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Tag: Benoit Saint Denis

  • “A Warrior” – Fighters & Fans React As Benoit Saint-Denis Brutally Smashes Dan Hooker En Route To TKO Win At UFC 325

    “A Warrior” – Fighters & Fans React As Benoit Saint-Denis Brutally Smashes Dan Hooker En Route To TKO Win At UFC 325

    The Australian crowd in Sydney was left in disappointed silence, as Benoit Saint-Denis brought the violence and left with a second-round finish in the co-main event of UFC 325.

    The two quickly got to striking, with Hooker even countering a takedown attempt into a brief guillotine attempt. Saint-Denis caught a kick and pressed Hooker into the fence, but Hooker did another guillotine counter. Hooker did damage with kicks to the body, but BSD managed to score a takedown late in the round, threatening a kimura, and busting Hooker open with a number of shots to the head.

    Hooker threatened a quick guillotine in a fast-paced start to the second round, but Saint-Denis continued to press forward. Hooker scored a takedown, but Saint-Denis smartly countered and quickly got into full mount, landing a strong series of elbows and threatening an arm-triangle choke. BSD got the choke locked in, but Hooker managed to defend it…only for Saint-Denis to land more ground-and-pound and bust Hooker open.

    After about a minute of strong ground-and-pound, referee Herb Dean waved the fight off with about 15 seconds left, giving the win to BSD.

    Benoit Saint-Denis Finds Takedown And Reversal, Scores Violent Finish At UFC 325

    Saint-Denis has now won four straight, a win streak that goes back to UFC 315 this past May. He is now 9-3 in the Octagon. He knocked out Beneil Dariush at UFC 322 prior to tonight.

    Hooker has now lost back-to-back fights after a three-fight win streak. He lost to Arman Tsarukyan at UFC Qatar in November.

  • ‘Made It Look Easy’ – Fans & Fighters React As Benoit Saint-Denis Batters Beneil Dariush In 16 Seconds At UFC 322

    ‘Made It Look Easy’ – Fans & Fighters React As Benoit Saint-Denis Batters Beneil Dariush In 16 Seconds At UFC 322

    Benoit Saint-Denis is certainly going to be in the top 10 of the lightweight picture come the start of next week, needing just 16 seconds to stop Beneil Dariush at UFC 322.

    Dariush seemed to trip BSD up with a leg kick to start. But a follow-up clinch would see Saint-Denis land a pair of left hands, one of which caused Dariush to faceplant on the mat. BSD landed one more shot as referee Herb Dean stepped in to wave off the fight.

    Benoit Saint-Denis KOs Beneil Dariush In Mere Seconds At UFC 322

    https://twitter.com/imavov1/status/1989897735969894698?s=20
    https://twitter.com/PCStricklandMMA/status/1989897498459045910?s=20

    After a pair of losses in 2024, Saint-Denis won three fights in 2025, submitting Kyle Prepolec and Mauricio Ruffy earlier this year, too.

    Dariush, who missed weight by 1.2 pounds, has now lost three of his last four.

  • UFC 322 Card Heats Up With Massive Lightweight Clash On Nov. 15

    UFC 322 Card Heats Up With Massive Lightweight Clash On Nov. 15

    The UFC 322 card continues to build into a potential blockbuster showdown.

    The MMA promotion will return to New York City on November 15 for UFC 322 at the Madison Square Garden, featuring a championship doubleheader at the top of the bill. In the main event, reigning welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena puts his belt on the line against former lightweight tiitleholder Islam Makhachev.

    Meanwhile, the co-main event features former strawweight queen Zhang Weili stepping up a division to take on reigning flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko.

    On Sunday, Square RMC Sport Combat reported that the already stacked UFC 322 card has gained extra firepower with an exciting lightweight showdown between top contender Beneil Dariush and Benoît Saint Denis.

    Dariush last stepped into the Octagon at UFC 317 this past June, securing a commanding unanimous decision victory over former 155-pound title challenger Renato Moicano. Before that triumph, the 36-year-old American endured consecutive first-round knockout defeats to Arman Tsarukyan and Charles Oliveira in 2023.

    “Benny” boasts a 17-6-1 UFC record, featuring notable wins over top-tier opponents such as Mateusz Gamrot and Tony Ferguson.

    Meanwhile, Saint Denis arrives at UFC 322 riding the momentum of a dominant submission victory over Mauricio Ruffy at UFC Paris earlier this month. The 29-year-old Frenchman once boasted a five-fight finishing streak but has gone 2-2 in his last four bouts.

    “God of War” holds a 7-3 UFC record, with all seven victories coming via finishes against notable opponents like Matt Frevola and Thiago Moises.

    Images: @beneildariush/@benoitst_denis/Instagram

    How Many Bouts Are Currently Booked For UFC 322?

    The UFC 322 card is shaping up to be one of the most stacked pay-per-view events of the year. Beyond the two championship bouts, eight more thrilling matchups are booked for the November 15 event as of now.

    The highly anticipated lineup will see former welterweight champion Leon Edwards returning to the Octagon to face rising contender Carlos Prates. The card will also showcase the long-awaited rematch between flyweights Erin Blanchfield and Tracy Cortez, a clash that has been six years in the making.

    Here’s the current UFC 322 lineup confirmed so far:

    • Welterweight title bout: Jack Della Maddalena (c) vs. Islam Makhachev
    • Women’s flyweight title bout: Valentina Shevchenko (c) vs. Zhang Weili
    • Welterweight bout: Leon Edwards vs. Carlos Prates
    • Lightweight bout: Beneil Dariush vs. Benoît Saint Denis
    • Middleweight bout: Bo Nickal vs. Rodolfo Vieira
    • Middleweight bout: Roman Kopylov vs. Gregory Rodrigues
    • Middleweight bout: Baysangur Susurkaev vs. Eric McConico
    • Women’s flyweight: Erin Blanchfield vs. Tracy Cortez
    • Middleweight bout: Kyle Daukaus vs. Gerald Meerschaert
    • Strawweight bout: Angela Hill vs. Fatima Kline

  • “Fraud Checked” – Fans & Fighters React As Benoit Saint Denis Dominates Mauricio Ruffy En Route To Second-Round Submission At UFC Paris

    “Fraud Checked” – Fans & Fighters React As Benoit Saint Denis Dominates Mauricio Ruffy En Route To Second-Round Submission At UFC Paris

    In front of his home country, Benoit Saint Denis may have scored the biggest victory in his MMA career, finishing the rising Mauricio Ruffy in the UFC Paris co-main event.

    Saint Denis got off to a quick start, pressuring Ruffy and getting him up against the fence. The action moved to the ground, and Saint Denis got into full mount just 60 seconds into the bout. Saint Denis looked to get to Ruffy’s back, but Ruffy shook him off and brought the fight back to the feet. BSD would bring the action back to the ground, keeping Ruffy in his grasp until an accidental low blow, and then controlling the action on the feet in the round’s final 40 seconds.

    BSD remained in firm control, scoring a takedown during the second round before locking in a rear-naked choke and scoring the submission.

    Benoit Saint Denis Submits Mauricio Ruffy At UFC Paris

    Saint Denis has now won two straight and seven of his last nine. This marked his second straight submission win, following his submission of Kyle Prepolec at UFC 315.

    This marks just the second loss of Ruffy’s professional MMA career. He was 3-0 in the UFC entering this fight, coming into tonight off a head-kick knockout of King Green at UFC 313.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Nassourdine Imavov Decisions Caio Borralho 

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Nassourdine Imavov Decisions Caio Borralho 

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the Accor Arena in Paris, France and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, middleweights Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho clashed. While in the co-main event, Benoit Saint Denis faced off with Mauricio Ruffy in a lightweight matchup.  

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Middleweight bout: Nassourdine Imavov def. Caio Borralho via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46×2)
    • Lightweight bout: Benoit Saint Denis def. Mauricio Ruffy via submission: R2, 2:56
    • Light heavyweight bout: Modestas Bukauskas def. Paul Craig via KO: R1, 5:00
    • Lightweight bout: Mason Jones def. Bolaji Oki via TKO: R2, 3.18
    • Welterweight bout: Axel Sola def. Rhys McKee via TKO: R3, 2:02
    • Featherweight bout: William Gomis def. Robert Ruchala via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28×2)

    Preliminary Card

    • Light Heavyweight bout: Oumar Sy def. Brendson Ribeiro via TKO: R1, 4:42
    • Heavyweight bout: Ante Delija def. Marcin Tybura via KO: R1: 2:03
    • Lightweight bout: Kaue Fernandes def. Harry Hardwick via TKO: R1, 3:21
    • Welterweight bout: Sam Patterson def. Trey Waters via TKO: R1, 3:01
    • Middleweight bout: Robert Bryczek def. Brad Tavares via TKO: R3, 1:43
    • Welterweight bout: Rinat Fakhretdinov def. Andreas Gustafsson via TKO: R1, 0:54 

    Strawweight bout: Sam Hughes def. Shauna Bannon via submission: R2, 1:58  

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Sam Hughes def. Shauna Bannon

    Rinat Fakhretdinov def. Andreas Gustafsson

    Robert Bryczek def. Brad Tavares

    Sam Patterson def. Trey Waters

    Kaue Fernandes def. Harry Hardwick

    Ante Delija def. Marcin Tybura

    Oumar Sy def. Brendson Ribeiro

    Main Card Highlights

    William Gomis def. Robert Ruchala

    William Gomis got it done with a unanimous decision.

    Axel Sola def. Rhys McKee

    Axel Sola earned a TKO in the third round.

    Mason Jones def. Bolaji Oki

    Mason Jones earned a TKO in round two.

    Modestas Bukauskas def. Paul Craig

    Modestas Bukauskas earned a KO at the end of round one, with Paul Craig announcing his retirement after the fight.

    Benoit Saint Denis def. Mauricio Ruffy

    In the co-main event, Benoit Saint Denis locked in a rear-naked choke to get the win in this lightweight bout.

    Nassourdine Imavov def. Caio Borralho 

    In the main event, Nassourdine Imavov earned a comfortable unanimous decision victory over Caio Borralho.

  • Benoit Saint Denis is fine dealing with pressure heading into UFC Paris fight

    Benoit Saint Denis is fine dealing with pressure heading into UFC Paris fight

    UFC star Benoit Saint Denis has said that he’s fine with the feeling of pressure as he prepares to face Mauricio Ruffy.

    Tomorrow night, Benoit Saint Denis returns to action when he goes head to head with Mauricio Ruffy at UFC Paris. This is a pretty important fight for both men in the lightweight division as it’ll give us a clear idea of which man is best suited to push on and go after a title shot.

    Benoit Saint Denis has lost two of his last three and while he won his last fight, it wasn’t the most convincing performance in the world. Now, against Ruffy, he’ll be tested in a way that will let us all know whether or not he is able to really step up to that next level.

    In a recent interview, Benoit Saint Denis made it clear that pressure is a privilege, even against someone as dangerous as Ruffy.

    Benoit Saint Denis thrives on pressure

    “I have learned over time that it is unnecessary to put yourself under too much pressure,” Saint Denis told MMA Junkie Radio. “Also, pressure is not a bad thing. It’s a privilege. If you have pressure, it’s because there’s stuff on the line when you are fighting. I enjoy the process. 

    “Of course, it was difficult through the last couple of years. I felt a lot of pressure, and I was not used to it. Now I feel back to doing what I love, and that’s fighting and winning.”

    Quotes via MMA Junkie

  • UFC Paris Fight Card Gets Benoit Saint Denis vs. Mauricio Ruffy On September 6

    UFC Paris Fight Card Gets Benoit Saint Denis vs. Mauricio Ruffy On September 6

    The UFC Paris lineup has reportedly been strengthened with a potential barnburner of a matchup.

    According to a recent report from Bulgarian Top Team, Benoit Saint Denis is set to take on surging knockout artist Mauricio Ruffy at UFC Paris, which is scheduled to take place on September 6 at the Accor Arena in France.

    Saint Denis last competed at UFC 315, where he earned an impressive second-round submission victory over Kyle Prepolec. The win marked a much-needed return to the win column for the 29-year-old Frenchman after suffering back-to-back stoppage losses to Renato Moicano and Dustin Poirier in 2024.

    Before those setbacks, “God of War” was riding a five-fight win streak, with all victories coming by way of stoppage against notable names like Matt Frevola and Thiago Moises. Saint Denis currently boasts a professional record of 14-3, with every one of his wins coming inside the distance.

    Meanwhile, Ruffy was seen in action at UFC 313 in March, delivering a stunning first-round wheel kick knockout over King Green. The Fighting Nerds standout earned his UFC contract with a third-round knockout of Raimond Magomedaliev on Dana White’s Contender Series in October 2023.

    Ruffy heads into UFC Paris riding a seven-fight win streak, with his lone career setback coming against Manoel Sousa under the Standout Fighting Tournament banner in November 2019. The 29-year-old Brazilian powerhouse holds a pro record of 12-1, with 11 of those victories coming by way of knockout.

    UFC 309's Mauricio Ruffy
    Image: DWCS/Zuffa LLC

    What Are The Confirmed Bouts For UFC Paris?

    UFC Paris will be headlined by a pivotal middleweight showdown between Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho, with potential title implications on the line. The Fight Night event will also feature a heavyweight clash between Marcin Tybura and Ante Delija. Also on the card is a featherweight matchup pitting William Gomis against Robert Ruchała. Rounding out the announced bouts, Modestas Bukauskas is set to face Paul Craig in a light heavyweight tilt.

    Here’s the confirmed lineup for UFC Paris:

    Main Card

    • Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho; middleweight
    • Benoit Saint Denis vs. Mauricio Ruffy; lightweight
    • Modestas Bukauskas vs. Paul Craig; light heavyweight
    • Marcin Tybura vs. Ante Delija; heavyweight
    • Bolaji Oki vs. Mason Jones; lightweight
    • Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Andreas Gustafsson; welterweight

    Preliminary Card

    • William Gomis vs. Robert Ruchała; featherweight
    • Oumar Sy vs. Brendson Ribeiro; light heavyweight
    • Shauna Bannon vs. Sam Hughes; strawweight
    • Yuneisy Duben vs. Kennedy Freeman; flyweight
    • Fares Ziam vs. Kaue Fernandes; lightweight
    • Sam Patterson vs. Trey Waters; welterweight
    Photo by Tim Wheaton
  • ‘Slugfest’ – Benoît Saint Denis Puts On All-Around Display Against Short-Notice Opponent Kyle Prepolec

    ‘Slugfest’ – Benoît Saint Denis Puts On All-Around Display Against Short-Notice Opponent Kyle Prepolec

    Though it wasn’t the originally scheduled opponent for him in Joel Alvarez, Benoît Saint Denis made it a successful night against short-notice opponent Kyle Prepolec, scoring a submission in the opening bout of the UFC 315 pay-per-view.

    Saint Denis scored a takedown almost right away, using his pressure against the fence on Prepolec, who looked to keep a hold of a kimura lock. Saint Denis eventually got to Prepolec’s back and threatened a choke. Prepolec got back to his feet, but Saint Denis quickly returned him to the mat and locked a body triangle back in. Prepolec was able to get to his feet but wasn’t able to shake Saint Denis off of him, just able to hold on to the end of the round.

    Prepolec surprised with a left hand that caught Saint Denis’s attention, opening a mousse under one of Saint Denis’s eyes. Both men connected and quickly resulted in an exchange. Saint Denis loaded up, but Propolec got him in a body lock against the fence. Saint Denis landed hard with elbows and knees in close. Despite a brief move to the other side of the cage, Saint Denis continued to land in the clinch, including a number of hard elbows.

    Saint Denis then scored another takedown and quickly locked up an arm-triangle choke, scoring the second-round submission.

    Benoît Saint Denis Submits Kyle Propolec At UFC 315

    BSD rebounds from a two-fight losing skid, falling short to Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano last year. Prior to those losses, Saint Denis had a five-fight win streak going for him.

    Prepolec sees a three-fight win streak snapped but is still 4-2 in his last six. Prepolec fought in the UFC twice in 2019, losing to Nordine Taleb and Austin Hubbard.

  • UFC 315 Suffers Major Blow With Key Fight Scrapped Last Minute

    UFC 315 Suffers Major Blow With Key Fight Scrapped Last Minute

    The UFC 315 main card has suffered a major setback just days before the event.

    The MMA leader is preparing for its return to Canada with the fifth pay-per-view event of the year, scheduled for May 10 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec.

    On Saturday, French media outlet La Sueur first reported that the lightweight clash between Benoît Saint-Denis and Joel Álvarez has been removed from the UFC 315 lineup.

    “El Fenomeno” has reportedly withdrawn from the bout for undisclosed reasons, leaving Saint-Denis without an opponent just a week before fight night. Currently, it remains unclear whether a short-notice replacement will be found.

    Álvarez last competed in the Octagon at UFC Tampa this past December, where he delivered a first-round knockout of Drakkar Klose. The impressive finish improved his promotional record to 7-2 and marked his third consecutive victory.

    “El Fenómeno” last tasted defeat at UFC Vegas 49 in February 2022, where he succumbed to a second-round TKO against Arman Tsarukyan.

    Meanwhile, Saint-Denis has been sidelined since his lopsided TKO (doctor stoppage) defeat to Renato Moicano at UFC Paris last September. “God of War” is currently on a two-fight losing streak, which stands in stark contrast to his previous run of five consecutive victories, all secured by stoppage.

    UFC 315 will feature a championship double-header at the top of the card. In the main event, welterweight champion Belal Muhammad defends his title against the surging Jack Della Maddalena. In the co-main event, flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko puts her belt on the line against Manon Fiorot.

  • Benoît Saint Denis Reportedly Returning To Face Explosive Finisher At UFC 315

    Benoît Saint Denis Reportedly Returning To Face Explosive Finisher At UFC 315

    The UFC 315 card just got even more stacked with the addition of a thrilling matchup featuring Benoît Saint Denis.

    On Monday, Saint Denis took to his YouTube channel to announce that he’ll be making his return at UFC 315, which is scheduled for May 10 at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, though he refrained from naming his opponent.

    According to a recent report by MMA journalist Álvaro Colmenero, the 29-year-old Frenchman is set to square off against Joel Alvarez in a lightweight showdown.

    “God of War” is currently on a two-fight losing skid and was last in action at UFC Fight Night in Paris last September, where he endured a brutal second-round TKO (doctor’s stoppage) at the hands of Renato Moicano.

    Saint Denis was riding a five-fight finish streak before his momentum was halted by former interim 155-pound champion Dustin Poirier, who scored a second-round knockout in their March 2024 encounter. He now holds a 5-3 record in the UFC.

    Meanwhile, Alvarez is coming off a dominant first-round knockout victory over Drakkar Klose at a Fight Night event in Tampa this past December. “El Fenomeno” last experienced defeat in February 2022 against Arman Tsarukyan, but since then, he’s rebounded strongly with a three-fight win streak.

    The 32-year-old Spaniard has secured seven victories in his nine UFC bouts, with each win coming by way of either knockout or submission.

    The UFC 315 card will feature two championship bouts at the top of the lineup. In the main event, reigning UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad will make his first title defense against Jack Della Maddalena. Meanwhile, in the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko will defend her flyweight title against Manon Fiorot.

    Here’s what the current UFC 315 lineup looks like:

    • Belal Muhammad vs. Jack Della Maddalena: welterweight title
    • Valentina Shevchenko vs. Manon Fiorot: women’s flyweight title
    • Alexa Grasso vs. Natalia Silva: women’s flyweight
    • Gilbert Burns vs. Michael Morales: welterweight
    • Benoit Saint Denis vs. Joel Alvarez: lightweight
    • Jose Aldo vs. Aiemann Zahabi: bantamweight
    • Brad Katona vs. Bekzat Almakhan: bantamweight
    • Marc-Andre Barriault vs. Bruno Silva: middleweight
    • Mike Malott vs. Charles Radtke: welterweight
    • Jessica Andrade vs. Jasmine Jasudavicius: women’s flyweight
    • Navajo Stirling vs. Ivan Erslan: light heavyweight
    • Modestas Bukauskas vs. Ion Cutelaba: light heavyweight
  • Benoît Saint Denis Makes First Statement After Devastating UFC Paris Beating At The Hands Of Renato Moicano

    Benoît Saint Denis Makes First Statement After Devastating UFC Paris Beating At The Hands Of Renato Moicano

    Benoît Saint Denis displayed a valuable amount of heart and resilience during the main event of UFC Paris. But it wasn’t enough, as the damage he took forced the doctor to wave off the contest against Renato Moicano after two rounds.

    Moicano put a battering on the Frenchman, causing great swelling and damage along his face — especially his eyes. Moicano appeared to take the second round off as Saint Denis battled back.

    But as the doctor checked him out after the second, it became apparent that “God of War” was unable to see out of his right eye, forcing the bout’s end.

    Saint Denis took to social media to state his thoughts in the immediate aftermath of the defeat.

    Benoît Saint Denis Gives Respect To Renato Moicano After Loss At UFC Paris

    https://twitter.com/BenoitSt_Denis/status/1840336809638699156

    “It wasn’t my day, this sport is tough but amazing,” Saint Denis wrote in French. “Thank you all for your continued support. Proud to have been able to represent the (French flag) in the octagon. Respect to my opponent @moicanoufc for facing me at home and congratulations to him.”

    Moicano, who battled through his own injury, expressed gratitude to Saint Denis after the fight, even inviting him to train together at some point.

    After dropping his UFC debut, “God of War” won five straight, but he has now lost back-to-back outings. Saint Denis was finished by Dustin Poirier at UFC 299 earlier this year.

  • UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Renato Moicano TKOs Benoît Saint Denis

    UFC Fight Night Results & Highlights: Renato Moicano TKOs Benoît Saint Denis

    UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the Accor Arena in Paris, France and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights! 

    In the main event, ranked lightweights Renato Moicano (#11) and Benoît Saint Denis (#12) clashed. While in the co-main event, Nassourdine Imavov faced Brendan Allen in a middleweight matchup. 

    UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card

    • Lightweight Main Event: Renato Moicano def. Benoît Saint Denis via TKO (doctor’s stoppage): R2, 5.00  
    • Middleweight Co-Main Event: Nassourdine Imavov def. Brendan Allen via unanimous decision (29-28×3)  
    • Featherweight: William Gomis def. Joanderson Brito via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29)
    • Welterweight: Bryan Battle def. Kevin Jousset via TKO: R2, 3.47 
    • Featherweight: Morgan Charriere def. Gabriel Miranda via KO: R2, 0.27
    • Lightweight: Farès Ziam def. Matt Frevola via KO: R3, 2.59

    Preliminary Card: 

    • Light Heavyweight: Ion Cuțelaba def. Ivan Erslan via split decision (29-28×2, 28-29) 
    • Light Heavyweight: Oumar Sy def. Da Woon Jung via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Lightweight: L’udovit Klein def. Roosevelt Roberts via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Bantamweight: Taylor Lapilus def. Vince Morales via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Ailín Pérez def. Dariya Zheleznykova via submission (arm-triangle choke): R1, 3:52
    • Flyweight: Daniel Barez def. Victor Altamirano via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Jacqueline Cavalcanti def. Nora Cornolle via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
    • Lightweight: Chris Duncan def. Bolaji Oki via submission (rear-naked choke): R1, 3:35

    Preliminary Card Highlights

    Chris Duncan Def. Bolaji Oki

    Ailín Pérez Def. Dariya Zheleznykova

    Main Card Highlights

    Farès Ziam def. Matt Frevola

    In this lightweight matchup, Farès Ziam got it done with a brutal KO of Matt Frevola in the third round.

    Morgan Charriere def. Gabriel Miranda

    Morgan Charriere unleashed a brutal left hook to KO Gabriel Miranda in the second round of their lightweight matchup.

    Bryan Battle def. Kevin Jousset

    In this welterweight contest, Bryan Battle upset the Paris crowd with a TKO of Frenchman Kevin Jousset in the second round.

    William Gomis def. Joanderson Brito

    William Gomis got it done on the scorecards against Joanderson Brito in their featherweight bout.

    Nassourdine Imavov def. Brendan Allen

    Nassourdine Imavov earned a unanimous decision against Brendan Allen in their middleweight bout.

    Renato Moicano def. Benoît Saint Denis

    In the main event, Renato Moicano silenced the Paris crowd with a doctor’s stoppage TKO of Benoît Saint Denis. The doctor waved off the fight at the end of round two after Saint Denis was deemed not able to see out of his right eye.

  • UFC Fight Night: Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC Fight Night: Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

    UFC Fight Night: Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the final faceoffs from the ceremonial weigh-ins!

    After staging its latest numbered event inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere earlier this month for Noche UFC, MMA’s leading promotion has gone back on the road for a card inside the Accor Arena in Paris, France.

    In a first, heavyweight standout Ciryl Gane won’t be topping the lineup. Instead, the Sept. 28 event sees Benoît Saint Denis as the main attraction for the French crowd as he does battle with Renato Moicano.

    Nassourdine Imavov can also expect a good reception for the co-main event. The top-five middleweight contender will look to advance his title ambitions on home soil by ending the winning run of Brendan Allen.

    Ahead of the event, 27 out of the 28 fighters successfully made weight, with Ailín Pérez’s 0.5-pound miss of the bantamweight limit marking the sole indiscretion on the scale.

    Nevertheless, every fight is intact, and all that remains on Friday is for the athletes to face off one final time at the UFC Fight Night Paris ceremonial weigh-ins!

    Check out a live stream via the official UFC YouTube channel below, commencing at 12 PM ET.

    UFC Fight Night Ceremonial Weigh-In Live Stream

  • UFC Fight Night: Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

    Following a successful maiden event inside the unique surroundings of the Sphere earlier this month, the mixed martial arts leader returns to action across the Atlantic.

    This weekend sees the Octagon in Paris, France for the third time. While the previous two UFC Fight Nights in the country’s capital have been headlined by Ciryl Gane, the Sept. 28 event presents the opportunity for another French standout to make a splash.

    In the main event, exciting lightweights Benoît Saint Denis and Renato Moicano go to battle. Stakes will also be high in the co-headliner, as top-five middleweight contender Nassourdine Imavov defends his spot opposite the in-form Brendan Allen.

    UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis Weigh-In Results

    UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis takes place on Saturday, September 28, at the Accor Arena in Paris, France. The main card begins at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT.

    With that said, you can check out the full weigh-in results below!

    Main Card:

    • Lightweight Main Event: Renato Moicano (156lbs) vs. Benoît Saint Denis (156lbs)
    • Middleweight Co-Main Event: Nassourdine Imavov (186lbs) vs. Brendan Allen (186lbs)
    • Featherweight: William Gomis (146kbs) vs. Joanderson Brito (146lbs)
    • Welterweight: Kevin Jousset (169lbs) vs. Bryan Battle (170lbs)
    • Featherweight: Morgan Charriere (146lbs) vs. Gabriel Miranda (146lbs)
    • Lightweight: Farès Ziam (156lbs) vs. Matt Frevola (156lbs)

    Preliminary Card:

    • Light Heavyweight: Ion Cuțelaba (205lbs) vs. Ivan Erslan (206lbs)
    • Light Heavyweight: Oumar Sy (205lbs) vs. Da Woon Jung (205lbs)
    • Lightweight: L’udovit Klein (155lbs) vs. Roosevelt Roberts (155lbs)
    • Bantamweight: Taylor Lapilus (136lbs) vs. Vince Morales (135lbs)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Ailín Pérez (136.5lbs)* vs. Dariya Zheleznykova (135lbs)
    • Flyweight: Daniel Barez (125lbs) vs. Victor Altamirano (126lbs)
    • Women’s Bantamweight: Nora Cornolle (136lbs) vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti (135lbs)
    • Lightweight: Bolaji Oki (156lbs) vs. Chris Duncan (156lbs)

    *Ailín Pérez missed the bantamweight limit by half-a-pound, forfeits 20 percent of her purse

  • Brendan Allen Argues Why Benoît Saint Denis Should Not Headline UFC Paris

    Brendan Allen Argues Why Benoît Saint Denis Should Not Headline UFC Paris

    Brendan Allen believes he, not Benoît Saint Denis, deserves the spotlight as the headliner of the UFC Paris fight card.

    The UFC is making its much-anticipated return to the “City of Lights” this weekend at the Accord Arena in Paris, exactly one year after its last event, with a Fight Night event packed with French talent.

    Headlining the upcoming event is a lightweight showdown between Renato Moicano and Saint Denis. Meanwhile, the co-main event promises fireworks as Allen faces Nassourdine Imavov in a high-stakes middleweight clash that could have serious implications in the division.

    When announcing the fights last month, UFC CEO Dana White emphasized Allen’s seven-fight win streak, positioning him on the verge of title contention. Believing his bout holds greater weight, “All In” argues that, from a competitive standpoint, his matchup carries far more significance than the Moicano vs. Saint Denis clash, which he feels lacks meaningful consequence.

    Allen On Saint Denis Headlining UFC Paris: ‘Just Put Him On The Card, People Will Still Come Watch’

    During a recent interview with MMA Fightingo, Allen voiced his frustration over not being selected to headline UFC Paris.

    “All In” admitted he felt a slight sense of disrespect, considering his fight is a potential title eliminator yet was relegated to the co-main event. He argued that the Moicano vs. “God of War” matchup should have taken the co-headliner spot, given that neither fighter holds a high ranking in the division.

    “I feel like it’s a little disrespectful to me and not just to me, but to Imavov as well,” Allen said. “Our fight has potential title implications wrapped around it, whereas this is #11 and #14 [#12], I think, if I’m not mistaken. The two guys in the main event should be the co-main event under us.”

    Allen went on to say that while Saint Denis is understandably popular in his home country, fans will show up regardless to support their fellow compatriot no matter his card position. However, the 28-year-old South Carolina native emphasized that both he and Imavov have global recognition

    “I get it, Saint Denis is super famous here, but at the end of the day, people are going to come watch the fight no matter what, whether he’s on the co-main or the main [event]. Just put him on the card—people are still going to come watch. But when it comes to worldwide MMA and fans, everyone knows me and Imavov are the real main event. I just felt, being as we’re so close to a title, one of us is obviously going to move forward into that potential opportunity. That’s why I feel like we should have fought five rounds.”

  • Renato Moicano Claims Popularity Matters More Than Rankings In The UFC: ‘Even McGregor…’

    Renato Moicano Claims Popularity Matters More Than Rankings In The UFC: ‘Even McGregor…’

    Renato Moicano will look forward to extending his three-fight win streak as he takes on Benoit Saint-Denis this weekend at UFC Paris. He’ll be headlining an event after four long years and has made tons of new fans lately through his podcast and the ‘Money Moicano’ gimmick.

    Although Saint-Denis is one of the toughest fighters in the lightweight division, Moicano has been fighting elite competition since 2017. He’s spent nine years in the UFC, and a win over BSD would bring him closer to a title shot than ever before.

    As a UFC veteran at this point, Moicano believes that a fighter’s popularity matters more than their ranking and he had quite a few examples to back this claim…

    Renato Moicano Aims To Boost His Popularity Instead Of Rankings For A Successful UFC Run Like Dan Hooker and Conor McGregor

    While talking to the media recently, Moicano was asked about the impact on his rank after beating an opponent like Saint-Denis who’s ranked just below him.

    The Brazilian outright stated that rankings don’t matter as much in the UFC. Of course, the level of competition you face is directly related to your rank but popularity can help the fighters skip past these aspects and get the biggest fights.

    “I think the rankings, they don’t matter. You know, if the rankings matter, things will be easier but no, we saw like last month, Dan Hooker beating Mateusz and they were pretty far on the rankings. So, we see some guys like, even McGregor, back in the day, he was like, I don’t know, how many years without fighting and he was in the rankings. I think this sport, we have to try to see like the popularity, you know, the momentum. And even though Benoit Saint-Denis is ranked behind me, I think he has a lot of momentum. I think he has a lot of popularity, especially in Europe and I think that could catapult me, not to the rankings, but to popularity and I could get even better fights.”

    Moicano used Dan Hooker as an example as he was below Mateusz Gamrot before their fight. Thanks to a split decision victory, “The Hangman” is now a top-five ranked lightweight and will most likely get a title shot after another win.

    Similarly, Conor McGregor was in the UFC rankings for a very long time even when he wasn’t fighting anyone. So, understanding that BSD is quite popular in Europe, Moicano’s goal is to boost his following among European fans even if his rank doesn’t improve much.

    The American Top Team fighter thinks he can ask for the biggest fights in the lightweight division regardless of his rank if he’s a big draw. Either way, he needs to get past “God of War” first.

  • Renato Moicano Feels UFC Called ‘Wrong Guy’ To Fight Benoît Saint Denis

    Renato Moicano Feels UFC Called ‘Wrong Guy’ To Fight Benoît Saint Denis

    In the main event of UFC Paris this weekend, Brazil’s Renato Moicano is hoping to enter enemy territory and come away with the win.

    His bout with fellow top 15 lightweight Benoît Saint Denis is sure to be an exciting clash of styles at the Accor Arena.

    It’s also a big opportunity for Saint Denis, who will have the chance to headline a UFC card in his home country for the first time.

    In previous years, this honor has gone to Ciryl Gane but now it is time for the “God of War” to step up and bounce back from his loss to Dustin Poirier from earlier this year.

    Renato Moicano Says The UFC Chose The Wrong Opponent For Potential Star Benoît Saint Denis

    As a teammate of Poirier’s at American Top Team, Moicano was critical of the match-up between “The Diamond” and Saint Denis at UFC 299 in March.

    He believed that the promotion was trying to build up the Frenchman by giving him an opportunity that at that stage in his career, he didn’t necessarily deserve.

    Now that he is set to face Saint Denis for himself over five rounds on September 28, “Money” Moicano wants to ruin the promotion’s plans.

    He told MMA Fighting in a recent interview that he understands why the promotion are big fans of his opponent but if they want to make him into a star, they picked the wrong opponent.

    “100% they trying to push Benoît Saint Denis and I’m not even mad, that is just business. I know Europe is a huge market, they don’t have many European fighters doing very well and Benoît Saint Denis is a dangerous fighter. He’s an aggressive fighter and UFC likes him, he’s young, you know? He’s young, European, good market, he can make good money for the UFC but guess what? UFC called the wrong guy because I’m going over there and I’m beating him.”

    Read also: Jon Jones’ Coach On Retirement Rumors: MMA Doesn’t Treat Aging Fighters Kindly

  • Daniel Cormier Plans To End Habit Of Skipping UFC Fight Nights When Home For Moicano vs. Saint Denis 

    Daniel Cormier Plans To End Habit Of Skipping UFC Fight Nights When Home For Moicano vs. Saint Denis 

    Count former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier among those incredibly excited for this weekend’s main event in Paris.

    For the third straight year, mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is staging an event in the French capital in September. While the first two following the 2020 legalization of the sport in the European nation saw Ciryl Gane as the main attraction, Saturday’s card will be topped by a different French standout.

    Headlining inside the Accor Arena on September 29 is rising lightweight Benoît Saint Denis. “God of War” is returning to the cage after having his surge up the ladder stalled by top-five contender Dustin Poirier in Miami this past March.

    While Saint Denis started strong, the effects of a pre-fight staph infection appeared to hinder his gas tank and result in a knocking triumph for “The Diamond.”

    To get back to the kind of violent success he experienced before running into Poirier, the Frenchman must get past Renato Moicano. The #11-ranked contender has gotten the better of Drew Dober and Jalin Turner since returning from an injury layoff this year.

    The clash looks set to be an enthralling one, going down amid the usual electric atmosphere seen at MMA events in Paris. And in terms of the main event matchup, one former fighter-turned-color commentator doesn’t think there’s been much better for a UFC Fight Night in a while…

    Cormier Excited To Watch Moicano vs. Saint Denis At Often Skipped UFC Fight Night

    During the latest episode of his Good Guy / Bad Guy show alongside Chael Sonnen on ESPN MMA’s YouTube channel, Cormier looked ahead to the upcoming UFC Fight Night card in France.

    “DC” gave props to both men for their skillsets and recent outings inside the Octagon, suggesting they’re likely to come together to put on an entertaining affair in Saturday’s main event.

    And despite admitting that he often chooses against watching the UFC Fight Night cards he isn’t commentating on, Cormier insisted he would not miss this one.

    “(Moicano’s) got a tough one against Benoît Saint Denis, who also fought well against Dustin,” Cormier said. “I think this is going to be a fantastic fight, and I do believe this is one of the better main events for a Fight Night that we’ve had in a really long time.

    “I’m watching it. Honestly, a lot of Saturdays when I’m at home, I choose other things to do. I go watch football, I go play — I do something,” Cormier continued. “Saturday night, I’m tapping into this one because I’ve got to watch Renato Moicano and Benoît Saint Denis fight.”

    With all eyes on their crucial lightweight showdown, Moicano and Saint Denis will look to prove Cormier right unleashing fireworks when they share the cage inside the Accor Arena in a few days’ time.

  • Michael Bisping: Renato Moicano ‘Has No Idea What He’s Stepping Into’ Against Benoît Saint Denis In Paris

    Michael Bisping: Renato Moicano ‘Has No Idea What He’s Stepping Into’ Against Benoît Saint Denis In Paris

    Former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping thinks Renato Moicano is in for a shock when he makes the walk in the French capital.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is back in Paris this week to stage its third event in France. The appetite for events in the country has consistently increased since MMA was legalized there in 2020, and the enthusiasm for the sport has been evident at the two UFC Fight Nights staged at the Accor Arena thus far.

    The cards, which were both headlined by Ciryl Gane, delivered in terms of both the action inside the Octagon and the atmosphere within the arena, which picked up whenever the country’s own athletes were in action.

    Not many nations replicate the kind of hostile environment for opposition fighters that France does, and Moicano stands to experience that firsthand this weekend when he headlines opposite Benoît Saint Denis.

    Bisping Warns Moicano Of Fired Up French Crowd, ‘Violent’ Saint Denis

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNsLG8PTcNE

    During TNT Sports’ Fight Week Preview for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Paris, Bisping looked ahead to the event and recounted his experience commentating inside Paris’ Accor Arena.

    While “The Count” gave Moicano props for his abilities and self-belief, he insisted that the fan-favorite lightweight contender is in for a surprise when he clashes with Saint Denis in the Frenchman’s own backyard.

    “Every time they’ve been to Paris, the crowd has been phenomenal. The fights have been great, but I’m telling you, the atmosphere has been electric,” Bisping said. “This will be no different because in the main event, it’s the French Special Forces, the ridiculously violent and aggressive Benoît Saint Denis. The man that almost, almost decapitated and finished Dustin Poirier.

    “In steps the opponent, Renato ‘Money’ Moicano, a man that is also slowly doing his own thing, becoming a star in the lightweight division as well,” Bisping continued. “Saint Denis is going to be extra violent because he’s in Paris. … Renato Moicano, even though he’s really good, and he’s really skilled, and he’s got great jiu-jitsu, and he’s very confident, and he’s good with the fists, has got no idea what he is stepping into. He’s flying into enemy territory, and I’m telling you, I cannot wait for this.”

    Moicano will look to prove Bisping wrong by handling the hostile reception he receives from the French crowd with poise, and subsequently repeating the feat when it comes to dealing with Saint Denis’ offense inside the cage.

    While the Brazilian is fighting down the rankings, a victory over the man whom his teammate Dustin Poirier defeated to secure a title shot earlier this year would no doubt be a big scalp on his record and pursuit of an opportunity at the gold himself.

  • Dustin Poirier Backs Teammate Renato Moicano To Defeat Ex-Opponent Benoît Saint Denis In Paris: ‘Honestly, I Think He Submits BSD’

    Dustin Poirier Backs Teammate Renato Moicano To Defeat Ex-Opponent Benoît Saint Denis In Paris: ‘Honestly, I Think He Submits BSD’

    UFC lightweight star Dustin Poirier expects Benoît Saint Denis to lose a second straight fight to an American Top Team standout this fall.

    Poirier and Saint Denis shared the Octagon in the co-main event of March’s UFC 299 pay-per-view event in Miami. Supporters of the Frenchman tipped him to continue his rise at the expense of the veteran contender.

    But although he looked to be on track to doing so through one round, “God of War” faded in the second and ultimately fell to his first UFC defeat at 155 pounds by way of a brutal knockout.

    “The Diamond” went on to ride that result into a title shot against Islam Makhachev at UFC 302 last month. Saint Denis, meanwhile, recently had his chance to rebound confirmed, and it’ll see him up against ATT once again.

    At the UFC Fight Night set for Paris, France, on September 28, Saint Denis is expected to headline in front of his home fans opposite the #10-ranked Renato Moicano.

    Poirier and the ATT gym’s experience going up against Saint Denis could come in handy on fight night, and the Louisianan himself is expecting his team to go two up on the Frenchman…

    Poirier Offers Moicano Helping Hand For Paris Prep

    During a recent in-studio appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Poirier addressed the confirmed matchup between his stablemate and recent opponent.

    Having gotten the better of Saint Denis mere months ago, “The Diamond” revealed he’s offered to aid in the latter part of Moicano’s training camp.

    And in terms of how he thinks the bout will play out at Accor Arena, Poirier noted his experience seeing the Brazilian’s jiu-jitsu talents in the gym to back a submission victory for him and ATT on September 28.

    “I actually saw Moicano during International Fight Week. … I went and talked to him and I told him, if he needs help, I’ll fly back to Florida,” Poirier said. “I’ve been nursing a few injuries from this last one (against Makhachev), but I think they’re fighting in September. … So probably like, August or something like that, maybe end of August I can go help him out a few weeks.

    “Honestly, I think he submits BSD,” Poirier continued. “His (Moicano’s) jiu-jitsu is really good. And he’s strong for that weight, and big.”

    Moicano has shared similar confidence when it comes to his chances of departing France with a major victory added to his record.

    While Saint Denis’ form pre-UFC 299 and early success against Poirier has left many backing him to bounce back at the Brazilian’s expense come fight night on September 28, Moicano is promising to upset the odds and spoil the night for the Paris locals.

  • Brendan Allen Rejects Paris Bout As He Won’t Fight Below Moicano vs. Saint Denis: ‘One Coming Off A Loss, One Barely Wins’

    UFC middleweight contender Brendan Allen appears set to decline a trip to the French capital after being snubbed of the main event slot.

    Allen, who currently occupies the #7 spot at 185 pounds, extended his winning run to seven in his first assignment of 2024, outpointing Chris Curtis in one of the year’s best fights to avenge his 2021 loss to “The Action Man.”

    That result came in an Apex main event this past April, coming on the heels of two other main events at the low-capacity facility in Las Vegas.

    And having had a taste of being on UFC Fight Night posters, Allen is now turning down high-profile matchups if he’s not headlining…

    Allen Says No Main Event, No Deal For UFC Fight Night Paris

    During a video recently uploaded to Instagram, Allen provided an update on his current status three months on from his latest triumph inside the Octagon.

    “All In” revealed that he has been offered a top five opponent in the form of Nassourdine Imavov, with the promotion looking to have the pair do battle at the UFC Fight Night scheduled for Paris, France, this September.

    That card recently had its main event reported, with the always entertaining Benoît Saint Denis expected to headline in front of his home fans in a lightweight joust against Renato Moicano.

    Allen, however, believes he has more of a right to top spot on the lineup.

    “This is for everyone that’s asking me what’s up, when am I fighting?” Allen said. “Two weeks ago, they said Imavov in Paris. I said yes. I said I want to be main event because I’ve main evented three in a row, won all three. I’m going into enemy territory, so if we’re going to do it for all the risk, all the gain, let’s go. Main event.

    “Next thing you know, we see (Saint Denis) and Moicano are the main event. I ain’t f*cking going all the way to Paris for these two dudes to go over me. One dude is coming off a loss, the other one barely wins, bro. Nah, I’m not with it,” Allen continued. “So Imavov, if you want to fight, you want this work, whatever you want to call it, come on over to America, we’ll get it done. There’s no way we should be below these guys. I know it’s the Ultimate Followers Championship, but even though they got the followers, just put them on the card, people are going to come anyway.”

    This marks consecutive years in which Allen has rejected main events against high-ranked opponents.

    “All In” turned down a headliner against Roman Dolidze last September because he wanted a higher-ranked name. While the Georgian was #7 at the time, Allen went on to face the #13-ranked Craig.

    This occasion has seen Allen refuse a showdown with the current #4-ranked contender at 185 pounds.

    It remains to be seen who the Californian will share the cage with next, and whether his decision to turn down a top five opponent will stall his planned surge to the title.

  • MMA News Today: Dana White Hits Back At Claims UFC Is A ‘Monopoly’, Ranked UFC Fighter Legally Changes First Name To ‘King’, & More

    MMA News Today: Dana White Hits Back At Claims UFC Is A ‘Monopoly’, Ranked UFC Fighter Legally Changes First Name To ‘King’, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For July 8, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • White argues that UFC is the best at what they do rather than a monopoly
    • There’s a new “King” in the lightweight division
    • Top 15 lightweights scheduled for UFC’s return to Paris

    Dana White Insists UFC Isn’t A Monopoly Because ‘Anyone’ Can Start An MMA Promotion

    During the long process of the antitrust lawsuit that was filed against the UFC by former members of the roster, the case was granted class certification.

    While a settlement was eventually reached, many concluded that the class certification validated the allegation that the UFC holds a monopoly over the sport. Unsurprisingly, the promotion disagreeds with that notion.

    Dana White spoke out on this during a recent interview with Fox News, where he debated the idea that the MMA leader prevents others from being able to compete at its level.

    He made the case that the UFC is simply the best at what it does, but that it’s not stopping others from trying to replicate the success achieved by the sport’s leading promotion.

    “People have called us ‘monopoly’ and all this stuff for years. We’re not a monopoly, we’re just the best,” White said. “We’re the best at what we do, there’s no barrier to entry, anyone could get into this.

    “You could start a league tomorrow and pay the guys whatever you want, you can do whatever you want but a lot of smart, talented, big business moguls have got into this sport and tried to compete with me and they couldn’t do it,” White continued. “But everybody — there’s no barrier to entry, anyone can get into this thing tomorrow.”

    Bobby Green Officially Changes His Name To ‘King’ Green Ahead Of UFC 304 Return

    Islam Makhachev sits atop the UFC’s lightweight division as the world champion and pound-for-pound best fighter in the sport. Now, however, 155 pounds has a new king.

    #15-ranked Bobby Green made his intentions clear in the past that he was looking to change his name, but it has now been made official.

    When he makes the walk at UFC 304 later this month to face Paddy Pimblett, he will do so under a new name, King Green.

    He gave fans a glimpse of the official documentation on Instagram, which clearly shows that from this point on, he will answer to King and King only.

    Renato Moicano Set To Face Benoît Saint Denis In Paris Over Five Rounds

    The Octagon is set to return to the French capital for a third consecutive year, with UFC Paris going down at the Accor Arena on September 28.

    Ag. Fight reported that top 15 lightweights will face off in Paris with France’s Benoît Saint Denis taking on Brazil’s Renato Moicano. MMA Junkie later confirmed that the contest is set to take place over five rounds.

    It remains to be seen whether that marks the break of Ciryl Gane’s streak of Paris headliners, or if “God of War” and his Brazilian counterpart are set for a five-round co-headliner.

    Moicano is riding a three-fight win streak from the #10 spot, while Saint Denis, who is two spots below him in the rankings, will look to bounce back from his defeat to Dustin Poirier in March.

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out:

  • MMA News Today: Conor McGregor’s Coach Sends UFC Plea After Dublin Press Conference Sells Out In Minutes, Benoît Saint Denis Breaks Down Dustin Poirier vs Islam Makhachev, & More

    MMA News Today: Conor McGregor’s Coach Sends UFC Plea After Dublin Press Conference Sells Out In Minutes, Benoît Saint Denis Breaks Down Dustin Poirier vs Islam Makhachev, & More

    Welcome to MMA News Today, a daily feature running down the most interesting stories in the world of mixed martial arts. For May 29, 2024, we’re taking a look at:

    • Kavanagh calls for the 3Arena to be opened up
    • Saint-Denis says knockout is key for Poirier
    • The all-female promotion is back up and running

    John Kavanagh Calls For The 3Arena To Upgrade Capacity 

    The press conference for UFC 303 and the return of Conor McGregor is shaping up to be a huge moment in the MMA calendar.

    On Monday, The Mac and Michael Chandler will arrive at the 3Arena in Dublin and if there were any doubts as to whether “The Notorious” has still got the backing of the Irish fans, those questions are soon to be answered.

    Tickets went on sale this morning for the event and were free but limited to just two per purchase but that didn’t stop them from selling out in minutes.

    The seating plan for the event shows that as usual for these kinds of occasions, they were only planning to use a part of the full arena.

    McGregor’s own coach, John Kavanagh, said on social media that they should open up the building to accommodate for more seats in order to completely pack out the building for another iconic press conference.

    Benoît Saint Denis Says Dustin Poirier Can Only Win Via Knockout Against Someone As Well-Rounded As Islam Makhachev

    Dustin Poirier earned his shot at the lightweight title following an incredible win at UFC 299 where he was forced to face some real adversity.

    Benoît Saint Denis certainly put “The Diamond” through the ringer before he was stopped in the second round, showcasing his aggression from the very start.

    Poirier weathered the storm and let his striking, specifically his boxing and power, do the talking on that night in Miami.

    In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Saint Denis said that this will be the same for Poirier this weekend at UFC 302.

    In his mind, he believes that the challenger and his former opponent will only be able to pull off the upset if he is able to stop Islam Makhachev with his strikes.

    “Dustin Poirier is very composed and experienced fighter and I do believe he has the boxing at his side but Makhachev is very well rounded and I do believe he has to watch my fight against Poirier as well as Dustin’s fight with Oliveira. Everybody knows what the game plan is gonna be. It’s gonna be Makhachev trying to submit Poirier and Poirier trying to knock out Makhachev, with Makhachev having a bit more options. Makhachev can knock out or submit Poirier but I see Poirier only having the knockout win. Decision-wise, I also see Makhachev having the physicality to dominate the fight if it goes long.”

    Invicta FC Is Back On June 28 After 8-Month Hiatus And Concerning Reports

    Having not hosted an event since last October, reports were suggesting that Invicta FC was coming to an unfortunate end.

    The all-female promotion has had an incredible impact on the sport by providing an excellent place for fighters to build up experience and prove themselves.

    Despite the concerns for fans, Invicta FC isn’t going anywhere, as was announced by the promotion’s President Shannon Knapp during a recent appearance on Sirius XM.

    Knapp announced that the promotion will be returning home to Kansas City on June 28 where former UFC fighter Talita Bernardo will be defending her bantamweight title against Olga Rubin in the main event.

    Read more on the story here.

    For more MMA news, check out: