Tom Duquesnoy made his UFC debut at UFC On Fox 24, where he defeated Patrick Williams by second round TKO.
Duquesnoy is from France and that country currently has a ban on professional MMA, but if the ban is ever lifted, the UFC fighter says he would sell out any event the promotion runs there.
“At least I hope it will contribute and I will be on board to help promote and legalize MMA in France,” he said on The MMA Hour. “Professionally, why it’s interesting to me is because if we do a big UFC event in Paris, I’m sure I will make the place full. So it would be a good thing. And also, even if I’m training in the USA right now, I do not forget where I come from. I don’t forget where I’ve met the good people where I’m from. So I get educated, and I developed my life and my career from zero to the age of 18 or 19 in France, now I continue to develop myself in the US, because that’s where the business is. That’s the best place to be.”
The French star has seen lots of success competing in the United Kingdom, even holding the BAMMA Bantamweight Title before coming to the UFC.
Even though he is a native Frenchman, the fighter still trains in the United States and he has a lot of respect for the country.
“I have the French flag because I’m from France and I want to represent my country, which is a normal thing,” he said. “And now MMA is banned in France, so the reason I wear the U.S. flag is because I respect the country which gives me the opportunity to develop my career, by the UFC. So that’s why I’m wearing the flag. I’m proud of my first country, but also of my country that saved me, and who allowed me to do my pleasure.”
At UFC On Fox 24, the French star not only made his UFC debut, but his North American MMA debut as well.
