Credit: Cooper Neill/Getty Images

Potential breakout stars for UFC Paris including Tom Aspinall’s teammate and an Oktagon double champion

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Hamish Woodward | Last updated Sep 2, 2025 1:20 PM ET

UFC Paris sees fighting return to the City of Love for the fourth year in a row, with several up-and-comers poised to break out at the event.

The event is main evented by a local fighter, as Frenchman Nassourdine Imavov aims to climb to the top of the Middleweight rankings by beating Caio Borralho.

However, it is the undercard and the prelims that hold some real gems, as a number of potential future stars are making their debuts for the promotion at the event.

UFC Paris has a number of impressive potential breakout stars, including a Heavyweight teammate of Tom Aspinall and a double champion who has already dominated European MMA.

Ante Delija could stand out on his own after being known as Tom Aspinall’s teammate

Former PFL Heavyweight champion Ante Delija looks to break out of being just Tom Aspinall’s sparring partner when he makes his debut in the UFC in Paris.

The Croatian fighter has impressed in his 14-year career so far, although that has taken him everywhere but the UFC until he signed a deal earlier this year.

He is set to take on fellow Heavyweight Marcin Tybura in a rematch from their clash almost exactly a decade ago.

Delija had to retire from the fight in the first round back in September 2015 due to a leg injury, with his UFC debut giving him the chance to enact revenge on the #7-ranked Heavyweight in the division.

While it will be a tough fight, a win would catapult Delija up the rankings and instantly make him a name to look out for in Paris.

Harry Hardwick could impress after being flown in to UFC Paris at late notice

Harry Hardwick is a popular fighter in the UK, and he hopes his fans will follow him over the channel when he fights at UFC Paris on September 6.

He is a late addition to the card, after Fares Ziam’s fight with Kaue Fernandes was called off due to a death in the family.

The Cage Warriors Featherweight champion jumped at the chance to debut in the promotion after failing to earn a contract on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2023

“Houdini” Hardwick will have to impress against a formidable Lightweight in Fernandes, but his success in the UK could translate well in the UFC and earn him a star-making win in Paris on Saturday.

Oktagon double champion Losene Keita could shock Patricio Pitbull at UFC Paris

Belgian mixed-martial artist Losene Keita is one of Europe’s top fighters, and could break out as a potential UFC star when he takes on Patricio Pitbull in Paris.

Keita is just 27 years old and has 17 fights to his name, with the only defeat coming due to a leg injury just a minute into a fight with Mate Sanikidze in Prague.

In the Czech promotion, Oktagon MMA, he won gold at Lightweight and Featherweight, mimicking Conor McGregor in that aspect.

He hopes to evoke the success of “Notorious” even more on his UFC debut, as Keita has a huge ceiling and could become a big star if he takes his big chance.

Pitbull recently beat Dan Ige to pick up his first UFC win, although a loss in his debut will make Keita confident and pick up an upset against a legend at UFC Paris.

This article first appeared on Bloody Elbow and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: