The UFC makes its way back to Europe this Saturday, and heavy leather is expected to be thrown in the main event as former interim heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane takes on Serghei Spivac.
Hot prospect Manon Fiorot puts her undefeated promotional record on the line and tests the upper echelon of women’s MMA when she challenges the two-time strawweight champion Rose Namajunas.
Let’s waste no more time and dive into the most noteworthy betting picks for the UFC Paris main and co-main event.
Picks Summary
- • Ciryl Gane ML (-188) at Bet365
- • Manon Fiorot ML (-180) at Caesars Sportsbook
Ciryl Gane vs. Serghei Spivac
UFC Paris Heavyweight Main Event Bout
Saturday, September 2, 2023 – 12:00 PM EDT at Accor Arena
Ciryl Gane (11-2-0 pro-MMA) ran through the UFC heavyweight division in 2019-2021 until he claimed the interim championship in one of the company’s fastest rises to gold.
Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones have since stunted Gane’s momentum. Still, with a return to his native country, France, alongside the experience collected combined with an elite-level striking game, the sky is still the limit for “Bon Gamin.”
Serghei Spivac (16-3-0) is arguably riding the greater momentum of the two combatants in this weekend’s Paris main event; however, he must prove himself versus the heavyweight division’s elite.
Age just 28, Spivac stands behind a three-fight KO/TKO win streak, a 7-3 UFC record, and a huge opportunity to make a statement versus a top contender on Saturday.
Gane vs. Spivac: Fight Tape Analysis
Spivac possesses exceptional grappling skills and can secure fight-ending submissions, a rarity in his weight class. However, his technical striking abilities have revealed numerous weaknesses that may prove costly when facing Gane.
Gane’s expertise lies in lateral movement, footwork, and offensive striking – essential aspects of his fighting style. Prior to his professional MMA career, Gane actively participated in Muay Thai kickboxing, a background that has undoubtedly translated well into the octagon.
During striking exchanges, Spivac exposes himself to too many vulnerabilities for my liking, which raises serious concerns when facing a precise and clinical striker like Gane. Additionally, Spivac’s wrestling skills are not at an elite level, making it difficult for him to control the distance and take Gane to the ground. Even if the fight ends on the mat, I doubt Spivac possesses the necessary strength to keep the Frenchman down.
Gane will likely dictate the pace in striking exchanges and consistently outperform Spivac in each round. Given Spivac’s defensive issues, it would not be surprising to witness him succumb to a knockout or technical knockout stoppage.
UFC Paris Main Event Odds & Prediction
The UFC odds have placed Gane at -188, and I believe this price is short. I expected Gane to be around -250, thus making the current moneyline on the Frenchman more than suitable as a viable wager.
UFC Pick: Ciryl Gane ML (-188) [1.80u returns 1u profit] at Bet365
Manon Fiorot vs. Rose Namajunas
UFC Paris Women’s Flyweight Co-Main Event Bout
Saturday, September 2, 2023 – 12:00 PM EDT at Accor Arena
Manon Fiorot (10-1-0), with a mere five years of pro-MMA experience, has skyrocketed through the UFC rankings and is one significant victory short of challenging for the flyweight strap.
However, don’t be fooled; this French athlete boasts a long history of combat sports experience as she’s dominated in karate, Muay Thai, and kickboxing.
Former two-time UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas (11-5-0) makes her long-awaited return in Paris, France, and she can thrust herself right into title contention by derailing one of the division’s brightest prospects.
Fiorot vs. Namajunas: Fight Tape Analysis
Namajunas has been absent from active competition since May 2022. That championship bout versus Carla Esparza was underwhelming, to say the least, so much so that we could argue that the best days of “Thug Rose” are behind us.
And now, the former strawweight queen is moving up a weight class and facing one of the flyweight divisions’ rising prospects in Manon Fiorot. The French native stems from a deep-rooted background in karate – evident in her wide stance and kick game. She is a former Muay Thai champion and obtained three national titles before transitioning to professional MMA.
Fiorot enjoys pumping her jump and constantly pressures her opponents, especially in the first two rounds while her cardio is peaking. She won’t allow the opposition to fade out of range without delivering side kicks. She is a high-volume southpaw and, through three rounds, hasn’t displayed cardio concerns despite a relentless output.
Rose is an excellent striker in her own right, but it’s difficult to envision her doing as much damage as she once did now that she’s facing opponents up a weight class and someone who’s riding a 5-0 UFC record with her only pro loss coming in her debut back in 2018.
UFC Paris Co-Main Event Odds & Prediction
The UFC prices at the top sportsbooks have placed the up-and-comer, Fiorot, as the betting favorite, and for good reasons.
There are too many unknowns surrounding Namajunas’ return, and a move in weight class is one of the biggest. Her grappling skillset will likely be nullified at flyweight, as Fiorot is notably muscular and can undoubtedly out-power Rose.
I expect damage, power, size, and momentum to side with Fiorot, who’ll aggressively punch and kick her way to another unanimous decision. Not forgetting that this bout is in France, thus providing another downside for Rose.
UFC Pick: Manon Fiorot ML (-180) [1.80u returns 1u profit] at Caesars Sportsbook
