If you’ve heard of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts), chances are it’s the world’s highest paid athlete this year, the famous Conor McGregor. Gal Grimaud, who failed to share his bank account, has one thing in common with the strange Irishman: he was the Cage Warriors champion.

But far from the provocative part of McGregor, the organizers wanted to put forward a calm and dignified image of Gal Grimaud for the main fight of the evening. “They were looking for a representative of the MMA in a healthy way. We need an image that fits the French spirit. I am honored for that.” Refers to the fighter.

After the gloves were removed, at 40 he returned to the competition to promote the competition, and was finally legalized by France. He will face Portuguese Falco Neto, who has 22 fights to his name. “He’s an aggressive fighter, a wrestler. He has 22 fights. He’s a former Bellator (the second largest organization in the world). He’s a tough guy, but I’ll find him in a cage.” He laughs.

A pioneer in the field of sports

Gale Grimaud is not only the head of the Reunion MMA but also one of the French pioneers in the sport. He started his career 12 years ago when he started playing sports nationwide. He has been fascinated by judoka since he was 7 years old.

“I’m not hiding that I’m a little crazy. If I do not feel that way, I have a grain. I was looking for a discipline similar to my freedom of thought. This underground side, I do not.” I did not see aggressive sports, I saw sports that could express themselves artistically. “, He explains.

As the victories progressed, he began to stand out on the European and world stage. He was the first Frenchman to win the belt of a major organization, the Cage Warriors.

After returning to the island for a few years, Gale wants to take advantage of the legalization to develop MMA on Grimaud Island. “In Reunion, we are a battlefield, we are in a beautiful country, but we are rough. We are nature warriors.” He asserts.

So he wants to help sports development and structure on Reunion Island. He wants to organize an event on the island as soon as possible. He also wants to make the department a hotspot for sports tourism. What to expect to see new champions emerge in a few years.