France recently became the last European country to legalize MMA. Promoters, as of Jan. 27, have been permitted to hold events under Shooto rules. French officials will not permit elbows, knees, or kicks on the ground.

French fighters and organizers have also created an MMA commission and a number of major promotions have looked into holding events in the country and Paris in particular. It appears that M-1 will be the first.

Rumors are circulating that M-1 will hold an M-1 challenge event in France sometime in October of this year. The card is said to include a fight between Jerome Le Banner vs. Roman Zentsov.