But the party was spoiled for the 16,000 spectators at Bercy when the UFC doctor entered the cage just before the third round. After examining Saint-Denis, whose swollen face was covered in blood, he ended the hostilities, while the two fighters had each won a round.
Entering the stage shortly before midnight, the Frenchman, as usual, broke through the crowd at the Accor Arena to the sound of commando chants, a nod to his military past, and the emblematic “Seine-Saint-Denis Style” by NTM. But the “Benoit!” Benoit! » from the public or even the Marseillaise started during the second round were not enough.
“I will come back stronger”
From the first moments, Nîmes was outrageously dominated. Pinned to the ground, the Brazilian’s strong point, he took numerous blows to the face, open in several places. Diminished but valiant, he still dominated the second round, but was then no longer able to resume the fight, unrecognizable under his blistered eyelids. “Unfortunately, I was a little sleepy in the first round,” admitted Saint-Denis. “He did what he had to do to create enough damage. Sorry about that, I’ll come back stronger, I’m sorry and well done to him. »
Saint-Denis, 12e lightweight before the fight, suffered a second defeat in a row and the third of his UFC career. However, he had to win to resume his journey in the lightweight category, six months after a defeat by KO against the legend Dustin Poirier. Reduced by a staphylococcus infection, “BSD” then suffered a first setback by losing by knockout in the second round, while he remained on five victories. At 28 years old and after meteoric progress in mixed martial arts, the Frenchman has established himself as one of the French stars of the discipline, but will now have to redeem himself to resume his path in the category.
Imanov on his way
Related News :