UFC Paris’ Must-See Prelims Saturday Afternoon

Every year since 2022, the UFC has carved out time on its September schedule for a trip to Paris. 2025 will be no different for the organization. Live coverage of this week’s show begins Saturday at 12 noon ET/ 9 am PT with the undercard.

Main card action follows up at 3 pm ET/ noon PT. As has been the case since 2019, UFC Paris can be seen gavel-to-gavel over ESPN+ inside the United States.

Change to UFC Paris Ahead of Saturday’s Card

In the run-up to this weekend’s card in Paris, not all has been merriment for everyone associated with the event. On Labor Day, it was revealed that Fares Ziam was withdrawing from the card due to bereavement leave after the death of his grandmother.

In light of this change, former Cage Warriors Featherweight Champion Harry Hardwick will be making his UFC debut on only a few days’ notice to fight Kaue Fernandes on the undercard this weekend in a lightweight bout.

UFC Paris Featured Prelim: William Gomis vs. Robert Ruchala

At the top of the bill for Saturday’s undercard, the featherweights make the walk to the fabled Octagon when William Gomis (14-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) meets up with Robert Ruchala (11-1 MMA, UFC promotional debut.) All fights mentioned herein are an advertised maximum of three rounds at five minutes per round.

Gomis, nicknamed “Jaguar”, has posted a record of 4-1 in his last five fights. On March 1, he dropped a split decision at the hands of Hyder Amil (11-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) inside the UFC Apex facility in Enterprise, NV on the main card. Postponed fights unfortunately became habitual for the Gomis camp in the past.

Prior to last year’s edition of UFC Paris, Gomis saw three of his scheduled fights get canceled without a single punch thrown. Now that he’s had a series of contests take place without a hitch, can he remain in the win column this weekend?

Meanwhile, Robert Ruchala will be making his freshman appearance in the UFC this Saturday in the UFC Paris featured prelim on the strength of a 4-1 record in his last five bouts. At the moment, the former KSW Interim Featherweight Champion has won two fights in a row.

Last time out, he scored a third-round knockout due to elbows and punches over Kacper Formela (18-6 MMA) to defend the interim strap for what turned out to be the only time. How will he fare under the UFC promotional banner?

UFC Paris Co-Featured Prelim: Oumar Sy vs. Brendson Ribeiro

Immediately beforehand, the co-featured undercard bout of UFC Paris sees action take place at light heavyweight when Oumar Sy (11-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) battles Brendson Ribeiro (17-8, 1 NC MMA, 2-3 UFC.) Both fighters in this contest last made the walk to the Octagon in June.

For Oumar Sy, he has a 4-1 record in his past five appearances. On June 14, he ventured down to Atlanta where he was defeated at the hands of Alonzo Menifield (17-5-1 MMA, 10-5-1 UFC) by way of unanimous decision after three rounds of action.

This was a rebooking of a fight that was postponed from UFC London on March 22 after Sy withdrew from the card amid an injury. Much like William Gomis in the featured prelim, Sy also fought in the 2024 version of UFC Paris.

How will a return trip to France play out for the Sy camp? Watch to find out.

Across the way, Brendson Ribero last appeared on June 7. That night, he lost by way of first-round knockout (left hook to ground and pound shots) against Azamat Murzakanov (15-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) during the featured early prelim of UFC 316 in Newark, NJ.

He’ll have had 89 days between fights by the time the cage door shuts on Saturday night. Only time will tell, however, if he’s able to get back into the win column.

UFC Paris: No. 7 Contender Marcin Tybura vs. Ante Delija II

Also on the undercard, the heavyweights will take to the cage when No. 7 contender Marcin Tybura (27-9 MMA, 14-8 UFC) meets up with former PFL stalwart Ante Delija (25-6 MMA, UFC promotional debut.) This fight is a rematch of a 2015 fight between the two.

That night, Tybura successfully defended the M-1 Challenge Heavyweight Championship after Delija couldn’t continue after suffering a leg injury in the second round. Although the stakes are lower for the rematch a decade in the making, expect the bad blood to be boiling here.

Marcin Tybura enters UFC Paris over the weekend having gone 3-2 in his last five outings. He’s won two fights in a row going into the weekend.

Most recently, he bested Mick Parkin (10-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) by unanimous decision on March 22 in London. Saturday will mark his 36th career appearance as a professional in MMA. Can Tybura go 2-for-2 versus his opponent?

In the other corner, Delija will be making the walk this Saturday with a record of 4-1 over the course of his previous five contests.

This past April, he finished Contender Series alumnus Yorgan de Castro (12-7 MMA, 1-3 UFC) with a first-round knockout by way of punches in just 42 seconds’ time during FNC 22. Delija’s stint in the PFL ended after he withdrew from a planned fight vs. Vadim Nemkov.

Subsequently, he was signed to the UFC’s active roster earlier on in the summer. It’s been almost a full decade since Delija and Tybura have fought one another. Revenge will be on the former’s mind this Saturday.

Final Thoughts

Which fight or fights are you looking forward to on the prelims UFC Paris this weekend?