UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis official results

The UFC returned to France for a third consecutive September with action taking place at Accor Arena in Paris.

Saturday’s 14-bout Fight Night card was headlined by Benoit Saint Denis taking on Renato Moicano at lightweight, plus top-10 middleweight contenders Nassourdine Imavov and Brendan Allen in the co-main event.

Saint Denis and Imavov lead a strong contingent of French fighters featured at the event.

Below are the official results from UFC Paris:

MAIN CARD

Renato Moicano def. Benoit Saint Denis via technical knockout (doctor’s stoppage) at 5:00 of Round 2

It was a perfect start for Moicano, getting an early takedown off a Saint Denis kick attempt. The Brazilian advanced position on the ground and battered his opponent with elbows and punches that busted Saint Denis open and had both his eyes swollen. The Frenchman survived the one-sided opening round and was successful in stuffing Moicano’s takedowns. Saint Denis landed more significant strikes in the second but following the round the doctor was brought into the cage to examine his left eye. Saint Denis couldn’t see out of his right eye and the fight was stopped. Another great performance by Moicano in the cage and on the mic. Give that man his money! 

Nassourdine Imavov def. Brendan Allen via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Allen has excellent jiu-jitsu and wasted no time getting Imavov to his back. There wasn’t much damaged or movement on the ground but Allen controlled the round. Allen wasn’t effective with his takedowns in the second as Imavov was the one to gain ground control and landed some damaging ground strikes. The final round had the most action as both 185-pounders were visibly gassed. 

William Gomis def. Joanderson Brito via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

An early failed submission attempt from Brito had him at a positional disadvantage for the majority of the opening round until a late burst. Brito has a wild style but was more cautious with his positioning after the first five minutes. Both threw haymakers, both had their moments yet Gomis got the close decision after Brito was roughly a three-to-one favourite prior to the fight.

Bryan Battle def. Kevin Jousset via technical knockout at 3:47 of Round 2

These welterweights went toe to toe until the TUF 29 winner took over. Battle found his rhythm in the second and increased his output, peppering Jousset with one-twos until Jousset was essentially out on his feet and the referee stepped in.

Morgan Charriere def. Gabriel Miranda via technical knockout at 0:27 of Round 2

France’s Charriere made it two years in a row picking a stoppage win in front of the home fans. Charriere had a methodical first round and early in the second caught Miranda in bad position with his hands down. (Also, with Charriere's win, make that four in a row for the parlay boys!)

Fares Ziam def. Matt Frevola via knockout at 2:59 of Round 3

The lightweights kicked off the main card both throwing aggressive leather. Ziam is the longer and more technical striker of the two and he had Frevola bloody by the end of the opening round. Ziam improved to 6-2 in the UFC with his fourth consecutive win. It was his most complete performance to date, even getting the better of Frevola in the wrestling and grappling departments, but the fight will be remembered for a devastating knockout finish late in the final round.

PRELIMINARY CARD

Ion Cutelaba def. Ivan Erslan via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

It was a fight most figured would end in an early knockout, so of course it ended up requiring the judges. Cutelaba used his veteran savvy to get the better of his UFC newcomer opponent.

Oumar Sy def. Jung Da Woon via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

France’s Sy improved to 11-0 as a pro with a workmanlike performance against the always game Jung. Sy had the crowd in a frenzy during a late second-round flurry but could not secure a finish. Jung began his UFC career 4-0-1 but has since lost four in a row, all to quality opposition.

Ludovit Klein def. Roosevelt Roberts via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Klein was the biggest betting favourite on the card but it did not look that way throughout the 15-minute lightweight contest. Roberts has now lost three in a row and took his two most recent fights on short notice. Klein is unbeaten in his last seven with wins over Ignacio Bahamondes and Thiago Moises, but will want to quickly move past this performance.

Taylor Lapilus def. Vince Morales via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Lapilus is one of France’s most popular UFC athletes and the bantamweight showed off his superior striking against a returning Morales who had won five in a row following the end of his first UFC stint. Lapilus has won two of three in the UFC over the past 12 months and bounced back from a January loss. 

Ailin Perez def. Daria Zheleznyakova via submission (arm-triangle choke) at 3:52 of Round 1

Perez knew her advantage in this matchup was on the ground and it didn’t take long for her to find the finish once she dragged Zheleznyakova to the mat. Perez was the lone fighter on the card to miss weight on Friday and was fined 20 per cent of her purse.

Daniel Barez def. Victor Altamirano via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Barez started strong and found an early home for his right hand and one in the opening round resulted in a flash knockdown. Altamirano’s preferred attack was a left kick from his southpaw stance and he threw them more frequently in the second and third rounds. Altamirano’s most effective round was the third, at least until he was dropped by a Barez left hand before the final horn sounded. All three judges scored the fight the same with Barez winning the first two rounds. A solid flyweight scrap.

Jacqueline Cavalcanti def. Nora Cornolle via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

Cornolle lost her pro MMA debut to Cavalcanti via decision back in 2021 and came up short in her attempt to avenge that loss with Cavalcanti getting the nod in a split decision. The most significant moment of the fight came in the second round when Cavalcanti rocked Cornolle with a straight right hand. The French fighter recovered much to the delight of the home crowd that was lively during the early prelims but she ended up losing for her second time to Cavalcanti. Cornolle is 8-0 against all other opponents. Portugal's Cavalcanti is now 3-0 in the UFC with two wins occurring within the past two months.

Chris Duncan def. Bolaji Oki via technical submission (guillotine choke) at 3:34 of Round 1

Lightweights began the card with Scotland’s Duncan catching Oki in a guillotine choke midway through the opening round. Oki defended for a while but eventually went unconscious and Duncan had to alert the referee his opponent was finished.