Tag: UFC Paris

Georges St-Pierre views Khamzat Chimaev as UFC champion material: ‘He’s got all the skills’

Former UFC two-division champion Georges St-Pierre thinks very highly of Khamzat Chimaev.

PARIS – [autotag]Georges St-Pierre[/autotag] had high praise for undefeated rising UFC star [autotag]Khamzat Chimaev[/autotag].

St-Pierre particularly is impressed with the resolve Chimaev (11-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) showed when he outlasted former welterweight title challenger Gilbert Burns in a barnburner this past April at UFC 273.

St-Pierre, a former UFC welterweight and middleweight champion, said Chimaev proved he has championship mettle by battling through adversity and getting his hand raised after a 15-minute war with Burns.

“Yes, Khamzat is very good,” St-Pierre told fans and media during a Q&A on Friday in Paris. “He’s got all the skills. He’s very good, and he showcased incredible durability and great mental strength in his last fight when he fought Gilbert Burns, because he was pushed to the limit, and that’s when you recognize a true warrior, a true champion than a contender. When he faced those moments of adversity, some collapse, but some push through and succeed, and he proved it in his last fight. He’s very, very good.”

[lawrence-related id=2575589,2575590,2574979]

Chimaev meets Nate Diaz (20-13 MMA, 18-12 UFC) in the main event of UFC 279 on Sept. 10 and is a huge betting favorite heading into the bout. St-Pierre was asked about the matchup and said he finds it hard not to side with the odds.

“This fight is at welterweight. I think the odds will be towards Chimaev,” St-Pierre said. “I think it favors him because of that. However, Nate Diaz, you can never count him out. He’s very well rounded. He’s very durable, and it takes a lot to try and put him away. Khamzat is gonna be a tough challenge, because he only went the distance in his last fight, I believe, and I think he grew incredibly from that fight. He learned a lot.

“So I think we’re gonna see a better version of Khamzat, still better than what he was, and so it’s gonna be an interesting fight. But if I would have to bet on that fight, of course, I have to go with the odds and favor Khamzat Chimaev.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 279.

[vertical-gallery id=2536422]

William Gomis looking for a masterclass, ‘easy KO’ against Jarno Errens at UFC Paris

William Gomis is looking for a flawless showing in his promotional debut at UFC Fight Night 209 in Paris.

PARIS – [autotag]William Gomis[/autotag] is looking for a flawless showing in his UFC debut.

Gomis (10-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) faces fellow octagon debutant [autotag]Jarno Errens[/autotag] (13-3-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 209 main card at Accor Arena in Paris. The event streams on ESPN+.

The fighter from MMA Factory Paris joins teammates Nassourdine Imavov and headliner Ciryl Gane on the card and wants to introduce himself to the UFC fans by scoring a big finish at home.

“I just want to do a big fight,” Gomis told reporters at Thursday’s UFC Fight Night 209 media day. “I want to do a masterclass because I have four fights on my contract and I want to do a big fight for this fight.

“Errens is a good fighter. He’s a good striker. I think we can do a very big fight and all the fans will be happy.”

Gomis sees Errens as a fellow striker and a formidable opponent, but envisions a quick and emphatic finish in their fight.

“I’m a striker. I think I’m a smart fighter, and I can find a place for the high kick for an easy KO,” Gomis said. “He doesn’t have a lot of weaknesses, but I’m just a better fighter.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 209.

[listicle id=2576416]

[listicle id=2576566]

[listicle id=2576380]

Darren Till fires back at ‘big stupid orc’ Marvin Vettori: ‘I’m going to drive my fist through your face’

Darren Till still expects to see Marvin Vettori down the line, and he’s sent him a stern warning.

[autotag]Darren Till[/autotag] still expects to see [autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag] down the line, and he’s sent him a stern warning.

Till and Vettori were scheduled to fight at UFC on ABC 2 in April 2021, but Till withdrew due to a broken collarbone. When Vettori lost opponent Robert Whittaker at UFC 275 in June, he turned his attention to Till and Khamzat Chimaev, but the bout ended up getting rescheduled for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 209 co-main event.

Speaking to media, including MMA Junkie, in Paris, Vettori (18-5-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC) was asked if he was still interested in Till (18-4-1 MMA, 6-4-1 UFC), promoting the Italian fighter to call him “irrelevant” and “delusional.”

Till, who’s targeting a return from injury this year, slammed Vettori for his comments and hopes the pair get to settle their score.

“Marvin, listen, you big stupid b*stard: I wish you all the best this week in your fight,” Till told ESPN. “I hope you do really well because you’re a great fighter. But let’s get one thing straight, brother: Right – I’m 29. When I’m healthy, it’s just fight, fight, fight. That’s all I’ll be doing.

“There’s nothing I think about more than just fighting, so what are you talking about, mate? Stop trying to put me down, you big stupid orc b*stard, because we’re going to meet one day and I’m going to drive my fist through your face.”

Till also added a response to Vettori on Twitter.

“I’ve only ever trolled @MarvinVettori on socials for a bit of beef nothing ever malicious or anything but every change @MarvinVettori gets to spit pure hatred he takes it. What’s up bro @MarvinVettori? Why you hate me and Izzy so much? Good luck the weekend rooting for u as always.”

UFC Fight Night 209 takes place Saturday at Accor Arena in Paris. The card streams on ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 209.

[vertical-gallery id=401569]

[listicle id=1416603]

Robert Whittaker vs. Marvin Vettori doesn’t excite UFC champ Israel Adesanya: ‘I know who’s gonna win’

Israel Adesanya isn’t all that invested in the UFC Fight Night 209 co-main event between Robert Whittaker and Marvin Vettori.

[autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] isn’t invested in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 209 co-main event between [autotag]Robert Whittaker[/autotag] and [autotag]Marvin Vettori[/autotag].

Former title challengers Whittaker (23-6 MMA, 14-4 UFC) and Vettori (18-4-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC) will square off at Accor Arena in Paris in a pivotal middleweight clash.

Adesanya already has beaten Whittaker and Vettori each twice, but that’s not really the reason why he’s uninterested. It’s because Adesanya is confident that Whittaker gets the job done.

“I’m excited for the main event. The co-main event I’m excited for, as well, but actually I’m not,” Adesanya said on “The Blakamoto & Oscar Show.” “I’m not gonna lie. I’m not gonna bullsh*t you guys and give you the P.C. (politically correct) answers. I’m not actually excited for the co-main event.”

He continued, “I’ll watch it, meh. I know who’s gonna win. Rob’s gonna win, so that’s why it’s not exciting for me. But the main event, I don’t know who’s gonna win, and I like Gane, but I love Tai (Tuivasa). That’s my dog.”

[lawrence-related id=2560021,2557688,2552175]

Adesanya went on to explain that he’s 80 percent sure Whittaker wins, because has more tools than Vettori.

“Whittaker is more well rounded,” Adesanya said. “Also better striking, and I feel like he can grapple with Vettori and make him have problems.”

Middleweight champion Adesanya will aim to notch his sixth title defense when he faces former kickboxing foe Alex Pereira in the main event of UFC 281 on Nov. 12 in Madison Square Garden.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 209.

[listicle id=2576566]

Michael Bisping: Tai Tuivasa must ‘turn it into a brawl’ in order to beat Ciryl Gane at UFC Paris

Michael Bisping thinks Tai Tuivasa needs to make things ugly with Ciryl Gane at UFC Fight Night 209 but isn’t sure he’ll be able to.

[autotag]Michael Bisping[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag] needs to make things ugly with [autotag]Ciryl Gane[/autotag] but isn’t sure if he’ll be able to.

Tuivasa (15-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) faces Gane (10-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 209 main event at Accor Arena in Paris.

No one has answered Gane’s striking in the UFC as the former interim heavyweight champion barely has absorbed a clean shot in eight octagon bouts. But Tuivasa has knocked out his past five opponents, and Bisping says “Bam Bam” needs to bring the fight to Gane if he wants to find success.

“He’s (Gane) so light on his feet, he’s so athletic, he’s like poetry in motion,” Bisping said on his “Believe You Me” podcast. “He’s so composed and skillful on his feet. The way he moves in and out, it causes everyone a lot of problems. That’s why Francis (Ngannou) turned into a wrestler, and I don’t think anyone saw that coming.

“I think for Tai, if he’s gonna get a victory, he needs to turn it into a brawl. He needs to try and back him up against the fence, but he’s gonna struggle to do that, because Ciryl is really composed. He does have a great jab. He does have long front kicks, and he’s gonna try and keep him at bay.”

[lawrence-related id=2576564,2555670]

Bisping thinks UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou might’ve exposed a chink in Gane’s armor when he used his wrestling to defeat him in their title unification bout this past January. He sees Tuivasa trying to implement a similar strategy, even if it isn’t his forte.

“If Francis Ngannou can take him down and hold him down and essentially win like that, that sends a message to the rest of the heavyweight division,” Bisping said. “If you’re fighting this guy, you want to wrestle him. The problem is, Tai Tuivasa isn’t really a wrestler. …

“He’s not the best grappler, though, to be fair. Serghei Spivac highlighted that, but we’re all a work in progress. But it wouldn’t surprise me if Tai Tuivasa’s gonna be looking for some takedowns.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 209.

[listicle id=2576566]

VIDEO: Ciryl Gane, Tai Tuivasa strike a shoey pose at Eiffel Tower ahead of UFC Paris

Watch UFC Fight Night 209 headliners Ciryl Gane and Tai Tuivasa face off in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

The UFC will make it’s long-awaited debut in France on Saturday.

[autotag]Ciryl Gane[/autotag] (10-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) meets [autotag]Tai Tuivasa[/autotag] (15-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) in the main event of UFC Fight Night 209 at Accor Arena in Paris, and it’s only right for the headliners to face off in front of one of the world’s most famous landmarks.

The pair posed in front of the Eiffel Tower, but of course, Tuivasa had to add his own touch by busting out some sneakers for a shoey photo with “Bon Gamin,” who even guided Tuivasa on how to pose.

You can watch the video below courtesy of UFC Europe’s Instagram.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ch4psqPgI1K/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

UFC Fight Night 209 takes place Saturday at Accor Arena in Paris. The card streams on ESPN+.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 209.

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

[listicle id=2576416]

[vertical-gallery id=743367]

[listicle id=2576380]

Fares Ziam re-signs with UFC, returns at Paris event in September

Fares Ziam is back on the UFC roster.

[autotag]Fares Ziam[/autotag] is back on the UFC roster.

Ziam (12-4 MMA, 2-2 UFC) fought out his UFC contract after a quick submission loss to Terrance McKinney at UFC Fight Night 202 in February. He went 2-2 in four UFC fights with wins over Jamie Mullarkey and Luigi Vendramini.

It took some time to get a new deal done for the 25-year-old French-Algerian fighter, but once the UFC announced their debut show in France, he was given another opportunity with the help of his management team Dominance MMA.

“My management team did a very good job for this new contract, and I thanked them,” Ziam told MMA Junkie. “This new contract gives me even more strength to perform. Fighting at UFC Paris is wonderful for me, my family and the French fans. It will be a historic evening so I will give everything to put on a show.”

Ziam meets octagon newcomer and former Cage Warriors fighter Michal Figlak (8-0) on Sept. 3 at Accor Arena in Paris. The bout was first reported by La Sueur.

[vertical-gallery id=616531]

Christos Giagos out of UFC Paris after severing pinky tendon on broken toilet

Tough break for Christos Giagos, who had surgery because of an injury caused by a trashed toilet.

[autotag]Christos Giagos[/autotag] won’t be fighting at UFC Paris because of a freak injury.

On Monday, Giagos (19-10 MMA, 5-6 UFC) announced that he recently underwent surgery to repair a severed pinky tendon while he was cleaning his grill, and his hand sliced open on a broken toilet.

“I was getting some cleaning done and while wiping down a piece of my grill in the trash my hand hit a broken porcelain toilet and gashed my hand open, cutting a tendon in my pinky,” Giagos wrote Monday on Instagram. “Unfortunately, due to the severity of the injury I had to pull out of my upcoming fight in Paris. I was praying the damage wasn’t bad so I could still take the fight, but that wasn’t the case.

“I went to a hand specialist today to check the damage and had to undergo a minor surgery to reattach my pinky tendon. My focus is to get healed up as fast as possible. As much as this pains me, the only thing I have control over is how quickly I get back.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/ChAqlSNJJhA/

Giagos, 32, was expected to face [autotag]Benoit Saint-Denis[/autotag] (9-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) at the UFC Fight Night event Sept. 3. It’s unclear if Saint-Denis will remain on the card.

With the change, the UFC Paris lineup includes:

  • Ciryl Gane vs. Tai Tuivasa
  • Marvin Vettori vs. Robert Whittaker
  • Joaquin Buckley vs. Nassourdine Imavov
  • Zarah Fairn vs. Ailin Perez
  • Alessio Di Chirico vs. Roman Kopylov
  • Nasrat Haqparast vs. John Makdessi
  • Joel Alvarez vs. Magomed Mustafaev
  • Taylor Lapilus vs. Khalid Taha
  • Abusupiyan Magomedov vs. Dustin Stoltzfus
  • Benoit Saint-Denis vs. TBA
  • Darian Weeks vs. TBA

Former Glory champion Cedric Doumbe to make UFC debut in Paris

Cedric Doumbe is a UFC fighter after just two professional MMA bouts.

[autotag]Cedric Doumbe[/autotag] is a UFC fighter after just two professional MMA bouts.

Doumbe, a former Glory Kickboxing champion, will meet [autotag]Darian Weeks[/autotag] at UFC Fight Night on Sept. 3 at Accor Arena in Paris.

A person with knowledge of the matchup confirmed the booking to MMA Junkie but asked to remain anonymous because the promotion has yet to make an official announcement. Sherdog was first to report the news.

Doumbe (2-0 MMA, 0-0 UFC), a two-time Glory welterweight champ, transitioned to MMA last October. The Cameroonian-born French fighter has won both his professional bouts by knockout.

Meanwhile, Weeks (5-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC) will be in search of his first octagon win. The 28-year-old dropped unanimous decisions to Bryan Barberena and most recently Ian Garry at UFC 273 in April.

With the addition, the UFC Paris lineup includes:

  • Ciryl Gane vs. Tai Tuivasa
  • Marvin Vettori vs. Robert Whittaker
  • Joaquin Buckley vs. Nassourdine Imavov
  • Absupiyan Magomedov vs. Makhmud Muradov
  • Zarah Fairn vs. Ailin Perez
  • Alessio Di Chirico vs. Roman Kopylov
  • Nasrat Haqparast vs. John Makdessi
  • Joel Alvarez vs. Magomed Mustafaev
  • Taylor Lapilus vs. Khalid Taha
  • Christos Giagos vs. Benoit Saint-Denis
  • Cedric Doumbe vs. Darrian Weeks

Joaquin Buckley vs. Nassourdine Imavov joins UFC Paris lineup on Sept. 3

Rising middleweight contenders Joaquin Buckley and Nassourdine Imavov will square off in Paris.

Rising middleweight contenders will square off in Paris.

[autotag]Joaquin Buckley[/autotag] (15-4 MMA, 5-2 UFC) meets [autotag]Nassourdine Imavov[/autotag] (11-3 MMA, 2-1 UFC) on Sept. 3 at Accor Arena, promotion officials announced Wednesday.

La Sueur was first to report the news.

Winner of five of his past six, Buckley is coming off a Performance of the Night stoppage win over Albert Duraev at UFC on ESPN 37 in June. Four of his wins in that stretch came by knockout, including the viral spinning back kick of Impa Kasanganay.

After losing a majority decision to Phil Hawes in his UFC debut, Imavov rebounded with back-to-back second-round finishes of Ian Heinisch and Edmen Shahbazyan. Training partner of Ciryl Gane at MMA Factory Paris, the 27-year-old has won eight of his past nine fights.

With the change, the UFC Paris lineup includes:

  • Ciryl Gane vs. Tai Tuivasa
  • Marvin Vettori vs. Robert Whittaker
  • Jessica Andrade vs. Manon Fiorot
  • Absupiyan Magomedov vs. Makhmud Muradov
  • Zarah Fairn vs. Ailin Perez
  • Alessio Di Chirico vs. Roman Kopylov
  • Nasrat Haqparast vs. John Makdessi
  • Joaquin Buckley vs. Nassourdine Imavov