UFC Paris 3: six victories including that of Imavov, two superb KOs, a successful evening for the French fighters

We were expecting a huge fireworks display. Between 15,000 wild fans in a packed Accor Arena and nine French fighters capable of winning, the party could be great at this UFC Paris 3. And it was. Despite the defeat of Benoît Saint Denis by referee’s stoppage against Renato Moicano, the French record is excellent, with six victories, three defeats and two exceptional KOs of Farès Ziam and Morgan Charrière, who both received bonuses of “performance of the evening”.

They are the stars of the evening. The Lyonnais, who opened the main card in an incandescent room, absolutely wanted to offer his fans a knockout and “silence the critics”. Thanks to a knee to the face from Matt Frevola, the mission is accomplished. Until this fatal blow, which left the American groggy for several minutes, Farès Ziam was in perfect control. But the lightweight has become a complete fighter and, above all, a finisher.

Nassourdine Imavov gets closer to the title

Morgan Charrière already was. Author of a superb knockout to the liver last year in the same place, the Ile-de-France resident repeated this feat this Saturday evening by touching the tip of Gabriel Miranda’s chin at the very start of the second round. A blow which completely dried him up and which ignited the public, totally in love with their favorite. “I wanted to take my timing and then punch him in the face,” he savored after the fight, releasing his famous phrase from last September. A Marseillaise with the public came to complete his work.

Jousset and Cornolle beaten, Lapilus, Gomis and Sy victorious

Two more fights were planned on the main card. After three fierce fights, William Gomis was declared the winner by split decision against the Brazilian Joanderson Brito, one of the great promises of the UFC in the under 66 kg category. A huge signal for the leaders of the American League. Kevin Jousset lost by TKO in the second round. Beaten by Bryan Battle, the Frenchman, who trains in New Zealand, was stopped by the referee. Rightly so.

Earlier in the evening, Taylor Lapilus and Oumar Sy won. After perfectly controlled fights, the two Frenchmen were declared winners by unanimous decision. Successes which ignited the public and launched a series of French victories, followed by Farès Ziam and Morgan Charrière.

However, it had started badly. First to enter the cage, Nora Cornolle suffered her first defeat in the UFC. After a first round dominated thanks to her kicks and a takedown, the Ile-de-France native was shaken by a hook in the second round and staggered. More offensive, Jacqueline Cavalcanti, the only one who had already beaten Cornolle in her career, also convinced two judges to give her the last round and, therefore, the victory by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 28-29 ). A result undoubtedly logical but misunderstood by the Frenchwoman, who left the cage very disappointed.