Australian knockout artist, Tai Tuivasa on that occasion. And tonight at the Accor Arena, Fernand Lopez trainee, Gane turned in another one-sided victory — adding to his Octagon résumé with his stoppage of Spivak.

Wrecking the body of the Moldovan challenger throughout the two rounds of their headlining clash. Gane landed knees and brutal body strikes against the former, pinning him to the Octagon fence in the second frame.

And with over a minute to work in the round, clubbing strikes and blows from the former interim champion proved enough for English referee, Marc Goddard to call a halt to the action, awarding French hometown favourite, Gane a victory via stoppage.

Below, catch the highlights from Ciryl Gane’s main event win atop a UFC Paris card

Manon Fiorot defeats ex-Champion Rose Namajunas in bloody back and forth win – UFC Paris Highlights

Manon Fiorot lands decision win over Rose Namajunas at UFC Paris HighlightsTurning in the most high-profile victory of her perfect promotional tenure to date, surging French contender, Manon Fiorot has likely earned herself a flyweight title opportunity — securing a unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) victory over the returning former undisputed strawweight champion, Rose Namajunas in the co-main event of UFC Paris. Nice native, Fiorot, who […]

Manon Fiorot lands decision win over Rose Namajunas at UFC Paris Highlights

Turning in the most high-profile victory of her perfect promotional tenure to date, surging French contender, Manon Fiorot has likely earned herself a flyweight title opportunity — securing a unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) victory over the returning former undisputed strawweight champion, Rose Namajunas in the co-main event of UFC Paris.

Nice native, Fiorot, who co-headlined tonight’s event at the Accor Arena, was forced to deal with a massive and gurshing cut on the right hand side of her head from the middle of the second round onward, with the French native clashing heads with Namajunas in an unintentional coming together of the striking duo.

Also dealing with some adversity early in the pairing, former strawweight champion, Namajunas complained to her partner and corner person, Pat Barry of a hand injury — particularly to her right smallest finger at the end of the opening round.

Making her flyweight divisional bow, Namajunas was forced the distance for the second outing consecutively, having dropped her strawweight title in a hugely disappointing title fight with Carla Esparza last time round.

And struggling to navigate the striking and timing, as well as the movement and distance control from French favorite, Manon Fiorot, Namajunas was forced to the losing column for the second straight outing, off the back of a decision defeat.

Below, catch the highlights from Manon Fiorot’s decision win over Rose Namajunas at UFC Paris

Rhys McKee suffers decision loss to Ange Loosa in Octagon return despite late rally – UFC Paris Highlights

Rhys McKee suffers decision loss to Ange Loosa late rally UFC Paris returnDespite a late rally through massive adversity in the third round, former Cage Warriors welterweight champion, Rhys McKee has kicked off his second tenure in the Octagon with a unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) loss to Kill Cliff FC staple, Ange Loosa on the preliminary card of UFC Paris tonight in France. McKee, who suffered […]

Rhys McKee suffers decision loss to Ange Loosa late rally UFC Paris return

Despite a late rally through massive adversity in the third round, former Cage Warriors welterweight champion, Rhys McKee has kicked off his second tenure in the Octagon with a unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28) loss to Kill Cliff FC staple, Ange Loosa on the preliminary card of UFC Paris tonight in France.

McKee, who suffered losses to both the undefeated, Khamzat Chimaev, and veteran staple, Alex Morono during his first tenure with the UFC back in 2020, managed to scoop the undisputed Cage Warriors welterweight crown in his time away from the Octagon — making his return against Loosa tonight.

And despite starting well against the Kinshasa-born all-rounder, Rhys McKee struggled with the overall athleticism of the South Florida based contender.

Almost stopped in the second round, McKee experienced massive swelling around his right eye as well as a bloodied nose in the frame, with Dana White’s Contender Series alum, Loosa pinning him to the Octagon fence and laying down a slew of standing strikes.

Losing the majority of the third frame, McKee managed to turn up the pressure in the final minute of the frame, landing strike after strike on a brutally tired, Loosa, however, it proved to be in vein as the DR Congo native stormed away with a victory.

Below, catch the highlights from Rhys McKee’s loss to Ange Loosa at UFC Paris

Rhys McKee chases Khamzat Chimaev rematch ahead of UFC Paris: ‘People are going to want me to fight him again’

Rhys McKee calls for Khamzat Chimaev rematch after UFC ParisSeeing his initial Octagon tenure come to a close following a one-sided loss to Khamzat Chimaev and a close judging defeat to Alex Morono back in 2020, former Cage Warriors welterweight champion, Rhys McKee has claimed fans will be chomping at the bit for him to rematch the undefeated Chimaev following his return at UFC […]

Rhys McKee calls for Khamzat Chimaev rematch after UFC Paris

Seeing his initial Octagon tenure come to a close following a one-sided loss to Khamzat Chimaev and a close judging defeat to Alex Morono back in 2020, former Cage Warriors welterweight champion, Rhys McKee has claimed fans will be chomping at the bit for him to rematch the undefeated Chimaev following his return at UFC Paris today.

Ballymena native, McKee, a former undisputed Cage Warriors welterweight champion, makes his Octagon return today on the preliminary card of UFC Fight Night Paris at the Accor Arena, attempting to right wrongs set prior in 2020, taking on Ange Loosa in a welterweight pairing as he kicks off his second stint under the Dana White-led banner.

Featuring against the above-mentioned Chechen finisher, Chimaev on short-notice on ‘Fight Island’ back in 2020, McKee was stopped a slew of opening round ground strikes by the AllStars MMA staple, before returning later that year in a close decision loss to Morono. 

Landing three victories including a Cage Warriors title triumph in the time since, McKee, who turned in consecutive stoppages of Aleksi Mantykivi, Justin Burlinson, and UFC alum, Jim Wallhead since his UFC departure, claims fans will clamour for him to fight Chimaev in the future off the back of viewing his return to the Octagon in France.

Rhys McKee claims fans will clamour for him to rematch Khamzat Chimaev

“Obviously, when I fought Khamzat (Chimaev), I travelled half way across the world on six days’ notice, with no training, to fight a man,” Rhys McKee told TalkSPORT reporter, Jordan Ellis. “That alone shows I’ve got a big set of stones.”

“The next time, I fought (Alex) Morono who had over ten fights in the UFC,” Rhys McKee explained. “That was my last fight, that was over three years ago and he’s still in the UFC. This is a nice one back [against Ange Loosa], but don’t get me wrong, I’m going to come for these names again. I’m going to make enough noise – have enough clean performances here that people are going to be wanting me to fight Morono again and fight Khamzat again.” 

Can Rhys McKee kickstart his UFC Paris return with a win over Ange Loosa?

UFC Paris: Gane vs. Spivak – Betting Preview

UFC Paris Gane vs. Spivak Betting PreviewSuffering just two career losses to heavyweight division standouts, Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones during his naive professional career, former interim weight class gold holder, Ciryl Gane is currently backed as a decent betting favorite to return to the winner’s enclosure in his all-Euroepan clash with Sergey Spivak this weekend on home soil in the […]

UFC Paris Gane vs. Spivak Betting Preview

Suffering just two career losses to heavyweight division standouts, Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones during his naive professional career, former interim weight class gold holder, Ciryl Gane is currently backed as a decent betting favorite to return to the winner’s enclosure in his all-Euroepan clash with Sergey Spivak this weekend on home soil in the main event of UFC Paris.

Gane, the current number two ranked heavyweight contender, led the Octagon into Paris for the first time in the promotion’s antiquity back in September of last year, turning in a Fight of the Night outing against Australian puncher, Tai Tuivasa en route to an eventual third round KO win.

That victory would propel the Fernand Lopez trainee to a vacant title affair with the above-mentioned, Jones back in March of this year atop at UFC 285 card, in a bout he would ultimately lose in hugely-one-sided fashion courtesy of a first round guillotine choke submission win.

And waiting in the wings to snatch the thunder of the hugely-touted Gane, Moldovan grappler, Spivak, who has rose through the ranks at heavyweight to land the number seven ranked – capped off with a recent first round arm-triangle submission win over common-foe, Derrick Lewis – as part of a three-fight winning run.

Ciryl Gane closing as a betting favorite to beat Sergey Spivak at UFC Paris

However, despite his considerable surge through the ranks, Spivak is entering this weekend’s clash with Gane as a +140 betting underdog over at Betway to defeat the latter and turn in an upset victory on enemy territory. 

For Gane, the French favorite is riding an impressive -175 betting line currently with Betway to land a victory over Spivak this weekend on home soil – attempting to improve to 2-0 in his native land under the Octagon banner following his stoppage win over the aforenoted, Tuivasa.

Also on important note on the card, Nice native, Manon Fiorot returns to the Octagon in search of her premiere flyweight title opportunity, as she attempts to extend an impressive winning run to six fight since joining the UFC.

Returning to the Octagon for the first time since May of last year since turning in an admittedly lacklustre and forgettable strawweight title defense loss to Carla Esparza in the pair’s rematch, veteran fan-favorite, Rose Namajunas will land in flyweight waters for the first time in the Octagon. 

And attempting to charter unfound territory for the first time in her professional career, Namajunas is closing as a +155 betting underdog to halt the rise of the impressive French flyweight, Fiorot, who is trending well as a betting favorite – as high as -187 over at Betway. 

Namajunas has been sidelined for over and year, and given her extended period of inactivity, the Wisconsin native currently can’t depend on prior title successes, including two victories over fan-favorite, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, as well as a pair of victories over incumbent strawweight best, Zhang Weili, to lead her toward favorite status this weekend in the French capital. 

Making his long-awaited UFC bow following a gold-laden tenure in Cage Warriors, French favorite, Morgan Charriere himself is closing well also of note as a betting favorite with Betway, sitting currently at -350 over Italian prospect, Manolo Zecchini in the main card opener, who sits as a +260 underdog. 

Can Ciryl Gane return to winning-ways at UFC Paris this weekend?