UFC Paris battle week continues. Whereas the No. 1 MMA promotion on the earth was darkish final weekend in observance of the Labor Day vacation weekend, the group is again its September schedule. It begins this Saturday with the fourth annual journey to Paris.
Stay protection of the present begins at 12 midday ET/ 9 am PT on ESPN+ with the prelims earlier than transferring onto the principle card at 3 pm ET/ midday PT. All instructed, if there are not any additional changes to the schedule, the ultimate model of this week’s present will characteristic a slate of 14 fights from the highest group on the earth.
There’s already been one adjustment made to the bout order for UFC Paris. For those who occurred to overlook the newsflash earlier on within the week, Fares Ziam needed to withdraw from the present because of the loss of life of his grandmother. In his stead, Harry Hardwick will likely be transferring up from featherweight to compete in opposition to Kaue Fernandes in a light-weight undercard.
UFC Paris Primary Occasion: No. 2 Contender Nassourdine Imavov vs. No. 7 Contender Caio Borralho
On the high of the invoice on Saturday, the middleweights take to the fabled Octagon when No. 2 contender Nassourdine Imavov (16-4, 1 NC MMA, 8-2, 1 NC UFC) meets No. 7 contender Caio Borralho (17-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC.) It is a five-round battle at 5 minutes per spherical to shut out the present.
Imavov enters the UFC Paris fundamental occasion with a file of 4-0 with one no-contest in his final 5 appearances within the cage. On Feb. 1, he completed Israel Adesanya (24-5 MMA, 13-5 UFC) with a second-round knockout by the use of overhand proper adopted by floor and pound in simply 30 seconds through the UFC Riyadh fundamental occasion.
In so doing, Imavov pocketed $50,000 (USD) in bonus money for the Efficiency of the Night time Award. He’s been unbeaten in his final 5 fights and is true on the doorstep of a title shot ought to he safe the win over the weekend.
In the meantime, Caio Borralho has posted a 5-0 file in his previous 5 contests. Saturday’s UFC Paris fundamental occasion is the primary time he’ll make the stroll to the cage in 2025. On Feb. 28, he partook in a grappling match, besting Brendan Allen by unanimous determination beneath the Karate Fight banner.
So far as MMA is anxious, the final time he set foot within the Octagon occurred on Aug. 24 of final yr. That evening, contained in the UFC Apex, he scored a unanimous determination victory over Jared Cannonier (18-9 MMA, 11-9 UFC) after three rounds, receiving a $50,000 advance for the Struggle of the Night time bonus.
With a victory right here, Borralho will discover himself on the cusp of the title image at 185. Solely time will inform, nevertheless, if that is to be the case.
UFC Paris Co-Primary Occasion: No. 13 Contender Benoit Saint-Denis vs. Mauricio Ruffy
Instantly beforehand, the UFC Paris co-main occasion of the night will happen within the light-weight ranks. No. 13 contender Benoit Saint-Denis (14-3, 1 NC MMA, 6-3 UFC) meets Mauricio Ruffy (12-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC.) It’ll be a three-round battle at 5 minutes per spherical.
Saint-Denis will likely be making the stroll this Saturday sporting a 3-2 file in his final 5 bouts. Again on Might 10 throughout UFC 315, he completed Kyle Prepolec (18-9 MMA, 0-3 UFC) with a second-round rear-naked choke submission in Quebec. Prepolec was a alternative for Saint-Denis’ unique adversary that evening, Joel Alvarez, after he withdrew from the present due to a hand harm simply days previous to the cardboard going down.
Can he rating his second win in succession this week in Paris? Tune in and discover out.
Throughout the best way, Ruffy appears to be like to try to get into the rankings at 155 on the power of a 5-0 file in his final 5 bouts. He’s on a six-fight successful streak heading into UFC Paris.
On March 8, he stopped King Inexperienced (37-12-1, 1 NC MMA, 13-12-1, 1 NC UFC) with a first-round knockout because of a spinning heel kick throughout UFC 313 inside T-Cell Area in Enterprise, NV.
Saturday’s co-main occasion at UFC Paris is just Ruffy’s fourth stroll to the fabled Octagon since becoming a member of the UFC’s energetic roster by the use of Contender Collection in October of 2023. Provided that this younger man is on a scorching streak, a win right here may propel him to a spot within the light-weight rankings.
UFC Paris: Modestas Bukauskas vs. Paul Craig
Additionally on the principle card Saturday, you’ll be seeing a light-weight heavyweight affair between Modestas Bukauskas (18-6 MMA, 6-4 UFC), an alumnus of Cage Warriors, and Paul Craig (17-9-1, 1 NC MMA, 9-9-1, 1 NC UFC.) Bukauskas has posted a 4-1 mark in his final 5 contests.
In the mean time, he’s on a three-fight successful streak, prolonged in Montreal on Might 10 by the use of cut up determination versus Ion Cutelaba (19-11-1, 1 NC MMA, 8-10, 1 NC UFC) throughout UFC 315 on pay-per-view. UFC Paris will function Bukauskas’ third stroll to the Octagon in 2025, with all of these fights having occurred within the final seven months. Will he go 3-for-3 this yr?
Within the different nook, Paul Craig has a 1-3 file with one no-contest in his 5 newest appearances. That no-contest occurred again in June in Atlanta when his battle in opposition to Rodolfo Bellato was stopped with one second remaining on the first-round clock after he related on an unlawful upkick to Bellato’s head to drop him.
Upon additional evaluation of the footage of the battle, in session with the cageside doctor, the referee dominated the bout a no-contest. Craig hasn’t gotten his hand raised in victory since July of 2023. Count on him to battle with frustration right here.
Remaining Ideas
Which battle or fights on the UFC Paris fundamental card are you trying ahead to? Tell us within the feedback.
