One room, two atmospheres. No Ciryl Gane and Manon Fiorot during this third edition of UFC Paris, Saturday evening in Bercy. Instead, the leaders were Benoît Saint-Denis and Nassourdine Imavov. But everything didn’t happen the same way for both. Under the eyes of swimmer Léon Marchand, “BSD” drowned on Saturday evening against the Brazilian Renato Moicano in the -70 kg category.
While he hoped to move forward, six months after a bitter defeat against Dustin Poirier marked in particular by a staphylococcus infection, the 28-year-old from Nîmes saw his hopes reduced as did his vision during the fight. fence at Bercy. His whole face exploded, flooded with blood, his eyes could no longer be seen.
“The best audience in the world”
Before the start of the third round, the Frenchman was stopped by the referee on the doctor’s decision because he could no longer see at all in his right eye.
“You are the best audience in the world. I’m sorry, I’ll come back stronger. He who lives by the sword also dies by the sword,” said Private Saint-Denis.
After a perfect year 2023 with three victories in as many fights and notably a spectacular knockout against Matt Frevola, on November 11, 2023 at Madison Square Garden (New York), “BSD” will probably quickly want to forget this year 2024. The “God of War” first lost by knockout last March. Before parting ways with his historic coach, Daniel Woirin three months ago to create new momentum. Result of the races? A new disappointment on Saturday evening which caused him to lose big, very big.
“We can grow together”
The Frenchman will have to redeem himself and perhaps change things (once again). His 35-year-old Brazilian tormentor also sent him a message to this effect after the fight, inviting him to become a training partner. “We can grow together. I have a lot of respect for Benoît and I would like us to train together,” Moicano said in a post-fight press conference, after calling out several names to President Emmanuel Macron.
A contender for the title some time ago, “BSD” will not see the light of it in the medium term, he who will probably no longer be top 15 when the next UFC rankings are published. He will have to bounce back against a lesser-known opponent and will no longer have any room for error.
Ziam, Gomis and Charrière at the meeting
In the other matches of the evening, the French knew how to ride the boiling atmosphere of Bercy. Even Léon Marchand, multiple Olympic champion this summer, was in the front row to witness this spectacle. For the main card, Fares Ziam ideally started the evening with a spectacular knockout by getting rid of Matt Frevola with a knee to the chin.
Morgan Charrière (-66 kg) also delivered a spectacular performance by placing a devastating left hook which knocked down Gabriel Miranda. And he was able to celebrate with the audience at the Accor Arena by asking them to sing the Marseillaise “to please his daddy”.
A few minutes later and a defeat for Kevin Jousset against the American Bryan Battle (-77 kg), William Gomis created a surprise by dominating Joanderson Brito by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29).
Imavov: “I think I deserve the belt”
The other headliner of the evening, Nassourdine Imavov, experienced a diametrically opposite destiny. After a very frustrating 2023 with zero wins to his name – a defeat at the upper weight limit against Sean Strickland who came to replace Kelvin Gastelum at the last minute, a “no contest” in a fight he dominated against Chris Curtis and the cancellation of his fight against Ikram Aliskerov at UFC 294 -, Nassourdine Imavov has relaunched perfectly in 2024. Two victories against Top 10 opponents to start the year before facing the eighth in the -84 KG, Brendan Allen , Saturday evening.
The “Sniper” had taken a gamble by accepting a duel for UFC Paris against a fighter lower ranked than him despite his rise. But he has confirmed his status as a rising figure in French MMA.
Surprised during the first round, he displayed his combat intelligence during the second and third rounds before winning by unanimous decision. “The first round didn’t go the way I wanted, I threw myself… but I knew there were two left behind and I caught myself well,” Imavov simply analyzed.
With this new success against a top 10 in the UFC, the original Dagestani is getting a little closer to the Holy Grail held by the South African Dricus Du Plessis. “I had three fights in just 7 months. Three fights, three top 10s, I don’t even know if anyone has ever done that. So, it’s straight to the title because my last two opponents were contenders and I beat them. So automatically, I think I deserve the belt.” And it is not the 16,000 French spectators at Bercy who will say the opposite.
