Gane back in heavyweight title picture after dominant win

Ciryl Gane put himself back into the UFC heavyweight title picture with a dominant victory over Sergey Spivak in the main event of a Fight Night at the Accor Arena in Paris on the evening of Saturday 2 September 2023.

Gane, fighting in front of a patriotic and partisan crowd, put in a near-perfect display of striking against a potent grappler, dominating ‘The Polar Bear’ with impressive movement and incisive attacks, ultimately forcing a referee’s stoppage with a flurry of unanswered blows in the second half of the second round.

“It was my mission to prove I’m still here,” said Gane, who was beaten in a title fight by Jon Jones earlier this year, but is determined to get another shot at being dubbed ‘The Baddest Man on the Planet’.

He added, “I failed in getting the belt. My mission is to go forward and get the belt.”

The rest of the main card featured popular victories for home favourites Manon Fiorot, who outpointed Rose Namajunas in a women’s flyweight battle; as well as Benoit Saint-Denis, who claimed a statement second-round stoppage of fellow lightweight Thiago Moises.

In addition, Volkan Oezdemir submitted Bogdan Guskov in a light heavyweight clash; William Gomis stopped Yanis Ghemmouri in the third round of their featherweight clash; and Morgan Charriere made quick work of Manolo Zecchini with a first round knockout in their featherweight opener.

The morning of Sunday 10 September brings UFC 293 from the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia, headlined by a match for the Middleweight Championship between Israel Adesanya and Sean Strickland.

UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Spivak - MAIN CARD RESULTS

- Main event: Heavyweight: Ciryl Gane def. Sergey Spivak via TKO (punches), R2, 3:44

- Women’s flyweight: Manon Fiorot def. Rose Namajunas via unanimous decision (30-27 29-28 29-28), R3, 5:00

- Lightweight: Benoit Saint-Denis def. Thiago Moises via TKO (punches), R2, 4:44

- Light heavyweight: Volkan Oezdemir def. Bogdan Guskov via submission (rear-naked choke), R21, 3:46

- Featherweight: William Gomis def. Yanis Ghemmouri via TKO (body kick), R3, 2:20

- Featherweight: Morgan Charriere def. Manolo Zecchini via KO (body kick and punches), R1, 3:51