The brutality was beautiful.
Cyril Gane strengthened his position as the top contender in the Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight division, as he took out Tai Tuivasa with punches in the third round of their UFC Fight Night 209 headliner on Saturday at Accor Arena in Paris. Tuivasa (14-4, 8-4 UFC) succumbed to blows 4:23 into Round 3, suffering his first defeat in nearly three years.
Gane (11-1, 8-1 UFC) did not escape unscathed. Tuivasa floored him with a clubbing right hand to touch off a remarkable sequence in the second round that saw both men badly hurt on multiple occasions.