PARIS – Before it’s all said and done, Tai Tuivasa wants the opportunity to fight Jon Jones.
Currently riding a five-fight knockout streak, Tuivasa (15-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) faces Ciryl Gane (10-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 209 main event at Accor Arena in Paris. The card streams on ESPN+.
With Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) gearing up for his heavyweight debut, Tuivasa has his eyes on the former UFC light heavyweight king if he can get past Gane.
“Jon Jones is the GOAT. He’s one of the greatest to ever fight. We all know this,” Tuivasa told reporters at Thursday’s UFC Fight Night 209 media day. “But as a heavyweight, no one really knows. I’m sure that he’s still Jon Jones. He’s talented and his skill is great. But heavyweight’s a different kind of league ,and we don’t know. We have to wait and see.
“I’d love to fight him. I’ve said it before: This is why I do this. One day when I wrap up this whole fighting gig, I want to say I fought this guy and that guy – the best guys. I don’t want to come out (of the sport) and I didn’t have the opportunity to fight the best. So I’d love to fight Jon, and I’d love to knock his head off, as well. That would be pretty cool.”
But first, Tuivasa has a tall order in former interim heavyweight champion Gane. Tuivasa is well aware of how good Gane is and rates him highly in comparison to his past opposition.
“Ciryl’s a champion,” Tuivasa said. “He’s won the belt. He’s one of the best of the best. I’ve fought a few couple of champions now, and he’s up there with the best for sure. He would probably be one of the most elusive, maybe, fighters with his speed and his movement. But if I dink him, I sink him.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 209.
