UFC Paris outcomes: Sooo … About final evening | Saint Denis vs. Moicano

Final evening (Sat., Sept. 28, 2024), Final Combating Championship (UFC) ventured forth to Accor Enviornment in Paris, France for UFC Paris. It’s superb the distinction an enthusiastic crowd could make. Regardless of the cardboard general being pretty Apex-level and that includes a sluggish begin, the Paris crowd went completely nuts all the time! It felt like a serious evening of motion, elevating the stakes for the viewers and fighters alike.

Let’s have a look again over at UFC Paris’ finest performances and strategies:

Cash Moicano Recreation Plans His Manner To Victory

Benoit Saint Denis is a really harmful man, however his strategy to fight is easy. Renato Moicano, a veteran contender with loads of cage time towards the best possible, got here into the Octagon well-prepared to take advantage of Saint Denis’ inexperience.

Proper off the bat, Saint Denis aimed for his favourite left liver kick. Moicano — nearly like he spent a complete coaching camp training for this weapon! — swiped the kick by, created an angle, and used it to attain a simple takedown. Keep in mind when Alexander Gustafsson did the very same factor to grow to be the primary man to take down Jon Jones? It’s laborious to cease a shot that begins so deep and at such an excellent angle.

Moicano’s good technique gained his high place early, when each males had been dry. Exhibiting off his preparation once more, in addition to his typically glorious jiu-jitsu, the Brazilian countered Saint Denis’ butterfly guard and saved him pinned. When the French athlete tried as a substitute to blow up to his toes, Moicano jumped his again and beat absolutely the piss out of him from the physique triangle.

Saint Denis returned to his stool a distinct man. Each of his eyes had been swollen practically shut, and his proper eye additionally sported two nasty cuts. Spherical two noticed a relaxed Moicano flicking jabs as Saint Denis tried to get his legs again underneath him. He regarded a bit extra within the battle by the tip of the second, however it was already a achieved deal.

Saint Denis’ face was a large number. He couldn’t open one eye in any respect. The cage facet physician didn’t earn the love of the French crowd, however he made the proper name in stopping the battle after the second.

All in all, Moicano and his camp deserve a ton of credit score for this win. Benoit Saint Denis gave Moicano’s crew mate Dustin Poirier absolute hell earlier this yr, however Moicano walked away with out a scratch on his face — that’s the facility of an excellent recreation plan!

Photograph by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

The Darkish Horses Underwhelm

Nassourdine Imavov and Brendan Allen entered UFC Paris attempting to make their case for a title shot in a crowded 185-pound division. They had been attempting to impress and wrest the chance away from the likes of Sean Strickland, Robert Whittaker, Khamzat Chimaev, or Alex Pereira — every of whom COULD be subsequent for Dricus Du Plessis.

Nope.

The battle was high quality, however I didn’t stroll away impressed with both man. Allen’s wrestling regarded horrible. In rounds two and three, he saved taking dangerous pictures and giving up high place by repeatedly wrestling from his knees — terrible kind! When he really tried to strike, he would land decently properly, however he frequently shot himself within the foot by committing so closely to the poor takedown assault.

Imavov was solely a bit higher. His fingers regarded sharp as regular, and his wrestling protection has improved through the years. That was sufficient to select up the W right here, however his conditioning remains to be depressing. Nothing actually occurred in spherical one (Allen managed him from high place however didn’t do something), he received spherical two simply, and he’s nonetheless horribly gassed in spherical three?

Cardio machine champion “Stillknocks” isn’t dropping any sleep on the considered an Imavov title shot.

Photograph by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Battle Continues His Welterweight Climb

Is attempting to cage wrestle a Judo specialist the perfect thought? That’s up for debate. On one hand, Bryan Battle wasn’t in a position to take down Kevin Jousset. On the identical time, Battle’s wrestling push match with the final thought of his technique, which was to put on down and fatigue Jousset with fixed stress and offense.

The primary spherical was shut sufficient, as Battle couldn’t end the takedowns however scored with quantity whereas consuming counters. His weaponized tempo paid off within the second, nonetheless, as he began firing an increasing number of quantity within the face of a slowing Jousset. It actually felt like a traditional Diaz brother-style mauling, full with cage-side physique rips. When a proper hand rocked Jousset, Battle emptied the tank with an endless flurry, forcing the referee’s hand to avoid wasting the wobbly Frenchman.

“The Butcher” improves his UFC report to 6-1-1.

Photograph by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Charriere Treats The Paris Crowd

Regardless of getting into his third UFC bout with a 1-1 report, it’s been clear to anybody watching that Morgan Charreire is de facto expert. He’s a minimize above the typical unranked Featherweight populace. His win over Gabriel Miranda — additionally 1-1 within the UFC however hasn’t regarded notably particular — was no shock. He largely dominated the grappler on the toes, shucking off takedowns simply and finally flooring with a giant left hook.

It was a pleasant win, affirmation that Charreire is legit. The large second, nonetheless, was Charreire main all the crowd in a rendition of the French nationwide anthem! Breaking into music is mostly trigger for Mike Bisping to yank the mic away, however on this case, it was really an incredible second.

Photograph by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

The Most Brutal Knockout Of 2024?

Fares Ziam leveled up in an incredible efficiency towards Matt Frevola, however I’ve to imagine his improvement can be overshadowed by the sheer viciousness of the knee that completed the battle. Perhaps I’m alone on this, however I used to be pretty surprised by simply how nastily Frevola crumbled after taking the knee to the jaw line, collapsing in full unconsciousness as his mouthpiece fell to the wayside.

I hope “Steamrolla” is alright.

As for Ziam, he deserves all his flowers. At age 27, Ziam has grown into a real Light-weight contender. He’s all the time been technically gifted, however up to now, Ziam was hampered a bit by his lack of physicality and killer intuition. Comprehensible flaws for a younger fighter who made it into the UFC at 22!

On this bout, Ziam’s energy held up properly within the face of Frevola’s bowling ball offense. His straight punches weaved contained in the arc of Frevola’s swings and did actual harm, calming him down. When Frevola did stand nonetheless for a second, Ziam confirmed off good mixture constructing and combined up his strikes rather well. He then moved to his personal grappling, practically scoring his personal submission win in spherical two.

Photograph by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Extra Ideas

• Chris Duncan defeats Bolaji Oki through first-round guillotine choke (highlights): When’s the final time leaping the gilly labored? Higher but, when’s the final time an arm-in closed guard guillotine labored? Duncan beat the historic precedent and odds alike close to the tip of the primary. Oki was the sooner man with heavier strikes early, however a takedown try from Duncan created a possibility to leap on the neck as Oki moved to face. Simply as Duncan gave up on the choke, Oki was revealed to be unconscious!
• Ailin Perez defeats Darya Zheleznyakova through first-round arm triangle choke (highlights): Perez missed weight on Friday, which undoubtedly prices her some factors right here. That stated, she picked up a reasonably easy submission win in simply over a minute to attain her fourth straight UFC win in a really weak division. She’s already ranked, so possibly the victory (and subsequent twerking) scores her a High 10 opponent subsequent? They’re aren’t many ladies’s Bantamweights actively racking up wins like this.

For full UFC Paris: “Saint-Denis vs. Moicano” outcomes and play-by-play, click on HERE!