Benoit Saint Denis seems to be to make it a trio of triumphs in his return to Paris.
The light-weight contender takes on Renato Moicano in Saturday’s UFC Paris headliner in entrance of a supportive French crowd and in a metropolis the place he has by no means misplaced. Saint Denis has twice competed in his nation’s capital, each occasions scoring second-round knockouts, towards Thiago Moises in 2023 and Gabriel Miranda in 2022.
If he can put away Moicano, it’s going to reestablish Saint Denis as a possible title challenger in one in every of MMA’s deepest divisions. Saint Denis is coming off of his first UFC loss, a Battle of the Night time defeat by the hands of light-weight legend Dustin Poirier, and he has the prospect to show his thrilling five-fight win streak wasn’t lightning in a bottle.
Moicano has develop into appointment viewing and never simply because he’s gained three straight. His “Cash” persona has captivated followers as he generates anticipation for what he’ll do in his fights and what he’ll say after at any time when he makes the stroll to the octagon. It’s anybody’s guess what he’ll have in retailer for a sea of disgruntled Parisians ought to he beat Saint Denis.
Within the co-main occasion, Nassourdine Imavov is tasked with defending his spot towards a extremely motivated Brendan Allen. “All In” isn’t happy with how the UFC has ranked him, and he’s desperate to take out his frustrations on Imavov, whereas shifting one step nearer to the highest 5 of the division.
Additionally on the principle card, William Gomis and Joanderson Brito battle for a spot within the featherweight high 15, welterweights Kevin Jousset and Bryan Battle put their undefeated streaks on the road, former Cage Warriors featherweight champion Morgan Charriere takes on Gabriel Miranda, and Fares Ziam takes on the at all times thrilling Matt Frevola within the light-weight opener.
What: UFC Paris
The place: Accor Area in Paris
When: Saturday, Sept. 28. The eight-fight preliminary card begins at 12 p.m. ET on ESPN+, adopted by a six-fight essential card at 3 p.m. ET additionally on ESPN+.
(Numbers in parentheses point out standing in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings)
Renato Moicano (12) vs. Benoit Saint Denis (14)
Can Renato Moicano outlast Benoit Saint Denis? That’s actually the query.
Moicano has a historical past of defusing fighters which are perceived to be heavier hitters than him. Take into account how he used his elite jiu-jitsu to floor Jalin Turner, Drew Dober, and Brad Riddell. And that stems from his willingness to face and scrap too. His grappling compliments his hanging and vise-a-versa. He’s simply efficient sufficient on the ft to power his opponents to respect him and depart gaps of their protection.
On the subject of Saint Denis, the gaps aren’t arduous to seek out, it’s exploiting them that’s the issue. The French star fights with a physicality that’s almost unmatched at 170 kilos and he’s greater than able to bridging the expertise hole by sheer power of will. That’s why I count on him to win on Saturday.
Moicano is the extra expert, extra well-rounded fighter, nevertheless it’s honest to query his sturdiness. He has to final a minimum of two arduous rounds with Saint Denis, and I don’t see that occuring. His previous losses have come when he’s simply overwhelmed, and Saint Denis may have 20,000 hollering followers backing his assault.
Saint Denis finishes within the first.
Decide: Saint Denis
Nassourdine Imavov (T7) vs. Brendan Allen (8)
Sure, it’s time for everybody’s favourite sport present: AK Lee Picks Towards Brendan Allen!
Your contestants as we speak, Nassourdine Imavov and, in fact, our returning champion at the moment on a seven-fight win streak, Brendan Allen, women and gents!
I’ve picked towards Allen in 4 straight predictions items, and for his sake, I’m doing it once more. Not that I consider in any sort of superstitions, however within the off likelihood they exist, I’d simply reverse jinx Allen all the best way to a freaking UFC title battle. And if I decide towards him there… something is feasible.
There are extra substantial causes to choose Imavov to win, too. The Frenchman’s specialty is timing and precision, and when he’s capable of successfully management the gap, he seems to be like top-of-the-line strikers within the middleweight division. He’s robust sufficient to not be out-muscled if Allen needs to grapple and gained’t shrink back from a takedown try if the chance presents itself.
Allen’s choice is to come back ahead and strain, a method that has served him effectively throughout this spectacular run of kind. If he can reduce off the cage and maintain Imavov caught to the fence, it may very well be one other verify within the W column for “All In.”
Sticking with the principles of this sport present, I’m selecting Imavov by determination.
Decide: Imavov
William Gomis vs. Joanderson Brito
This matchup between William Gomis and Joanderson Brito has an actual matador and bull really feel to it.
Gomis has carved out a pleasant area of interest for himself as one of many craftiest fighters within the featherweight division. That hasn’t at all times resulted in essentially the most memorable performances, however a win is a win, and there are lots of worse issues to be than 145-pound Leon Edwards (look how effectively that labored out for Edwards!).
On the opposite aspect, Brito does every part with power and intention to complete. He grapples arduous, he throws arduous, he even fights arduous off of his again. Brito is a world-class threat taker and there’s no situation the place he isn’t seeking to take the benefit and set himself up for a knockout or submission.
I see Brito’s swashbuckling model paying off ultimately. He’ll endure some early frustration earlier than dialing up the offense in Spherical 2, hurting Gomis on the ft, and ending with a submission.
Decide: Brito
Kevin Jousset vs. Bryan Battle
One massive change for Kevin Jousset on this matchup is he’s going from an opponent in Song Kenan that he had a attain benefit over, to an opponent in Bryan Battle that has the attain benefit over him.
That’s oversimplifying this matchup, however Jousset has gotten lots of mileage out of an efficient jab and well-timed leg kicks. He’ll discover the rangy Battle is significantly tougher to outpoint from distance. Thankfully for Jousset, he brings a stable grappling background to the desk, in order that may very well be the trail he takes to maintain his win streak going.
Battle has been calling for a step up in competitors and whereas Jousset is extra of a lateral transfer, it’s the take a look at Battle wants to point out he’s really able to graduate to the following tier of welterweights. The Final Fighter 29 winner has the instruments to be a mainstay of the division, however wants seasoning with simply 13 professional bouts beneath his belt.
This can be a carefully contested, ahem, battle, that Battle will edge out on the scorecards after a hard-fought, three spherical battle.
Man, I wrote battle so many occasions there.
Decide: Battle
Morgan Charriere vs. Gabriel Miranda
Is it too extreme to name this a make-or-break battle for Morgan Charriere?
I’m nonetheless of the opinion the previous Cage Warriors featherweight champion generally is a participant within the UFC’s 145-pound division, however he has to ship on Saturday if he’s to be taken severely as a contender. “The Final Pirate” is likely one of the largest favorites on the cardboard, hovering round 5-to-1 on most sportsbooks.
He’s been granted a positive matchup in Gabriel Miranda, a high-pace fighter with questionable defensive expertise. Charriere shouldn’t be timid on this matchup as a result of Miranda actually gained’t be, and if Miranda units the tone early, his strain may make Charriere wilt.
As versatile as Charriere is, he needs to be good right here and keep on with sprawling and brawling, because it have been. He has a major benefit on the ft and may be capable to frustrate Miranda together with his takedown protection earlier than letting his palms and ft go. I’m predicting a highlight-reel knockout win for Charriere.
Decide: Charriere
Fares Ziam vs. Matt Frevola
A method or one other, this one shouldn’t go to the judges and that’s excellent news for Matt Frevola.
With respect to Fares Ziam—a advantageous technical striker that appears like he’s able to difficult elite lightweights when he’s at his finest—generally you’ve received to only kick some ass and that’s what Frevola at all times indicators up for. Ziam will maintain this as technical as he can for so long as he can earlier than Frevola simply rushes in and breaks the door down.
Who is aware of? Perhaps the counter-heavy Ziam will discover Frevola’s chin and end his first battle in 5 years (yikes!). Or perhaps this can flip right into a crowd-pleasing slugfest that goes the gap. However my prediction is Frevola dangers all of it to crack Ziam and hand him his first knockout loss.
Decide: Frevola
Preliminaries
Ivan Erslan def. Ion Cutelaba
Oumar Sy def. Da Un Jung
Ludovit Klein def. Roosevelt Roberts
Taylor Lapilus def. Vince Morales
Darya Zheleznyakova def. Ailin Perez (15)
Daniel Barez def. Victor Altamirano
Nora Cornolle (T13) def. Jacqueline Cavalcanti
Bolaji Oki def. Chris Duncan
