This year’s annual September trip for the MMA leader was led by a few main to-head competitions between the Fighting Nerds and the French protégés of Nicolas Ott. Nassourdine Imavov was confronted with Caio Borralho in a possible eliminator in the middleweight title in the main event of UFC Paris, while Benoit Saint Denis and Mauricio Ruffy fought for an opportunity to go into the lightweight rankings. The card was nicely rounded by some nice matchups. Before we jump ahead to Noche UFC next weekend, let’s see what the next step is for the winners of Saturday.
Nassourdine Imavov
With the middleweight division blooms, the UFC apparently set up an unofficial tournament between the four most important contenders to see whose performance would fall. The first of those matchups was between Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho. Although the Frenchman was in control of the whole fight, it is not as if he set up the type of show that will increase his profile dramatically. Moreover, he mentioned a foot injury in his interview after the fight. Was that just an attempt to save the face because she didn’t even come close to a finish or a real explanation for how the fight took place? I think we will not know, but with the way in which the fight looked combined with a potential injury, there are valid reasons to doubt the opportunities of Imavov to be the next challenger of the title.
Imavov, however, was already the most deserving challenger when he eliminated Israel Adesanya in February. Add a clean victory to a rising Borralho that had not lost for 10 years? From now on there is no doubt that he has earned his title shot.
Imavov’s next fight: Title shot
Benoit Saint Denis
After a rough 2024 covered by a real ass-kicking for his own crowd, Saint Denis wanted to get a part of that momentum back that he had in 2023. He first bounced back in May (on UFC 315, who defeated Kyle Prepolec) and was now facing the highly recommended Mauricio Ruffy. After dominating the opening round, BSD got the fight back to the mat and found a followed choke along the fence. Now winner of back-to-back fights, Saint Denis Arman Tsarukyan and Mateusz Gamrot called for a fight in Madison Square Garden. Although I think Tsarukyan is a long chance, Gamrot is a very smart and realistic callout. Enough so that I don’t mind fulfilling his wish.
Saint Denis’s next fight: Mateusz Gamrot
Modestas Bukauskas
After fought back to the promotion, The Baltic Gladiator Was looking for 6-1 since he came to the UFC again in 2023. The veteran Paul Craig can undoubtedly be released with a buzzing elbow’s buzzer is the most important victory of Bukauskas so far. Now the winner of four consecutive, he has built up a case for a shot in the ranking. I think one of Johnny Walker, Zhang Mingyang and Alonzo Menifield are great options, but I went with Nikita Krylov. At the wrong end of two straight knockout losses, Krylov needs a step back in competition and Bukauskas represents that kind of test that he currently needs.
Bukauskas’ Next fight: Nikita Krylov
Mason Jones
After 1-2 (1) in his first UFC stint, it is easy to forget that Mason Jones is only now flourishing of his career at the age of 30. He suffered from Mike Davis and Ludovit Klein as a 25 and 27-year-old and his only victory for David Onama, a now Top15-ranked featherweight. De Welshe Jager now wanted to add his successful comeback against Jeremy Stephens in May. He conquered a fear in the first Round and got the TKO finish in the second after he became on full mountain. Why wouldn’t you compete against another lightweight prospect of his second UFC stint? The Chinese Rongzhu also went on a two-fighter win racing after having gone 1-2 in his first run. Let’s see which of the two can maintain their line.
Jones’ Next fight: Rongzhu
Axel sunbathing
The unbeaten 27-year-old Sola made his UFC debut as one of the greater prospects on the French MMA scene. With a former Ares champion with four title defenses for a former two-time Cage Warriors champion, it was the Frenchman Sola who came at the top. After a back and forth in the first two rounds, Sola’s Knockdown and Follow-up Shots Herb Dean forced to step in, despite the fact that McKee brought himself back. Apart from the controversy of the socket, it was a successful debut for the Prospect Sola. With the adversity that McKee offered, there is no reason to hurry Sola in line. I think someone like the experienced song Kenan would be a suitable test for where Sola is now.
Sola’s Next Fight: Song Kenan
William Gomis
After having had his first UFC opposite in March, the Frenchman Gomis KSW champion Robert Ruchala welcomed. It looked like what we are going to expect from Gomis: a technical but lukewarm decision. Gaining the victory is always the most important thing, but Gomis still has to produce a characteristic high point in the now three years since he became a member of the promotion. For that reason I doubt whether he is rewarded with a name that is larger than that of Ruchala. I think Andre Fili, who wins a month ago, is exactly the kind of name that the UFC will look at.
Gomis’ Next fight: Andre Fili
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