UFC Guide: This weekend’s Paris event could mark a new era for European MMA

Originally posted on MMA on SI | By Mathew Riddle | Last updated Sep 4, 2025 6:11 PM ET

UFC Paris is more than just a showcase of French MMA talent; it's a landmark event for debuting promotional European champions on the world stage of MMA.

While the main event settles a potential middleweight title eliminator between Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho, which could see the next fight for Khamzat Chimaev, a wealth of European MMA champions make their UFC debuts on the undercard.

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Who's fighting at UFC Paris?

Main event

Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho; middleweight

Main card

Benoit Saint-Denis vs. Mauricio Ruffy; lightweight
Modestas Bukauskas vs. Paul Craig; light heavyweight
Bolaji Oki vs. Mason Jones; lightweight
Patricio Pitbull vs. Losene Keita; featherweight

Prelims

William Gomis vs. Robert Ruchala; featherweight
Oumar Sy vs. Brensdon Ribeiro; light heavyweight
Marcin Tybura vs. Ante Delija; heavyweight
Harry Hardwick vs. Kaue Fernandes; lightweight
Sam Patterson vs. Trey Waters; welterweight
Brad Tavares vs. Robert Bryczek; middleweight
Andreas Gustafsson vs. Rinat Rakhretdinov; welterweight
Shauna Bannon vs. Sam Hughes; strawweight

John Gooden, Paul Felder, and Michael Bisping will be in attendance for commentary, as well as Karyn Bryant for reporting duties.

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What are the best fights at UFC Paris?

The most-hyped UFC debut in recent memory on the main card

Losene Keita , OKTAGON MMA double-champion, debuts against former Bellator featherweight king Patricio Pitbull on the night's main card.

Fierce Cage Warriors king stepping in on short notice

Harry Hardwick steps in on a week's notice to fight fierce striker Kaue Fernandes on the prelims. Hardwick was the reigning Cage Warriors featherweight champion.

Former PFL heavyweight champion looking to shake up the division

Ante Delija could be one or two fights away from heavyweight gold with a debut against Marcin Tybura on the prelims. Delija won the PFL championship in 2022.

KSW's finest debuting on the prelims

Robert Ruchala, the reigning KSW lightweight champion, debuts against tough French fighter William Gomis in the night's featured prelim.

Lesser-known ARES FC champion debuts on main card

Axel Sola, the reigning ARES FC lightweight king makes his debut against Rhys McKee on the night's main card.

Victories from any of these former champions will shake up their respective UFC divisions.

But that's not all, fans are privy to some of the most violent matchmaking the UFC can muster, all the way down to the second fight of the night.

Sweden's Andreas Gustafsson has an endless gas tank and a will to hurt. His opponent, Rinat Fakhretdinov, is allergic to boring fights and hasn't been defeated in the UFC so far.

Perhaps the most exciting fight of the night is the co-main event between Mauricio Ruffy and Benoit Saint-Denis. Ruffy pulled off a spinning wheel kick knockout in his last fight, and 'BSD' is one of the most kill-or-be-killed fighters on the UFC roster.