The ancient Roman Theatre of Orange will provide a spectacular backdrop for Hexagone MMA 10 as the French promotion gets ready for its next show on July 28.
Headlining the event will be a bout featuring pioneering French MMA influencer Gregory Bouchelaghem against Italian fighter Gianluca Locicero.
Better known to his followers as "Greg MMA," Bouchelaghem has a record of 5-4, having kicked off his MMA career with bouts between 2003 and 2006 before moving into coaching. He later gained notoriety with his appearances on the Karate Bushido YouTube channel, and built a sizable social media following.
Now, with the ban on MMA in France finally lifted, the 45-year-old is returning to active competition and will face 46-year-old Italian Locicero, who has a 4-4 career record.
In addition to his eight pro MMA bouts, Locicero's combat sports experience includes appearances in Calcio Storico, the historic combat soccer sport that originated in Florence.
The co-main event will feature a battle for the Hexagone women's strawweight title, as champion Samantha Jean-Francois puts her title on the line against Argentina's Laura Balin.
Thirty-six-year-old Jean-Francois captured the title with a first-round rear-naked choke finish of Mona Ftouhi at Hexagone MMA 4, then defended it with another rear-naked choke finish, this time with just 25 seconds to go in the fifth round, as she defeated Andressa Araujo at Hexagone MMA 7
Now she'll take on Laura Balin, who has competed on the big stage with Bellator and ONE Championship during her career. The Argentine challenger has a career record of 15-7, with 14 of those victories coming inside the distance.
Also set for action on the card in France is UK veteran Walter Gahadza. The former BAMMA welterweight title challenger and five-fight Bellator veteran will look to claim his first win under the Hexagone MMA banner when he takes on Algeria's Soufiene Oudina.
Hexagone MMA 10: Confirmed fight card
MAIN CARD
- Gregory Bouchelaghem vs. Gianluca Locicero
- Samantha Jean Francois vs. Laura Balin – for women's strawweight title
- Walter Gahadza vs. Soufiene Oudina
- Alix Jean Guillaume vs. Cedric Severac
- Axel Nobou vs. Roland Szolnoki
- Adama Diop vs. TBC
PRELIMINARY CARD
- Laid Zerhouni vs. Chresus Mokima
- Yassin Chtatou vs. Matthieu Moya
- Adam Afroune (2-0, Montpellier, France) VS Nicolae Bivol (1-0, Romania)
