4 Fights We Need to See After UFC Fight Night
The UFC's annual stop in Paris is quickly becoming a highlight of its calendar.
The promotion made its third visit to the city in as many years this past Saturday, and like the two before it, it delivered a ton of memorable action for the raucous French crowd in attendance—even if the main event didn't go the way they hoped.
The card's top fight was contested at lightweight, with Frenchman Benoit Saint Denis taking on Renato Moicano from Brazil. Saint Denis was favored to win but suffered a brutal beatdown en route to a doctor stoppage that will set Moicano up for another huge fight.
Things went better for Team France in the co-main event, where Nassourdine Imavov defeated Brendan Allen in a clash of surging, top-10 middleweights. It wasn't a blowout for the victorious Frenchman, but it made him one of the top contenders in his weight class.
Beyond Moicano and Imavov, the biggest winner of the night was undoubtedly rising welterweight contender Bryan Battle, who picked up his sixth win in eight UFC fights with a second-round stoppage of Kevin Jousset. He looks like he could become a serious contender in his division and is due for a big step up.
Here are the fights we'd like to see next for Moicano, Imavov and Battle—plus a grudge match for the rebounding Brendan Allen.
Renato Moicano vs. Paddy Pimblett
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Renato Moicano was totally dominant against Benoit Saint Denis in Paris, battering his foe to a doctor stoppage between the second and third rounds—all with a horribly injured shoulder. It was a remarkable display of aggression and toughness, and also the Brazilian's fourth win in a row.
Ahead of Saturday's card in Paris, Moicano was ranked No. 11 at lightweight. After the fact, he definitely deserves somebody well inside the top 10, but the best fight for him is actually with No. 15 contender Paddy Pimblett.
Moicano and Pimblett are two of the most popular fighters in the lightweight division, and share one of the most talked about feuds in MMA. There's never been a better time to let them settle it. While Moicano is a few rungs above Pimblett on the lightweight ladder, Pimblett is ready for a big step up in competition after a quick submission win over Bobby Green at UFC 304.
Book this one for a pay-per-view main card and trust that the buildup will be as entertaining as the fight itself.
Nassourdine Imavov vs. Caio Borralho
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Nassourdine Imavov and Brendan Allen's co-main event fight was arguably much more significant for the middleweight division than the main event was for the lightweight division. After winning that co-headliner, Imavov is on a three-fight streak and one of the top contenders for a shot at the champion Dricus Du Plessis.
Under different circumstances, Imavov might be looking at a title shot, but he's behind former champ Sean Strickland and the winner of an upcoming fight between Robert Whittaker and Khamzat Chimaev in the queue. He'll need to win another fight at least before he gets the chance.
The good news is there's another contender in a similar situation, and it only makes sense to pit them against each other while we wait for the next few title matchups to resolve themselves. That would be the No. 5-ranked Caio Borralho.
Borralho has won 16 straight fights, including a recent knockout of Paul Craig and a decision win over Jared Cannonier. He's the perfect opponent for Imavov, and the winner would be undeniable for a title shot.
Brendan Allen vs. Marvin Vettori
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Brendan Allen's decision loss to Nassourdine Imavov in Saturday's co-main event marked the end of a seven-fight win-streak that included wins over names like Paul Craig and Chris Curtis. It was a big setback for a guy who was probably only two more wins from a title shot.
Of course, he can definitely put himself back in title contention with a few more good performances, and there is one fight that makes a ton of sense for him: a scrap with Italy's Marvin Vettori.
Vettori is a former title challenger at middleweight and a long-time member of the top 15. But he hasn't fought since he was beaten by Jarred Cannonier in June 2023 and hasn't won since he beat Roman Dolidze that March.
He and Allen are looking to get back on track at the same moment, and as luck would have, they've got some history. Not only were they scheduled to fight this past April to no avail, but they recently came to blows at a PFL card.
They've got a score to settle and should be given the chance to do so in a fight that would have big implications for the middleweight top 15.
Bryan Battle vs. Carlos Prates
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Since winning The Ultimate Fighter as a middleweight in 2021, Bryan Battle has become one of the hottest young contenders in the welterweight division. After punching Kevin Jousset to a second-round stoppage on Saturday's main card, he's won three straight, all by finish.
Battle is arguably ready for a top-15 opponent, but there's no need to rush him. Instead, let's match him up with another red-hot contender just outside the rankings: Carlos Prates.
Brazil's Prates earned a UFC contract on contender series and has won three straight fights, most recently knocking out dangerous veteran Li Jingliang. He's also just about ready for a ranked opponent but should probably take one more fight in the meantime, while we wait for a number of important top-15 matchups to be sorted out.
A Battle vs. Prates fight would make a great addition to literally any card, and the winner would be wholly deserving of a fight with the division's No. 15- or 14-ranked contender—whomever that happens to be at the time.
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