Australian UFC star Robert Whittaker has made clear he is not done with his dreams of regaining the middleweight title after a victory in the sport's first event in Paris.
Whittaker comfortably took a three-round win over Italy's Martin Vettori in a unanimous decision scored 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28 by the three judges.
Whittaker had not fought since losing his second showdown with Kiwi champion Israel Adesanya in February.
Despite two losses to the champ, Whittaker is clearly the best of the rest in the division and said he would keep gunning for the man with the belt.
"Including the champion, I'm the most dangerous man in the division," he said in the octagon after the fight.
"I make people hate fighting, I take the love out of it for them.
"As for who's next, I'm always gunning for that top spot. I'm just gonna be lurking there, waiting."
The first round against Vettori was tight as both fighters tested each other but the 31-year-old Sydneysider grew in stature as the bout continued.
Mixing up his attack, Whittaker took it to Vettori, who bravely withstood the punishment, including some heavy kicks to the head.
While Vettori landed some solid jabs, Whittaker walked away with his face virtually unmarked to extend his UFC record to 25-6.
Tuivasa knocked out in epic heavyweight bout
Fellow Aussie Tai Tuivasa was less successful in the co-main event, as Frenchman Ciryl Gane served up an epic knockout victory in their heavyweight bout.
With the sport making its debut in the French capital after the end of the ban on cage fighting in the country, the arena was packed with singing and chanting fans.
They got the result they were after with the fight stopped in the final minute of the third round after an onslaught of body shots and then blows to the head saw the Aussie go down.
But number one contender Gane did not have it all his own way against third-ranked Tuivasa.
In a frantic second round that almost lifted the roof, Tuivasa landed a huge right hand that felled Gane and he followed up with another as the Frenchman climbed off the canvas.
But it only seemed to steel the hometown favourite, who continued to do damage with big body kicks that took their toll in the third round, ending Tuivasa's five-fight winning streak.
Gane said he had to dig deep against the brave Tuivasa.
"Honestly, Tai hit me so hard, he knocked me out. He put the lights out … but I had to be a warrior, I got up. I came back even stronger and got the win," Gane said.
Both fighters earned plaudits for their sportsmanship throughout the fight.
ABC/AAP
