The UFC are reportedly looking to host their very first show in France later this year and it is rumoured that the fight they want to headline that event is Frances's own Ciryl Gane vs Tai Tuivasa — This and much more on Friday's social media roundup.
UFC reportedly targeting Ciryl Gane vs Tai Tuivasa for their first event in France
As the UFC continues to grow, they are targeting new countries to enter such as France as well as some African countries.
France has been a target for the UFC to host an event in for some time now and it seems that 2022 will be the time where the UFC finally makes its debut in France.
The biggest name from France currently in the UFC is the former interim UFC heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane who last fought at UFC 270 where he lost to Francis Ngannou via unanimous decision.
Gane seems like the logical option for the UFC to have headline their first show in France as he will be a hit with the crowd and he also has a good position in the heavyweight rankings where if he can put together another one or two wins he will be right back in title contention.
According to MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, the UFC is targeting Tai Tuivasa as Gane's opponent.
--BREAKING--
— The MMA Media (@The_MMA_Media) April 29, 2022
The UFC is planning to book Cyril Gane vs. Tai Tuivasa as the headliner for #UFCParis on September 3rd.
[per @arielhelwani]#UFCParis #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/pNs9zMaibR
This has surprised a lot of MMA fans as Tuivasa seemed set to fight Tom Aspinall next after Aspinall called him out after his win over Alexander Volkov at UFC London just last month.
If the fight does get made and the first UFC event in France is headlined by Gane and Tuivasa, who do you think will come out with the win?
The UFC to return to London in July
After an incredibly successful and exciting UFC London event in March, it has been officially announced that the UFC will return back to London for another event in July.
What's better than one #UFCLondon? How about two in the same year!
— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) April 28, 2022
After an incredible night in March, the UFC Octagon will return to London on -------- ----! ----
Let's run it back! -- pic.twitter.com/yy5GgKIVIz
No main event is announced as of yet but it is being rumored that the event will be headlined with Tom Aspinall vs Curtis Blaydes and could also see the return of Darren Till.
Rob Font misses weight for his fight tomorrow against Marlon Vera
Tomorrow's Fight Night at the UFC Apex is headlined by an exciting bantamweight contest between Rob Font and Marlon Vera.
This morning, Font missed weight by 2.5 pounds.
Despite him missing weight the fight will still go ahead as planned.
Font = 138.5lbs
— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) April 29, 2022
Vera -136lbs
Font misses weight by 2.5lbs but we have our main event for Saturday night! #UFCVegas53 Sat 10pm BT Sport 1 HD pic.twitter.com/bZSPqAuVTs
Eddie Hearn gives Jake Paul a reality check
Eddie Hearn and Jake Paul have been interacting all week as they have been co-promoting this weekend's huge boxing match between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano.
It is fair to say that Hearn has started to have enough of Paul's claims that he can become a world class boxer.
Eddie Hearn bent Jake over his knee and spanked him pic.twitter.com/ApWNjIM2T4
— ape (@qpe) April 28, 2022
Zabit Magomedsharipov pursuing a career in medicine
Zabit Magomedsharipov's absence from the Octagon has left a lot of fans wondering if he is retired from MMA.
Magomedsharipov last fought in November 2019 where he picked up a win over Calvin Kattar.
He was rumored to be fighting Yair Rodriguez in 2020 but that never materialised.
It now seems that Zabit is focusing on his career away from MMA as several days ago posted to his Instagram teasing that he is going to be pursuing a career in medicine.
Zabit Magomedsharipov has revealed he will be pursuing a career in medicine per a recent post he made on his Instagram account.
— Violent Money TV (@VM_TV_) April 27, 2022
The news has cast further doubt on whether the athlete will ever make a return to the UFC octagon.#VMTV #UFC #MMA #MMATwitter pic.twitter.com/3lQfpSInQH
Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano face off for the final time before their huge fight tomorrow night
Check out this clip of Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano facing off for the last time before they both compete in the biggest fight in women's boxing history tomorrow night.
Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano final face-off ahead of tomorrow night…
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) April 29, 2022
[-- @MatchroomBoxing] pic.twitter.com/AN4FBhNBui
Jorge Masvidal must stay at least 25 feet away from Colby Covington in all public spaces
Following Jorge Masvidal's attack on Colby Covington several weeks ago in Miami, Masvidal has been ordered to stay at least 25 feet away from Covington in all public spaces.
Jorge Masvidal must stay away from Colby Covington --
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) April 28, 2022
-- https://t.co/EVn8iZofpP pic.twitter.com/R0fUFMhcEI
T.J. Dillashaw believes that Aljamain Sterling is an easy fight for him
After Aljamain Sterling successfully defended his UFC bantamweight title against Petr Yan, he called out T.J. Dillashaw in his post fight interview.
When asked about the potential fight against Sterling, Dillashaw seemed supremely confident and said that Sterling would be an easy fight for him.
See below to see Dillashaw's full comments.
TJ isn't stressing a potential fight against Aljo --
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) April 27, 2022
(via @bokamotoESPN) pic.twitter.com/pIkDT85FuS
Eddie Hearn and Jake Paul sit down in a face to face interview hosted by Ariel Helwani
Check out the clip below which is a teaser for the full face to face interview with Eddie Hearn and Jake Paul.
This was tremendous stuff. @EddieHearn x @jakepaul face-to-face.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) April 29, 2022
Got contentious from the jump.
Enjoy: https://t.co/a7mgXZW67h pic.twitter.com/lEGNV5ePeG
Best moments from UFC London in March
As it has just been announced that the UFC will be returning to London again this year, let's take a look and remind ourselves of the best moments and what went down at the last UFC London event in March.
Last time at #UFCLondon..
— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) April 28, 2022
An incredible night for British MMA as the UFC returned after three years away and it did not disappoint!
A Thread -- pic.twitter.com/L011LX1FsF