Tai Tuivasa will look to continue his epic run in the UFC's heavyweight division when he takes on former interim UFC heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane on Saturday, Sept. 3. The fight will be in Gane’s backyard as the UFC heads to Paris for the first time.
Tuivasa is on a five-fight win streak and recently knocked out fan favorite Derrick Lewis. The No. 3-ranked heavyweight will face the top-ranked Gane, who is returning to action after failing to capture the UFC heavyweight title in January.
Motivated and ready to impress his family and friends, Gane is looking to halt the momentum of the shoey-drinking Tuivasa. Will it be a homecoming to remember, or will Tuivasa find a way to celebrate in a way only he can?
The Sporting News breaks down the fight from a betting perspective and gives you our expert pick of who will win the bout and how.
UFC Paris odds for Ciryl Gane vs. Tai Tuivasa
According to Vegas Insider, Gane is the -550 favorite while Tuivasa is the +400 underdog.
In Canada, per Sports Interaction, Gane is the -510 favorite while Tuivasa is the +340 underdog.
MORE: UFC Paris: Ciryl Gane vs. Tai Tuivasa date, start time, odds, schedule & card
UFC Paris prop bets for Ciryl Gane vs. Tai Tuivasa
- Gane via KO/TKO: -145
- Gane via submission: +405
- Gane via decision: +150
- Tuivasa via KO/TKO: +470
- Tuivasa via submission: +2400
- Tuivasa via decision: +1400
Ciryl Gane vs. Tai Tuivasa prediction
Both fighters pack a mean punch. Gane has won two fights in the UFC via knockout. But he is also versatile; he submitted two opponents in a row to start his career in the Octagon. Tuivasa has won five consecutive fights via knockout.
In his short time in the Octagon, Tuivasa has landed 4.54 significant strikes per minute. "Bam Bam" has a strike accuracy of 52 percent. Gane lands 4.83 strikes per minute with 58 percent accuracy.
Something to consider is the lack of damage Gane takes. Tuivasa absorbs 3.56 strikes per minute while Gane absorbs just 2.27. Gane is a patient fighter who can pounce when needed. When he is in a brawl, Tuivasa can fight with the best of them. Will that be the case against Gane?
MORE: MMA Schedule 2022: Date, division, location for upcoming fights
Gane trumps Tuivasa in the ground game. Tuivasa was taken down twice by Lewis in his last fight but was able to prosper in the end. Will the same thing happen against Gane, who averages 0.69 takedowns per 15 minutes and has a 22 percent accuracy mark? Then again, Gane was bamboozled by Francis Ngannou and got taken down four times by the UFC heavyweight champion.
Gane also has a six-inch reach advantage. If Tuivasa wants to brawl, he will have to be creative. No one has punched out Gane in the UFC, and Gane is unlike any fighter Tuivasa has faced before.
As for betting the fight, Gane was considered the favorite against Ngannou and Tuivasa was considered the underdog against Lewis. That may not make the ultimate difference here, but it is something to keep an eye on.
And while Tuivasa may be the hottest fighter in the UFC today, Gane’s overall ability might be too much for the Australian to handle. It would not be shocking to see an upset, but one has to think Gane has the edge on all fronts.
Sporting News prediction: Gane via unanimous decision
When is UFC Paris: Ciryl Gane vs. Tai Tuivasa?
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 3
- Prelims: Noon ET | 5 p.m. BST | 2 a.m. AEST
- Main card: 3 p.m. ET | 8 p.m. BST | 5 a.m. AEST
- Main event: 6 p.m. ET | 11 p.m. BST | 8 a.m. AEST (approximate)
UFC Paris takes place on Saturday, Sept. 3. The prelims begin at noon ET (5 p.m. BST, 2 a.m. AEST), while the main card will start around 3 p.m. ET (8 p.m. BST, 5 a.m. AEST). Gane and Tuivasa should make their way to the cage around 6 p.m. ET (11 p.m. BST, 8 a.m. AEST), depending on how long the undercard fights last.
How to watch UFC Paris: Ciryl Gane vs. Tai Tuivasa
- ESPN+
The prelims and the main card for UFC Paris will be available on the ESPN+ streaming service
Ciryl Gane vs. Tai Tuivasa price: How much does UFC Paris cost?
You can pay $9.99 for a monthly subscription to ESPN+ or buy an annual subscription for $99.99.
MORE: Sign up to watch UFC Paris, exclusively on ESPN+
| Product | Prices |
|---|---|
| ESPN+ Monthly Subscription | $9.99/month |
| ESPN+ Annual Subscription | $99.99/year |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu Ad-Supported | $13.99/month |
| The Disney Bundle w/Hulu No-Ads | $19.99/month |
UFC Paris: Ciryl Gane vs. Tai Tuivasa fight card
Main card
- Ciryl Gane vs. Tai Tuivasa; heavyweights
- Robert Whittaker vs. Marvin Vettori; middleweights
- Alessio Di Chirico vs. Roman Kopylov; middleweights
- John Makdessi vs. Nasrat Haqparast; lightweights
- Taylor Lapilus vs. Khalid Taha; bantamweights
- Charles Jourdain vs. Nathaniel Wood; featherweights
Prelims
- Zarah Fairn Dos Santos vs. Ailin Perez; featherweights
- Nassourdine Imavov vs. Joaquin Buckley; middleweights
- Ricardo Ramos vs. Danny Henry; featherweights
- Benoit Saint-Denis vs. Gabriel Miranda; lightweights
