UFC Paris 2025 Overview
UFC Paris 2025 delivered one of the most action-packed fight nights of the year. Taking place on September 6 at the Accor Arena, the event was headlined by French middleweight Nassourdine Imavov, who faced Brazilian contender Caio Borralho. The card was stacked with local fighters and rising prospects, and it did not disappoint.
With a record-setting number of finishes and an electric Paris crowd, UFC Paris proved once again that France has become a key location for the UFC’s European expansion.
UFC Paris Main Event Result
In the main event, Nassourdine Imavov defeated Caio Borralho by unanimous decision (50–45, 49–46, 49–46). Imavov showed superior striking, controlled the pace of the fight, and impressed the judges with his consistency over five rounds.
The win solidifies Imavov’s position as one of the top middleweights in the UFC. He used sharp boxing, strong distance control, and effective defense to shut down Borralho’s offense. With this victory, Imavov is now closer than ever to a middleweight title shot.
UFC Paris Main Card Results
| Division | Winner | Method | Opponent | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middleweight | Nassourdine Imavov | Decision (Unanimous) | Caio Borralho | 5 | 5:00 |
| Lightweight | Benoît Saint Denis | Submission (Face Crank) | Mauricio Ruffy | 2 | 2:56 |
| Light Heavyweight | Modestas Bukauskas | KO (Elbows) | Paul Craig | 1 | 5:00 |
| Lightweight | Mason Jones | TKO (Elbows) | Bolaji Oki | 2 | 3:18 |
| Welterweight | Axel Sola | TKO (Body Punches) | Rhys McKee | 3 | 2:02 |
| Featherweight | William Gomis | Decision (Unanimous) | Robert Ruchała | 3 | 5:00 |
The main card featured strong performances from local fighters. Benoît Saint Denis brought the crowd to its feet with a dominant submission, while Axel Sola delivered a rare finish with body punches. Modestas Bukauskas stopped Paul Craig with devastating elbows, proving himself as a dangerous contender at light heavyweight.
UFC Paris Preliminary Card Results
| Division | Winner | Method | Opponent | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light Heavyweight | Oumar Sy | TKO | Brendson Ribeiro | 1 | 4:42 |
| Heavyweight | Ante Delija | KO | Marcin Tybura | 1 | 2:03 |
| Lightweight | Kauê Fernandes | TKO (Leg Kicks) | Harry Hardwick | 1 | 3:21 |
| Welterweight | Sam Patterson | TKO | Trey Waters | 1 | 3:01 |
| Middleweight | Robert Bryczek | TKO | Brad Tavares | 3 | 1:43 |
| Welterweight | Rinat Fakhretdinov | TKO | Andreas Gustafsson | 1 | 0:54 |
| Women’s Strawweight | Sam Hughes | Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) | Shauna Bannon | 2 | 1:58 |
The prelims were explosive, producing several quick knockouts. Ante Delija announced his arrival in the UFC with a stunning first-round knockout of Marcin Tybura, while Kauê Fernandes impressed with brutal leg kicks that forced a stoppage. Rising welterweight Rinat Fakhretdinov also made a statement with a lightning-fast TKO win.
UFC Paris Records and Highlights
UFC Paris made history by tying the record for the most finishes in a single UFC event with 11. It also set a new benchmark for the most knockouts in one night with 9 in total.
French fighters made the home crowd proud. Saint Denis continued his rise as one of Europe’s most exciting lightweights, William Gomis proved his durability in a decision win, and Imavov established himself as a true title contender. The combination of finishes, high-level performances, and local victories turned UFC Paris into one of the most memorable cards of 2025.
UFC Paris Attendance and Revenue
UFC Paris drew a sold-out crowd of 15,724 fans at the Accor Arena. The event generated a live gate of more than $4 million, making it one of the most successful UFC Fight Night events ever held in Europe.
These strong numbers confirm Paris as a valuable market for the UFC. The economic impact extended beyond the arena, benefiting local hotels, restaurants, and businesses that welcomed thousands of travelling fans.
Sean Strickland Speaks Out
Former middleweight champion Sean Strickland reacted to the event, focusing on Caio Borralho’s preparation. Strickland criticized Borralho for cutting weight twice during camp, suggesting that the extra cut hurt his performance against Imavov. He argued that this decision cost Borralho the fight and questioned the strategy of overtraining while acting as a backup fighter.
Strickland’s comments added fuel to the post-fight discussions and raised questions about how fighters should manage weight cuts when serving as alternates.
What Comes Next After UFC Paris
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Nassourdine Imavov: With another dominant win, Imavov is on the verge of a title shot. He has already called for a fight for the title.
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Benoît Saint Denis: His dominant submission should secure him another high-profile lightweight fight, likely on a major European card.
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Ante Delija: His knockout debut positions him as a new threat in the heavyweight division. Expect him to face a ranked opponent next.
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Modestas Bukauskas: His win over Paul Craig could open the door to bigger fights in the top 15.
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Caio Borralho: After losing and receiving criticism, Borralho will likely need a bounce-back fight before entering the top 5 discussion.
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Prospects like Kauê Fernandes and Robert Bryczek: Both scored impressive finishes and could become regular features on UFC cards moving forward.
