It was forbidden to organize MMA galas in France until 2020. On Saturday, history was made when the first ever UFC gala was held in the country, and the Accor Arena in Paris was packed with 15,405 spectators.
The sound stage in the arena was huge and during the main match between heavyweights Ciryl Gane and Tai Tuivasa the audience at the Marseljässen sang.
- I don't think anyone expected this from the fans in France.
They were completely crazy, says Gane to SVT Sport.
- It was a historic first ever gala in France and with my name on it.
This means a lot.
Partly for me, partly for all the other French fighters who got the chance.
Gane broke his right hand
The spectators hardly had to leave the arena disappointed.
Gane, who is ranked second in the world at heavyweight and lives in Paris ten minutes from the arena, won by knock 4.23 into round three.
After a wait-and-see round one, the roof was lifted in round two as Tuivasa floored Gane, who responded by backing Tuivasa back with a series of attacks to the body, after which Tuivasa once again landed a solid left hook.
Ganes' repeated attacks to the body finally drained Tuivasa, who was knocked out in the next round.
The match was named the best of the gala.
- I feel fantastic right now.
I'm injured, but that's part of my job, he says and presses an ice pack to his right hand.
- I don't know exactly when I broke it, but it's part of the job.
The right is my best arm so I continued to jab even though it was injured.
Benoit Saint-Denis describes the atmosphere in Paris as "absolutely crazy".
Photo: TT
"Sweden on the agenda for 2023"
Another fighter who tore down big cheers in the arena was Benoit Saint-Denis who won his match against Gabriel Miranda via technical knockout 16 seconds into round two.
- The atmosphere inside the arena was absolutely enormous.
It felt like a video game.
It's hard to take in that the people are there for you and that everyone is cheering for you.
It was completely crazy, he tells SVT Sport.
The UFC last visited Sweden in June 2019 in Globen.
There have been rumors of a return in late 2022, but that doesn't seem to be happening.
- We have been to Stockholm several times before and hope to return there.
It is on the agenda for 2023. But there is nothing new to tell at the moment, says Dave Shaw, vice president of the UFC, to SVT Sport.
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