The fourth UFC event in Paris, France took place nearly three years to date of the promotions very first event in the ‘City of Love’. In the main event of 2025’s UFC Paris card, a pair of top ten middleweights took to the octagon with the higher ranked Nassourdine Imavov exiting with the victory over Caio Borralho.
In the co-main event, ranked lightweights put on a violent battle that concluded with Mauricio Ruffy being submitted by Benoit Saint-Denis. No French fighters on this edition of losers as the countrymen completed the clean sweep. On the other side of that coin, we have a couple of names from the Brazilian Fighting Nerds fight camp gracing this loser’s edition. Lots of former regional champions too!
Caio Borralho
Nassourdine Imavov bested Caio Borralho over the course of five rounds to win a unanimous decision at UFC Paris on Saturday. This was a huge opportunity for Caio, as he entered the fight ranked at #7 within the middleweight division while Imavov was ranked at #2. The loss halted untold amounts of momentum for Borralho as the two-time Contender Series competitor was a perfect 7-0 under the UFC banner heading into the fight.
Because Caio was flawless heading into this matchup, it makes sense to give him a fighter like Israel Adesanya. Izzy is currently ranked at #5 in the division, but fans can expect that ranking to potentially slide in coming months. Israel’s last fight came in February and was also against Nassourdine Imavov. Israel was finished early in the second round of that bout. Caio and Israel also share a common opponent in Jared Cannonier and they both defeated him. This matchup is an easy main event for a fight night card although the timing doesn’t match up the best. Fans would love this fight as its guaranteed to be a striker’s delight.
Caio’s next fight: Israel Adesanya
Mauricio Ruffy
Benoit Saint-Denis submitted Mauricio Ruffy with a nasty face crank in the second round of the co-main event on Saturday. Ruffy entered the fight ranked at #15 within the lightweight division while his opponent was ranked at #13. Ruffy, a 2023 Contender Series product, now falls to 3-1 within the UFC. This was Mauricio’s first loss in nearly six years, dating back to his days of fighting of the Brazilian regional circuit.
For his next fight, Ruffy should take on Brian Ortega. This matchup was mentioned in a previous edition of losers, and it still looks like it’d be a good match-up. The former featherweight title challenger missed weight and looked drained in his most recent fight against Aljamain Sterling last month. Ortega lost a unanimous decision; he’s lost four of his last five but is still ranked at #7 within the featherweight division.
If Ortega elects to move to 155lbs. permanently, this would be a perfect true welcome the division type of fight. A win would do some heavy lifting for both fighters. It’d also give Ruffy another chance to prove himself against an opponent with strong grappling. Dynamic striking vs submission-based grappling, a match made in heaven, for fight fans. This could easily be a co main event on a fight night card.
Mauricio’s next fight: Brian Ortega
Paul Craig
Modestas Bukauskas delivered a violent buzzer-beater finish over Paul Craig at UFC Paris on Saturday. The massive elbow at the buzzer forced the ref to call off the fight- going down officially as a KO at 5:00 of the first round.
Craig, with the loss at UFC Paris, is now 9-10-1, 1 NC with the promotion in nine years. Paul is 0-4, 1 NC in his last five fights. Following the loss, Craig announced his retirement from professional MMA.
Paul’s next fight: Retirement
Bolaji Oki
Mason Jones battered and stopped Bolaji Oki in the second round of their fight on Saturday at UFC Paris. The result brings Oki’s record with the UFC to .500, as he’s now 2-2. The 2023 Contender Series alum has been finished in both of his losses, while both of his victories were decisions. Oki made waves on the regional scene before that, winning the Atomic Fighting Championship before getting a call to the CS.
Good matchup for Bolaji would be Harry Hardwick. Harry just made his promotional debut on the undercard of UFC Paris on Saturday. Hardwick’s calf was brutalized by his opponent, Kaue Fernandes, as he was TKO’d in the first round. Harry was a Cage Warriors featherweight champion, last defending his belt in March. This would be a matchup of unproven European regional champions. Both fighters are in their primes and have had success on the regional level but have been stopped in the UFC. Who can come out on top? Could see this one as a higher-level fight on a preliminary card.
Bolaji’s next fight: Harry Hardwick
Rhys McKee
Axel Sola made the most of his UFC debut and finished Rhys McKee with strikes in the final round of their fight on Saturday. Mckee is now the owner of the abysmal promotional record of 1-5.
McKee made his promotional debut back in 2020 against Khamzat Chimaev, and after another loss he was bounced from the promotion. Fast forward a couple years and the Khamzat loss aged beautifully. McKee is brought back for a second stint. Rhys is now 1-3 said second stint. The former Cage Warriors welterweight champion’s lone victory with the UFC came earlier this year in April against Daniel Frunza.
McKee’s next fight should either be against Andreas Gustafsson or the loser of Rodrigo Sezinando vs Daniil Donchenko. The Sezinando vs Donchenko fight takes place on September 13th. The timing would be perfect, and both men are making their UFC debuts. Both fighters have also held titles on the regional scene (Doncheko-NFC, Sezinando-BFL). Leaning towards giving him the loser of that bout, but if that doesn’t materialize, Andreas Gustafsson is a good backup. Gustafsson was finished in 54 seconds on the undercard of UFC Paris Saturday. The 2024 Contender Series product is now 1-1 with the UFC and would make a fine matchup for Rhys as well. Loser has got to be on the short list to be cut.
McKee’s next fight: Andreas Gustafsson or Rodrigo Sezinando vs Daniil Donchenko loser
Robert Ruchala
William Gomis defeated Robert Ruchala via unanimous decision to open the main card of UFC Paris Saturday. The bout was Robert’s UFC debut coming over from Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (KSW). Robert was even a multiple time interim champ with KSW. With that context, fans might better understand why UFC matchmakers elected to Robert such a tall task for his promotional debut.
Next fight for Robert should be against the loser of Jack Jenkins vs Ramon Taveras. That fight goes down on September 27th, so the timing would match up. Jack Jenkins is 3-2 in the UFC but has lost two of his last three. His only win in that stretch came against Herbert Burns, who is no longer with the promotion. Ramon Taveras is 1-1 with the promotion but is coming up from bantamweight after missing weight in his debut. Both fighters are Contender Series guys that have double digit victories in their pro MMA careers. Loser of this bout would be an excellent litmus test for Robert after he took a fighter like William Gomis to a decision in his debut. A matchup against either fighter should be entertaining and could produce the type of fighter that fans love to watch.
Robert’s next fight: Jack Jenkins vs Ramon Taveras loser
