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Tag: UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis

  • UFC Rankings Report: Renato Moicano Gets No Reward For Paris Beatdown

    UFC Rankings Report: Renato Moicano Gets No Reward For Paris Beatdown

    As always, the latest action on offer inside the Octagon has seen some climb the ladder toward contention and others fall away.

    And in the aftermath of UFC Fight Night: Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis, MMA News has you covered with this week’s updates to the official UFC rankings.

    Men’s Pound-For-Pound: No changes.

    Women’s Pound-for-Pound: No changes.

    Women’s Strawweight: No changes.

    Women’s Flyweight: No changes.

    Women’s Bantamweight: Ailín Pérez secured one of the standout wins on Saturday’s preliminary card, submitting Russia’s Darya Zheleznyakova to make it four victories on the bounce. While she did miss weight for the contest, the Argentine has still received a small boost in the rankings, jumping one place above Chelsea Chandler (#15) to #14.

    Flyweight: No changes.

    Bantamweight: No changes.

    Featherweight: Brian Ortega has slipped out of the top five at 145 pounds a couple of weeks on from his defeat at Noche UFC. “T-City” has found himself at #6, with Movsar Evloev getting boosted to #5 a few months out from his return against Aljamain Sterling at UFC 310.

    Lightweight: There was no movement at 155 pounds this week, and that’s despite Moicano’s headline win in Paris. His beatdown on Saint Denis was evidently not enough to warrant him a spot in the top 10 in the eyes of the rankings panel, who have kept the Brazilian unmoved at #11.

    Welterweight: No changes.

    Middleweight: No changes.

    Light Heavyweight: No changes.

    Heavyweight: No changes.

    You can view the full updated UFC rankings here.

  • Paddy Pimblett Gives 3-Word Reaction To Renato Moicano’s Callout At UFC Paris

    Paddy Pimblett Gives 3-Word Reaction To Renato Moicano’s Callout At UFC Paris

    It appears that the only light yet to be confirmed as green for a possible Renato Moicano vs. Paddy Pimblett lightweight clash is the UFC’s.

    Moicano made a statement in this past weekend’s UFC Fight Night main event, which saw him make the walk in enemy territory to face Benoît Saint Denis in his backyard of Paris, France.

    While “God of War” was hoping to bounce back from his knockout loss to Dustin Poirier in front of his home fans, Moicano had other plans. The Brazilian landed a takedown early and proceeded to put a brutal beating on Saint Denis.

    The Frenchman was left badly bleeding and swollen after just one round, and the damage ultimately led to the doctor calling off the fight before the start of the third frame.

    Moicano was his usual charismatic and unpredictable self on the microphone post-fight. But an aspect that perhaps could have been foreseen was his callouts, one of which saw the continuation of his back and forth with a rising name…

    Pimblett Gives Short & Sweet Response To Moicano

    During Pimblett’s surge up the lightweight ladder, Moicano has frequently dismissed his credentials and vowed to blemish his UFC record should they be placed opposite one another inside the cage.

    And with “The Baddy” now ranked following his submission of Bobby Green at UFC 304 in Manchester this past July, the fight certainly makes more sense than ever.

    Moicano evidently thinks so, as he named Pimblett alongside Dan Hooker as his potential opponents following a destructive beatdown of Saint Denis in Paris.

    The Liverpool native was quick to respond on social media, unsurprisingly welcoming the chance to quieten the Brazilian and forge a path into the top 10 at 155 pounds.

    “Let’s do this,” Pimblett wrote.

    Pimblett’s win over Green marked his sixth since signing with the UFC in 2021. The former Cage Warriors champion had previously gotten the better of notable names like Tony Ferguson and Jared Gordon.

    Moicano, meanwhile, is now riding a four-fight winning run inside the Octagon. After a lengthy injury layoff followed a quick submission victory over Brad Riddell in late 2022, the Brazilian has returned this year in style by reeling off three triumphs over Drew Dober, Jalin Turner, and Saint Denis.

  • Ailín Pérez Defends Celebration After She ‘Khabib’d The Russian’ At UFC Paris

    Ailín Pérez Defends Celebration After She ‘Khabib’d The Russian’ At UFC Paris

    UFC women’s bantamweight contender Ailín Pérez insists she was well within her rights to celebrate in the way she did this past weekend.

    The Argentine fighter featured on the preliminary portion of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night card in Paris, France. She was hoping to extend her winning run to five at the expense of Darya Zheleznyakova.

    Pérez did just that, once again showing her grappling superiority. This time, however, she didn’t require the scorecards, forcing a tap from her Russian opponent with an arm-triangle choke inside the first round.

    Rather than the performance, though, the main talking point seemingly came in the aftermath, which saw “Fiona” celebrate by twerking in the face of her opponent moments after the submission.

    Pérez Rejects ‘Disrespectful’ Claims After Twerking In Defeated Opponent’s Face

    Pérez’s celebration split opinion in the community, with some branding it a disrespectful move on the part of the Buenos Aires native.

    But the Argentine was quick to dismiss that notion, instead claiming to have been subjected to disrespect from her opponent pre-fight.

    “My friend @arielhelwani, Darya said some very disrespectful things about me before the fight so I had to do it,” Pérez wrote. “I would love to tell you more about it on your NEW show #AilinNurmagomedov“

    And that wasn’t the only post-fight tweet that saw a Nurmagomedov theme.

    In another, the victorious Argentine claimed to have “Khabib’d the Russian” inside the Octagon at Accor Arena.

    “I Khabib’d the Russian and then twerken on her #UFCParis#AilinNurmagomedov“

    Plenty of Pérez’s other posts saw her targeting flyweight contender Tracy Cortez, who got her own back following “Fiona’s” weight miss after previously being branded unprofessional by the Argentine for needing to cut her hair off to make the limit.

    It remains to be seen what will come next for Pérez, but she certainly has her sights set high.

    Prior to missing weight, the rising bantamweight suggested she’d call for UFC CEO Dana White to place her in a main event for the first time following the Paris card, preferably against Kayla Harrison.

  • X-Ray Shows Extent Of Shoulder Injury Renato Moicano Fought Through At UFC Paris, Dana White Reacts

    X-Ray Shows Extent Of Shoulder Injury Renato Moicano Fought Through At UFC Paris, Dana White Reacts

    Some already thought that Renato Moicano’s doctor’s stoppage win over Benoît Saint Denis was impressive enough as it was. But new information coming out in the aftermath of the fight has made it just that much more so.

    As it turned out, Moicano suffered a severe shoulder injury during the fight, powering his way through the second round with it. Kevin Iole was the first to obtain and share photos of the damaged shoulder, including a gruesome X-ray.

    Dana White Brands Renato Moicano A ‘Beast’ After Fighting Through Injury To Win UFC Paris Main Event

    UFC CEO Dana White took notice of the injury and was blown away, sharing his thoughts in Iole’s Instagram comments.

    “Kids a BEAST!!!!!!”

    Moicano put a beating on Saint Denis over the course of the first round. While the Brazilian did not do much in the second frame, the damage his French opponent sustained was enough to warrant the doctor stepping in to halt the bout.

    With the result, Moicano has now won four straight and six of his last seven as he continues to rise up the 155-pound rankings.

    After a long winning streak, meanwhile, Saint Denis has now been finished in back-to-back fights, having previously lost to Dustin Poirier at UFC 299 earlier this year.

    With Moicano’s win, it will be interesting to see if a fight with Paddy Pimblett will come next given “The Baddy’s” call out of him after UFC 304 in Manchester this past July.

  • Dricus Du Plessis Mocks Brendan Allen After UFC Paris Loss: ‘You Suck, Loser’

    Dricus Du Plessis Mocks Brendan Allen After UFC Paris Loss: ‘You Suck, Loser’

    It was not the best of nights for Brendan Allen at UFC Paris, coming up short against Nassourdine Imavov in a crucial co-main event clash of top middleweight contenders.

    Allen appeared to be in complete control of the fight over the first five minutes, laying into Imavov and delivering most, if not all, of the activity in the first round. But the American seemed to fatigue from there.

    That led to the Frenchman taking control, especially in the grappling realm. Imavov ultimately scored the judges’ nod on all three scorecards.

    This fight did not do Allen any favors as he aims to finally capture a shot at the UFC middleweight championship. And current champ, Dricus Du Plessis — someone who Allen is not fond of — let him know it on social media after the performance.

    Dricus Du Plessis, Brendan Allen Trade Barbs On Social Media After Allen’s Loss At UFC Paris

    Allen was not going to let Du Plessis’ comments go unnoticed, giving him a response back. “All In” reiterated a past claim, stating that the South African has been avoiding him during his rise up the middleweight ranks.

    Allen saw a seven-fight win streak snapped as a result of his loss in Paris.

  • 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.

  • ‘Looks Like He Fought 10 Rounds’ – MMA Fans React As Renato Moicano Disfigures Benoît Saint Denis In Brutal Beating At UFC Paris

    ‘Looks Like He Fought 10 Rounds’ – MMA Fans React As Renato Moicano Disfigures Benoît Saint Denis In Brutal Beating At UFC Paris

    Benoît Saint Denis was left with quite the battle scars on his face as the doctor stepped in to stop his UFC Paris fight with Renato Moicano.

    The Brazilian put on a completely dominating display in the opening round, taking the fight to the ground early and having over four minutes of control time there. He landed some vicious ground-and-pound on Saint Denis, busting up his face.

    Moicano appeared to take the second frame off, as Saint Denis pressed forward. The damage, however, was not getting any better.

    The doctor observed “God of War” and his severely swollen eyes after the second round, and it was determined that Saint Denis’ vision in his right eye was obscured, causing the fight to be waved off.

    Benoît Saint Denis Left Battered As Doctor Steps In To Stop UFC Paris Main Event vs. Renato Moicano

    Moicano has now won four straight and scored three finishes in this stretch. He called out Paddy Pimblett following the fight after “The Baddy” expressed interest in fighting him post-UFC 304 this past July.

    After winning 13 of 15 to start his MMA career, meanwhile, Saint Denis has now dropped back-to-back outings after previously getting finished by Dustin Poirier at UFC 299 in March.

  • 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.

  • ‘Imagine What Du Plessis Would Do To These Two’ – MMA Fans React As Nassourdine Imavov Decisions Brendan Allen At UFC Paris

    ‘Imagine What Du Plessis Would Do To These Two’ – MMA Fans React As Nassourdine Imavov Decisions Brendan Allen At UFC Paris

    A battle of middleweight contenders in the co-main event of UFC Paris saw Nassourdine Imavov come out on top over Brendan Allen.

    Allen was in complete control of the fight in the first round, bringing virtually all of the activity. But in the second frame, the momentum shifted swiftly. Imavov won the grappling battle in that round, taking advantage of a tired “All In” and displaying strong shots from the top ground position.

    The American’s striking seemed off in the second stanza, and that stretched into the third, with his French counterpart landing the better strikes and having control of the fight on the mat.

    Imavov ultimately scored the judges’ nod on all three scorecards.

    Nassourdine Imavov Keeps Momentum Alive With Decision Win Over Brendan Allen In Paris

    https://twitter.com/blondedmma/status/1840146075002302757

    Imavov has now won three straight since his no contest with Chris Curtis at UFC 289. The Frenchman’s win streak has also seen him score a majority decision over Roman Dolidze and a controversial finish of Jared Cannonier.

    Meanwhile, Allen’s seven-fight winning run was snapped in Paris, a streak that saw him earn victories over Curtis, Paul Craig, and Bruno Silva.

  • VIDEO: Bryan Battle Riles Up French Crowd With ‘All-Time Promo’ After Beating Kevin Jousset At UFC Paris

    VIDEO: Bryan Battle Riles Up French Crowd With ‘All-Time Promo’ After Beating Kevin Jousset At UFC Paris

    Bryan Battle may have come out on top with a finish at UFC Paris, but he also may have made himself public enemy No. 1 in France with his post-fight promo…

    Battle put on a solid striking display before scoring a finish in the second round of his fight with Kevin Jousset. He then landed a brutal flurry of strikes that resulted in a referee’s stoppage, giving “The Butcher” the victory.

    The American flipped the home crowd off following the fight as the fans inside Accor Arena expressed displeasure in their compatriot losing.

    Battle then took to the mic and encouraged the French crowd to continuously rain down the jeers they were bringing to him.

    Bryan Battle Encourages Boos From Crowd After Finish Of France’s Kevin Jousset At UFC Paris

    “Keep booing me, baby” Battle said. “Keep booing me. I love it. I love it. Listen, listen. People have been booing me and doubting me since I started training. I love it. The more you boo me, the stronger I get, baby! I’m used to this. Nobody can stop me!”

    https://twitter.com/ElonRakhmonov/status/1840129268816457741
    https://twitter.com/MacMallyMMA/status/1840128187159982307
    https://twitter.com/SpinninBackfist/status/1840130076740071565

    The Ultimate Fighter season 29 winner now improves to 6-1 (1 NC) in the UFC. He is unbeaten in four straight and five of his last six fights.

    Meanwhile, the loss snaps a five-fight win streak Jousset was coming into this fight with and marks his first setback in the UFC.

  • ‘Arguably The Greatest Knee I’ve Seen In MMA’ – Fans React As Farès Ziam Knocks Matt Frevola Out Cold At UFC Paris

    ‘Arguably The Greatest Knee I’ve Seen In MMA’ – Fans React As Farès Ziam Knocks Matt Frevola Out Cold At UFC Paris

    In his native France, Farès Ziam pulled off a vicious knockout that seemed to come out of nowhere to score a late victory over Matt Frevola on the main card of UFC Paris.

    Ziam appeared to show continued improvement over the course of the fight’s first two rounds, seemingly in a comfortable lead as the contest headed into the third.

    It was there, however, where Ziam unleashed violence that no one saw coming.

    With the two of them against the fence, Ziam turned Frevola and landed a stunning knee to the head that dropped the American out cold to score a KO of the Year contender.

    Frevola was unconscious for several minutes after the finish.

    Farès Ziam Lands Brutal KO Of The Year Contender With Vicious Knee On Matt Frevola’s Head

    https://twitter.com/Full_Violence/status/1840116288762343532

    Ziam has now won four straight and has lost just twice since making his UFC debut in late 2019.

    Frevola, meanwhile, has now lost back-to-back fights and has dropped four of his last seven.

  • VIDEO: Ailín Pérez Submits Opponent Before Twerking In Her Face At UFC Paris

    VIDEO: Ailín Pérez Submits Opponent Before Twerking In Her Face At UFC Paris

    Another finish and another post-fight show from Ailín Pérez, as she scores a first-round submission of Darya Zheleznyakova on the preliminary card of UFC Paris.

    Pérez was able to bring the fight to the ground and locked up Zheleznyakova in an arm-triangle choke, scoring the submission quickly in the opening round.

    Following the submission, in classic Pérez style, she started to twerk, notably doing so in the direction of her opponent.

    Ailín Pérez Twerks In Darya Zheleznyakova’s Face After Submitting Her At UFC Paris

    Pérez has now won four straight in the Octagon, scoring her first finish since 2022 in this bout. The Argentine did, however, miss weight by 0.5 pounds for this fight.

    Zheleznyakova, meanwhile, is now 1-1 in the Octagon since coming over from ARES FC.

  • 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

  • Ciryl Gane’s Absence From UFC Fight Night Card In Paris Explained

    For the first time, a UFC event will be taking place in the French capital without the country’s only champion to date closing the show.

    Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion is back in Paris this week, staging an event in France for the third straight year. The UFC debuted inside the Accor Arena in 2022, just under three years on from the legalization of MMA in the country.

    On that night, former interim UFC heavyweight champion Ciryl Gane thrilled his compatriots by knocking out Tai Tuivasa. And “Bon Gamin” repeated the feat last September when he stopped Serghei Spivac with strikes.

    This year, however, presents an opportunity for a different French standout to make a splash in the main event spotlight: Benoît Saint Denis.

    Six months on from his defeat to Dustin Poirier in Miami, “God of War” will look to bounce back in front of a no doubt rowdy Parisian crowd when he shares the cage with Renato Moicano.

    Gane’s Coach Explains Decision Not To Fight At Latest UFC Paris Event

    During a recent interview with InsideFighting, coach Fernand Lopez commented on the UFC’s latest visit to his country and the fact that his star student won’t be a part of it this time around.

    “We don’t have to talk about it with the UFC coming to Paris. It’s obvious that they want Ciryl to fight in Paris, and I was thinking about Ciryl fighting in Paris. This is what we talked (about doing),” Lopez said. “But an opportunity showed up with a better opponent in terms of ranking, a better opportunity in terms of pay-per-view, and better career constructions to go back to the belt.

    “It makes sense for us to accept that opportunity. Ciryl already fought two times in Paris, finished his opponent two times in Paris, and enjoyed the moment to win in Paris,” Lopez continued. “I think for him, it is a new challenge to go to Abu Dhabi, a new different market, and for him to be qualified if they need him for the (title).”

    Of course, plans have changed since Lopez made those comments. Gane will no longer have the chance to make a splash in Abu Dhabi next month following the withdrawal of Alexander Volkov through injury.

    Instead, the Frenchman looks set for the chance for redemption in Las Vegas, where he was submitted in the opening round by Jon Jones in March 2023. His clash with Volkov is expected to be rescheduled for UFC 310 at the T-Mobile Arena this December.

    Meanwhile, Saint Denis has the chance to close the gap on his fellow countryman when it comes to being France’s poster boy for MMA. To do so, he’ll need to return to winning ways at the expense of Moicano this weekend.

  • 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.

  • Brendan Allen Accuses Nassourdine Imavov Of ‘B*tch Move’ By Rejecting Five Rounds For UFC Fight Night Paris (Exclusive)

    Brendan Allen Accuses Nassourdine Imavov Of ‘B*tch Move’ By Rejecting Five Rounds For UFC Fight Night Paris (Exclusive)

    UFC middleweight contender Brendan Allen is not impressed by Nassourdine Imavov’s alleged decision not to share the cage over 25 minutes next month.

    Allen will head to enemy territory to throw down with a fellow up-and-comer at 185 pounds in Imavov at the Paris-held UFC Fight Night on September 28. The pair will co-headline the event, much to the American’s frustration.

    The #7-ranked contender initially publicly rejected the France assignment owing to the fact that the promotion wasn’t looking to have him and Imavov headline. Allen was evidently convinced to compete on the undercard of Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis, but he remains frustrated at one stipulation.

    With five-round co-main events becoming more common, Allen says he pushed for that against “The Sniper,” but the Frenchman refused. Having had three of his last four outings scheduled for 25 minutes, the 28-year-old is not pleased about Imavov’s apparent reluctance to prepare for the longer distance…

    Allen Tells Imavov: You Want To Fight For The Title? 5 Rounds Is How You Do It

    During a recent interview with MMA News’ Ryan Jarrell, Allen looked ahead to his second Octagon appearance of 2024, which comes a few months on from his memorable victory over Chris Curtis in their barnburner at the Apex.

    That result added to “All In’s” five-round experience, and Imavov isn’t short on it himself having gone the 25-minute distance with both Sean Strickland and Roman Dolidze, as well as recently entering a fourth frame with Jared Cannonier prior to the TKO stoppage.

    Despite that, though, Allen says the three-round stipulation for the Paris co-main event is entirely down to Imavov and his team, a decision he has a firm view on.

    “Some people just need all the deck in their favor to try to win. But it’s not gonna be enough. I’m still gonna win,” Allen told MMA News. “I accepted the five rounds; I asked for the five rounds. I’ve heard the explanations but I still don’t agree or understand it. But it’s above my pay grade. I think it’s bullsh*t that 10 and 12 guys are main event over four and seven, where we have title contentions possibly surrounding our fight.

    “I think it’s kind of a b*tch move that he (Imavov) doesn’t want to accept five rounds. Even as a co-main, he doesn’t want to accept five rounds,” Allen continued. “You wanna fight for the belt? You wanna stake your claim? Like, that’s how you do it. You go out there and win a five-round fight, even if it doesn’t go five rounds. … I don’t fully understand his reasoning, but I understand their logic. Some people just need all the cards in their favor as much as possible.”

    Regardless, Allen will still be looking to deliver a standout performance in the French capital to stake his claim for a long-awaited first shot at title glory on mixed martial arts’ biggest stage.

    Having already won seven straight, perhaps the addition of the #4-ranked contender to his ever-growing résumé is the piece of the puzzle Allen needs to secure his spot opposite the champion next time out.

  • City Kickboxing Prospect Kevin Jousset Gets Home Fight, Faces TUF Winner At UFC Fight Night Paris

    City Kickboxing Prospect Kevin Jousset Gets Home Fight, Faces TUF Winner At UFC Fight Night Paris

    For the first time in his professional career, UFC welterweight prospect Kevin Jousset is set to compete in front of his compatriots.

    Jousset made a splash on debut last September in Sydney, following two-division championship glory under Australia’s Hex Fight Series banner with a first-round submission at UFC 293.

    The Frenchman has long trained alongside the likes of Israel Adesanya and Dan Hooker at New Zealand’s City Kickboxing, fighting exclusively in Oceania prior to his UFC signing. And having competed on United States soil for the first time in his sophomore Octagon outing, Jousset is now set for a homecoming this fall.

    Per MMA Junkie’s Nolan King, “Air” has been added to the upcoming UFC Fight Night in Paris, France, on September 28. There, he’s set for a step up in competition against Bryan Battle, winner of The Ultimate Fighter 29 middleweight tournament.

    Home Favorite Jousset Targets Third Straight UFC Win At The Expense Of Battle

    When Jousset makes the walk to what will no doubt be a positive reception at Accor Arena, he’ll be looking to maintain his perfect UFC slate.

    Jousset (10-2) lost two of his first seven pro fights, the first of which came against current top five welterweight contender Jack Della Maddalena under the Eternal MMA banner. But since a split decision setback in 2022, the 31-year-old has won five straight to have two titles in his possession, as well as a UFC contract.

    And after submitting Kiefer Crosbie Down Under and outpointing Song Kenan at the Apex last December, “Air” is next tasked with stalling the welterweight ambitions of Battle (10-2, 1 NC) in his first assignment of 2024.

    One fight on from his TUF triumph, “The Butcher” committed to a move down in weight, and he debuted at 170 pounds emphatically by knocking out Takashi Sato with a brutal head kick just 44 seconds into their fight. While he subsequently fell to a decision against the highly regarded Rinat Fakhretdinov, he bounced back with a 14-second knockout of Gabe Green and second-round submission of AJ Fletcher.

    Having had his strong start opposite Ange Loosa earlier this year rendered null when the Swiss fighter couldn’t continue following an eye poke, Battle will look to get back to the winner’s circle by upsetting Jousset’s home crowd in the French capital later this year.

    With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at the UFC Fight Night in Paris on September 28 are as follows:

    • Renato Moicano vs. Benoît Saint Denis (lightweight main event)
    • Nassourdine Imavov vs. Brendan Allen (middleweight)
    • Germaine de Randamie vs. Nora Cornolle (women’s bantamweight)
    • William Gomis vs. Joanderson Brito (featherweight)
    • Kevin Jousset vs. Bryan Battle (welterweight)
    • Daniel Barez vs. Victor Altamirano (flyweight)
    • Oumar Sy vs. Da Woon Jung (light Heavyweight)
    • Dariya Zhelezniakova vs. Ailín Pérez (women’s bantamweight)
  • 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.