UFC Paris | Three Fighters Your Not Thinking About

This Saturday the UFC takes their first step in Paris, and on a card with established names such as hometown favourite Cyril Gane, Tai Tuivasa, and former Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker, but there are a few names on this card that you may not know that are worth keeping an eye on.

Michal Figlak

“The Mad Dog” makes his UFC debut this weekend, stepping in on fairly short notice against French favourite Fares Ziam, and in doing so becomes the latest in the long, long line of Cage Warriors standouts to make the step-up to the world leader. Born in Poland but fighting out of Trojan Free Fighters in Gloucester, the lightweight looks to improve his perfect 8-0 record which, if this opportunity didn’t arise, would have likely seen him fight for Cage Warriors gold in his next fight. It’s a quick turnaround coming off a dominant win over former champion Agy Sadari a little over a month ago and coming into this fight a -200 favourite, he is hoping to continue this momentum, as well as use his fan-friendly style to make the most out of this opportunity.

You can find out more about Michal here.

William Gomis

Like Figlak, William Gomis is also making his UFC debut this Saturday in at the Accor Arena, but he will be doing in it front of his home Paris crowd. The 10-2 featherweight has finished seven of those wins and in addition to recent wins in ARES and UAE Warriors, fans may remember his win over Tobias Harila at Cage Warriors 125. His only losses came to fellow French standouts Salahdine Parnasse and Morgan Charriere. He faces fellow debutant Jarno Errens on Saturday’s main card and will be looking to make a statement in front of his French fans and prove the oddsmakers that have him as a -220 favourite correct.

Nassourdine Imavov

Slightly more well known than both Figlak and Gomis, but Nassourdine Imavov still flies well under the radar to many fans despite being the UFC’s #12 ranked middleweight. The Russian now calls Paris home, training at the MMA Factory under Fernand Lopez (and with Gomis) and with back to back finishes over Ian Heinisch and Edmen Shahbazyan, he takes on “New Mansa”, Joaquin Buckley, the man known for his viral knockout of Impa Kasanganay. Buckley is explosive and on a three fight win streak of his own, but with a win, the “Russian Sniper” will put himself in position for a big fight in the first quarter of next year as he moves towards the top of the division. He is a -270 favourite as it stands.