Moicano Stops Saint Denis, Imavov Wins at UFC Paris
Renato Moicano stopped Benoît Saint Denis in Round 2 at UFC Paris 2024. Nassourdine Imavov also won by decision, per the UFC recap.
Moicano takes control of the main event
The five-round lightweight bout paired Brazil’s Moicano with Saint Denis, a rising contender fighting in front of his home crowd at Accor Arena. Moicano brought momentum from a comeback stoppage of Jalin Turner at UFC 300; Saint Denis was known for his pressure and finishing ability. But the matchup did not develop into the extended test the billing promised. Moicano landed damaging offense, and the ringside doctor stopped the contest between rounds after two rounds. The official result was TKO by doctor stoppage at 5:00 of Round 2.
The outcome was notable because Saint Denis had built his profile with a run of finishes and entered as the local favorite. His loss was not a judges’ decision or a last-second fluke: the medical stoppage reflected the damage he had taken and meant he could not safely continue. Moicano, meanwhile, added a decisive win over a highly regarded lightweight and strengthened his position among the division’s contenders.
Imavov wins the co-main event
France did have a major success earlier in the evening. Nassourdine Imavov defeated Brendan Allen by unanimous decision in their middleweight co-main event, with all three judges scoring the contest 29–28. The victory halted Allen’s long winning run and gave the Paris audience a high-level win to celebrate before the main event ended in disappointment for Saint Denis.
The card also delivered a highlight-reel finish from French lightweight Farès Ziam, who knocked out Matt Frevola in the third round. That performance and Imavov’s decision showed the depth of the home contingent, even as the headline fight went against local expectations. Moicano and Saint Denis had supplied the event with its central story: a proven veteran testing a surging home fighter, with the visitor producing the sharper and more damaging performance.
A memorable night at Accor Arena
UFC Paris 2024 was held at Accor Arena on September 28, and the full results are preserved on the official event page. The preview focused on a matchup with title implications and the energy of a home crowd; the completed event instead became a story of how quickly a main event can change once a fighter is hurt. Moicano’s stoppage win, Imavov’s co-main decision and Ziam’s knockout gave the card a clear competitive arc—and made this Paris visit one to remember for reasons few fans expected beforehand.
