UFC Paris didn't start well for the Brazilians. Luis Felipe Dias had some good moments, but ended up being knocked out by newcomer Matthieu Duclos in the first round of the second fight of the event, valid for the middleweight category. The setback thwarted a streak of four consecutive victories for Luis, who had debuted in great style in May of this year.
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Luis Felipe Dias tried to be the aggressor, but was caught off guard.
The Frenchman dominated the center of the octagon and sought to close the distance from the start. Despite moving laterally, Dias had no trouble attacking his opponent with long combinations of punches, making it difficult for Duclos to feel comfortable at long range. Initially, the Brazilian was successful with calf kicks and crosses to the head, even cornering his rival against the cage. However, the course of the fight changed drastically.
As he advanced in search of another attack, Dias was countered with a perfect left cross that connected with his chin, leaving the Brazilian completely out of the fight. Thus, the duel ended at four minutes and 35 seconds of the first round.
Spaniard puts water in French beer.
The fourth fight of the night brought the first disappointment for the local crowd. Spaniard Fabia Sintes defeated Michael Aljarouj by unanimous decision in a flyweight bout (up to 56,7 kg). This was the fighter's first victory in the UFC, making the home favorite suffer another defeat after five years of positive results.
Sintes adopted a strategy heavily anchored in chain wrestling, seeking single-leg takedowns to take the fight to the ground and not caring about trapping his opponent against the cage. Aljarouj did enough to frustrate his rival's game, moving around a lot on his feet and trying to impose himself physically when the two exchanged blows in the clinch. In this context, the Spaniard had his best moment when he locked in a guillotine choke in the final seconds of the second round.
After 15 minutes of combat, two judges scored it 29-28, while another scored it 29-27.
Homeowner wins in lackluster fight.
Keeping the festive mood going for the French, Nora Cornolle dominated Klaudia Sygula and won by unanimous decision in a bantamweight bout (up to 61,2 kg) in the third fight of the event. The victory broke a two-fight losing streak for the Frenchwoman, who can breathe a sigh of relief in the company.
Very comfortable in striking, Cornolle had good moments at long range, but undoubtedly caused more damage when the fight went to the clinch. Trapping Sygula against the cage, she landed strong knees to both the midsection and the head of her opponent. Occasionally, Nora even managed to take her opponent to the ground with hip throws and sweeps.
Cornolle returned to using grappling in the third round, at which point she came closest to finishing the fight. She locked in a powerful katagatame, which Sygula barely survived, managing to get back to her feet in the final seconds of the bout. All judges scored it 30-27 in favor of the Frenchwoman.
Frenchwoman destroys Argentinian's face and wins by submission.
In the first fight of the night, Delphine Benouaich put on a show and submitted Sofia Montenegro in the second round, in a strawweight bout (up to 52,1 kg). With this result, the fighter made the best possible debut in the world's largest MMA organization, achieving her eighth professional victory.
The two athletes put on a show of aggression from the start of the fight. Determined to excite the crowd, the home fighter remained on the offensive for most of the time, moving forward and landing powerful punches to her opponent's head. Delphine slowed down as the rounds progressed, allowing Sofia to get back into the fight. But not for long.
The Frenchwoman landed a powerful right hand that stunned her opponent and took her to the ground. On the ground, Delphine went for the mount and opened deep cuts on the Argentinian's head with elbows, before locking in a very tight rear-naked choke. Montenegro did not tap out, thus becoming unconscious and forcing the referee to stop the action when the clock showed four minutes and 22 seconds.
UFC Paris results
MAIN CARD (16pm Brasília time)
Lightweight (up to 70,3 kg): Salahdine Parnasse defeated Dan Hooker by technical knockout (kicks and punches) at 2:35 of round 1.
Lightweight (up to 70,3 kg): Axel Sola defeated Fares Ziam by knockout (left overhand) at 1:40 of round 1.
Middleweight (up to 83,9 kg): Michael Page defeated Nursulton Ruziboev by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Welterweight (up to 77,1 kg): Daniil Donchenko defeated Punahele Soriano by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Featherweight (up to 65,7 kg): Kurtis Campbell defeated Trevor Peek by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:6 of round 3.
Featherweight (up to 65,7 kg): Losene Keita defeated Muhammad Naimov by knockout (right straight) at 2:54 of round 1.
PRELIMINARY CARD (13pm Brasília time)
Featherweight (up to 65,7 kg): Felipe Lima defeated Morgan Charriere by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Heavyweight (up to 120,2 kg): Mario Pinto defeated Ryan Spann by technical knockout (punches) at 0:55 of round 2.
Light heavyweight (up to 92,9 kg): Modestas Bukauskas defeated Oumar Sy by technical knockout (knee and punches) at 3:57 of round 3.
Featherweight (up to 65,7 kg): Pavel Andrusca defeated Nathaniel Wood by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Flyweight (up to 56,7 kg): Fabia Sintes defeated Michael Aljarouj by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
Women's bantamweight (up to 61,2 kg): Nora Cornolle defeated Klaudia Sygula by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Middleweight (up to 83,9 kg): Matthieu Duclos defeated Luis Felipe Dias by knockout (left cross) at 4:35 of round 1.
Women's strawweight (up to 52,1 kg): Delphine Benouaich defeated Sofia Montenegro by submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:22 of round 2.
Johnny Walker opens up about his heavyweight debut at UFC 332.
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