UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Tuivasa

UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Tuivasa (also known as UFC Fight Night 209 and UFC on ESPN+ 67) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on September 3, 2022, at Accor Arena in Paris, France.[2]

UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Tuivasa
The poster for UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Tuivasa
PromotionUltimate Fighting Championship
DateSeptember 3, 2022 (2022-09-03)
VenueAccor Arena
CityParis, France
Attendance15,405[1]
Total gate$3,242,837[1]
Event chronology
UFC 278: Usman vs. Edwards 2 UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Tuivasa UFC 279: Diaz vs. Ferguson

Background

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Accor Arena hosted the UFC's much anticipated debut in France.

This event marked the organization's debut in France.[2] After a long political battle, mixed martial arts was legalized in the country in 2020 after the French National Olympic and Sports Committee gave its approval to the French Ministry of Sport's decision to allow it under the jurisdiction of the French Boxing Federation.[3]

A heavyweight bout between former interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Ciryl Gane and Tai Tuivasa headlined the event.[4]

A middleweight bout between former UFC Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker (also The Ultimate Fighter: The Smashes welterweight winner) and former title challenger Marvin Vettori took place at the event.[5] The pairing was originally scheduled for UFC 275, but Whittaker withdrew due to injury.[6]

Former UFC Women's Flyweight Championship challenger Katlyn Chookagian was expected to face Manon Fiorot in a women's flyweight bout at the event.[7] However, Chookagian withdrew due to unknown reasons in mid June and was replaced by former UFC Women's Strawweight Champion Jéssica Andrade.[8] In turn, Andrade withdrew in mid July due to undisclosed reasons and Chookagian stepped back into the original pairing.[9][10] The promotion then opted to postpone the contest to UFC 280 in October.[11]

Christos Giagos was expected to face Benoît Saint-Denis in a lightweight bout.[12] However, Giagos pulled out in early August after severing a tendon of his little finger during a domestic accident.[13] Saint-Denis faced Gabriel Miranda instead.[14]

A welterweight bout between Darian Weeks (MMA record: 5–2) and former two-time Glory Welterweight Champion Cédric Doumbé (MMA record: 2–0) was scheduled for the event.[15] However the fight was cancelled after the French MMA Federation (FMMAF) would not sanction the bout per the commission's rule that fighters with less than ten professional bouts must not have more than a four fight differential between them.[16] Weeks was later rescheduled to face Yohan Lainesse at UFC 279, one week later from this event.[17] Doumbé was then supposedly released by the organization, a rumor he denies.[18][19]

A middleweight bout between Makhmud Muradov and Abusupiyan Magomedov was expected to take place at the event.[20] However, Muradov withdrew due to injury was replaced by Dustin Stoltzfus.[21]

A bantamweight bout between Taylor Lapilus and Khalid Taha was expected to take place at this event.[22] However, the week before the event, Lapilus withdrew due to a broken hand.[23] Taha faced promotional newcomer Cristian Quiñónez instead.[24]

Zarah Fairn Dos Santos and Ailín Pérez were scheduled to meet in a women's featherweight bout at the event.[25] However, Fairn was pulled from the event for unknown reasons and replaced by Stephanie Egger.[26]

A featherweight bout between Ricardo Ramos and Danny Henry was expected to take place at the event.[27] However, the bout was cancelled after both fighters got injured.[28]

Results

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Main card (ESPN+)
Weight class Method Round Time Notes
Heavyweight Ciryl Gane def. Tai Tuivasa KO (punches) 3 4:23
Middleweight Robert Whittaker def. Marvin Vettori Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) 3 5:00
Middleweight Nassourdine Imavov def. Joaquin Buckley Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27) 3 5:00
Middleweight Roman Kopylov def. Alessio Di Chirico KO (punches) 3 1:09
Featherweight William Gomis def. Jarno Errens Decision (majority) (29–28, 29–28, 29–29) 3 5:00
Featherweight Nathaniel Wood def. Charles Jourdain Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) 3 5:00
Preliminary card (ESPN+)
Middleweight Abus Magomedov def. Dustin Stoltzfus KO (front kick and punches) 1 0:19
Lightweight Nasrat Haqparast def. John Makdessi Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) 3 5:00
Lightweight Farès Ziam def. Michal Figlak Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28) 3 5:00
Lightweight Benoît Saint-Denis def. Gabriel Miranda TKO (punches) 2 0:16
Bantamweight Cristian Quiñónez def. Khalid Taha TKO (punches) 1 3:15
Women's Featherweight Stephanie Egger def. Ailín Pérez Submission (rear-naked choke) 2 4:54

[29]

Bonus awards

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The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[30]

  • Fight of the Night: Ciryl Gane vs. Tai Tuivasa
  • Performance of the Night: Abus Magomedov and Benoît Saint-Denis

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Mike Bohn (2022-09-04). "UFC Fight Night 209 post-event facts: Ciryl Gane rebounds on home soil". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-09-04.
  2. ^ a b Farah Hannoun (2022-05-19). "UFC announces first event in France on Sept. 3". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  3. ^ Simon Head (2020-02-08). "French Olympic Committee says 'oui' to legalization of MMA". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  4. ^ Nikhil Sharma (2022-06-15). "Report Ciryl Gane vs. Tai Tuivasa officially announced for UFC Paris on September 3". lowkickmma.com. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  5. ^ Alexander K. Lee (2022-05-31). "Robert Whittaker vs. Marvin Vettori officially re-booked for UFC Paris". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
  6. ^ Damon Martin (2022-04-20). "Robert Whittaker out of UFC 275; Marvin Vettori calls for fights against Darren Till or Khamzat Chimaev". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2022-05-31.
  7. ^ Tudor Leonte (2022-05-26). "Katlyn Chookagian vs. Manon Fiorot women's flyweight bout added to UFC Paris". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  8. ^ Daniel Cunningham (2022-06-15). "Katlyn Chookagian out, Jessica Andrade in to face Manon Fiorot at UFC Paris". empiresportsmedia.com. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
  9. ^ Alexandre Herbinet (2022-07-16). "UFC Paris: Andrade withdrew, it should be Chookagian for Manon Fiorot". rmcsport.bfmtv.com. Retrieved 2022-07-17. (in French)
  10. ^ Mike Heck (2022-07-17). "With Jessica Andrade out, Katlyn Chookagian back in to face Manon Fiorot at UFC Paris". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  11. ^ Mike Heck (2022-07-26). "Katlyn Chookagian vs. Manon Fiorot shifts to UFC 280". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  12. ^ Farah Hannoun (2022-07-22). "Christos Giagos vs. Benoit Saint-Denis added to UFC Paris on Sept. 3". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
  13. ^ Nolan King (2022-08-08). "Christos Giagos out of UFC Paris after severing pinky tendon on broken toilet". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
  14. ^ Steve Duncan (2022-08-15). "Giagos injured, Gabriel Miranda faces Benoit St-Denis at UFC Paris". mma.uno. Retrieved 2022-08-16. (in Spanish)
  15. ^ Tudor Leonte (2022-07-23). "Source: Ex-Glory kickboxing champ Cedric Doumbe to face Darian Weeks at UFC Paris". sherdog.com. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  16. ^ Olivier Angelini (2022-08-01). "UFC Paris: Cedric Doumbé vs Darian Weeks fight canceled following FMMAF rule?". boxemag.com. Retrieved 2022-08-20. (in French)
  17. ^ Neil Davidson (2022-08-11). "Canadian welterweight Yohan (White Lion) Lainesse added to UFC 279 fight card". thestar.com. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  18. ^ Olivier Angelini (2022-08-18). "Cedric Doumbe 'I'm still in the UFC'". boxemag.com. Retrieved 2022-08-20. (in French)
  19. ^ Guilherme Cruz (2022-08-18). "UFC releases former GLORY champion Cedric Doumbe, who claims he'll return to promotion". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2022-08-20.
  20. ^ Nolan King (2022-05-29). "UFC Paris pairs Abusupiyan Magomedov vs. Makhmud Muradov". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  21. ^ Alexander K. Lee (2022-07-28). "UFC Fight Roundup: Hakeem Dawodu vs. Julian Erosa, Jake Collier vs. Chris Barnett set for UFC 279". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2022-08-17.
  22. ^ Farah Hannoun (2022-07-21). "Taylor Lapilus re-signs with UFC, meets Khalid Taha on Sept. 3 in Paris". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
  23. ^ Staff (2022-08-23). "UFC Paris Frenchman Taylor Lapilus forfeits due to a broken left hand". amp.ouest-france.fr. Retrieved 2022-08-24. (in French)
  24. ^ Carlos Contreras Legaspi (2022-08-24). "Mexican Christian Quiñonez enters UFC Paris as a replacement". espndeportes.espn.com. Retrieved 2022-08-24. (in Spanish)
  25. ^ Guilherme Cruz (2021-06-01). "French featherweight Zarah Fairn meets newcomer Ailin Perez at UFC Paris". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2021-08-26.
  26. ^ Fabricio Soza (2022-08-26). "Ailín Fiona Pérez, the Argentine who speaks like a paste, will debut in the UFC, on a historic night in Paris". clarin.com. Retrieved 2022-08-26. (in Spanish)
  27. ^ Steve Duncan (2022-08-11). "Ricardo Ramos vs. Danny Henry announced for UFC Paris". mma.uno. Retrieved 2022-08-11. (in Spanish)
  28. ^ Staff (2022-08-29). "Updates to UFC Fight Night: Gane vs Tuivasa". ufc.com. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
  29. ^ "UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Tuivasa". Ultimate Fighting Championship. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
  30. ^ Matthew Wells (2022-09-03). "UFC Fight Night 209 bonuses: Ciryl Gane, Tai Tuivasa's slugfest takes FOTN". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2022-09-03.