UFC Paris 2023 Preview and Predictions
For the second year in a row, the UFC is heading to Paris will a Frenchman Ciryl Gane at the top of the bill. This time around, he will square off against Sergehi Spivac. The remainder of the card is filled with French talent and a few recognizable fighters. Since the card is overseas, it will start early. The main card will begin at 3:00 P.M. EST with the prelims at 12:30 P.M. EST.
Join Vendetta Sports Media as we preview and predict the UFC Paris main card. You can find our prediction records below.
James: 95-59-2
Garrett: 98-56-2
Jerry: 75-55-1
Anthony: 75-48-1
Morgan Charriere vs. Manolo Zecchini (Featherweight Bout)
James: The UFC Paris main card will kick off with a featherweight bout between Morgan Charriere and Manolo Zeechini. Charriere is an outstanding French prospect. At this point in his career, he has already established a name for himself because of his impressive Cage Warriors tenure.
It is important to note that Charriere is much better than his 18-9-1 record suggests because he started MMA at a young age and had no amateur experience, which led to some early losses. Furthermore, he has fought a lot of tough opponents and has been on the wrong side of some very close decisions. At just 27, he has plenty of time to assemble a great UFC career. On the flip side, Zecchini is also making his UFC debut. While he does not have the fanfare of Charriere, he is 11-3 with a few quality wins.
Charriere’s skill set is impressive for a UFC debutant. On the feet, Charriere has quick hands, great counter-striking and powerful leg kicks. In the early stage of his career, he showed grappling deficiencies, but he has shown a lot of improvements in recent bouts. Despite his offensive grappling not being elite, he should be able to out-grapple opponents that lack in that realm. Furthermore, if he ends up in the top position, he does massive damage with ground and pound. The one glaring flaw in his game is that he can have low output which is one of the reasons he has lost close decisions.
Zeechini is a striker who likes to walk forward to pressure fighters with heavy hands and leg kicks. At times, he can be reckless, but he is good at finding windows for strikes in those wild moments.
The preview for the UFC Paris main card opener favors Charriere. I believe this is a perfect stylistic matchup for him. The main reason for this is that Zeechini leaves his opponents chances to land counters. In this bout, I expect Zeechini to pressure with heavy strikes which will allow Charriere to sit down on a countershot that finishes the fight. I will take Charriere by first-round knockout.
Garrett: Zeechini via decision
Jerry: Charriere via decision
Anthony: Charriere via decision
William Gomis vs. Yanis Ghemmouri (Featherweight Bout)
James: William Gomis is set to welcome Yanis Ghemmouri to the UFC octagon at UFC Paris. Gomis, who made his promotional debut in Paris last year, has gone 2-0 in the UFC. At 26, he is off to a great start to his career. Meanwhile, Ghemmouri is looking to make a statement over an established UFC fighter.
Gomis is a solid striker who uses his length to stay on the outside, lands straights and body kicks. Additionally, he has solid movement and will use footwork to stay out of danger. The problem with his skill set is that he can be fairly inactive.
Ghemmouri is a solid striker as well. This is headlined by his quick kicks and stinging straights; the baseline skillset is present and now we will see how it translates to the UFC.
In this fight, I lean toward Gomis. The main reason for this is because he is much longer. That should result in Ghemmouri spending a lot of time chasing Gomis. This will play in Gomis’ favor as he is solid off the back foot. I will take Gomis by decision.
Garrett: Gomis via TKO
Jerry: Gomis via decision
Anthony: Gomis via decision
No. 9 Volkan Oezdemir vs. Bogdan Guskov (Light Heavyweight Bout)
James: At UFC Paris, Bogdan Guskov will make his UFC debut against Volkan Oezdemir. Guskov is 14-2 with 12 knockouts on the regional scene. The problem is that he has been crushing cans. Regardless, he is being given a massive opportunity against a ranked light heavyweight.
Oezdemir is a former title challenger who is in a rut. At 1-3 in his last four, he has shown clear regression. That raises serious questions for each fighter. Is Guskov UFC worthy or just a regional can crusher? Does Oezdemir have enough left in the tank to get a win? We will find out at UFC Paris.
Oezdemir is a powerful striker who made a name for himself through impressive knockout victories. That has typically been done with his hands. In the pocket, Oezdemir is willing to trade and has solid hooks. Guskov is a power puncher who relies on pressure. In fights, he sits on the outside of range and looks to land his powerful straight, though the problem with his skill set is that he has no kicks and poor striking defense.
This is one of the hardest bouts on UFC Paris to preview. I am highly skeptical of Guskov. Frankly, I think he looks like he should be fighting in Dana White’s Contender Series. On the flip side, I am concerned with Oezdemir’s regressing chin, cardio and power.
That said, I believe he has enough in the tank to get past Guskov. Do not be surprised if Oezdemir looks awful and loses to the debutant, however. In either case, I think we get an early knockout. I will take Oezdemir by first-round knockout.
Garrett: Oezdemir via decision
Jerry: Oezdemir via KO/TKO
Anthony: Guskov via KO
Benoit Saint-Denis vs. Thiago Moises (Lightweight Bout)
James: The UFC Paris main card plays host to a lightweight scrap between Benoit Saint-Denis and Thiago Moises.
Saint-Denis is on an impressive three-fight win streak that has seen him climb up the lightweight pecking order. The climb has led him to Moises. Moises is 6-4 in the UFC, but he has consistently been fighting high-quality fighters. If Saint-Denis gets the victory, he will be on the verge of cracking the lightweight rankings.
The top skill for Saint-Denis is his toughness. Usually, that is not a good thing. In this case, it is a positive because he actually one of the toughest fighters on the roster. In terms of techniques, he is a strong wrestler who does a good job working against the cage. On the feet, he puts pressure on guys and throws a massive body kick.
Moises is an incredibly well-rounded fighter. This is headlined by his BJJ skillset. In extension to that, he has solid wrestling skills–the combination of those two skills allows him to land takedowns and work from the top. In that position, he has submission skills and top pressure which leads to success; on the feet, he is not super advanced, but he has a solid grasp of fundamental boxing and kicking.
I like Moises in this fight. I highly respect each fighter’s grappling and believe the grappling exchanges will be highly competitive. In the striking, Moises is cleaner, quicker, has better fundamentals and makes fewer mistakes. All of those things lead me to Moises in a super close bout. I will take Moises by decision.
Garrett: Saint-Denis via submission
Jerry: Saint-Denis via submission
Anthony: Saint-Denis via decision
No. 2 Manon Fiorot vs. No. 2 (SW) Rose Namajunas (Women’s Flyweight Bout)
James: In the UFC Paris co-main event, former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas will make her flyweight debut against Manon Fiorot.
Namajunas is one of the best strawweights of all time and is now looking to build a resume in a different weight class at 31-years-old. Meanwhile, Fiorot is looking to make a name for herself in the UFC and earn a title opportunity. Regardless of who wins, they will join Erin Blanchfield, who is coming off an impressive performance, as the front-runner to fight the winner of Alexa Grasso versus Valentina Shevchenko for the championship.
Namajunas established her legacy at strawweight with her elite striking. First-round knockouts over Weili Zhang and Joanna Jedrzejczyk prove that. In terms of specific skills, Namajunas is a well-rounded striker with good boxing combinations and dangerous kicks. Her speed and ability to switch stances add more layers to her complicated striking. If the fight goes to the ground, her submission skills present opponents with danger.
Fiorot is an accomplished striker in her own right, though her striking style is much more unique. Fiorot loves to use lead leg side kicks and oblique kicks to keep her opponents at range. In moments when opponents get aggressive, she punishes them with a stinging straight and quick lead hook.
One of the most important things to mention in the UFC Paris co-main event preview is the size difference. Namajunas is jumping up and division after being an average-sized fighter in her previous weight class. At flyweight, she will be massively undersized. That will be an issue against Fiorot as she is a natural flyweight. Furthermore, her style revolves around distance management which will be easier to accomplish against a fighter that is noticeably shorter than her–like Namajunas. I expect Fiorot to manage range with kicks while mixing in a few powerful shots as she works her way to a win. I will take Fiorot by decision.
Garrett: Namajunas via decision
Jerry: Namajunas via decision
Anthony: Namajunas via decision
No. 2 Ciryl Gane vs. No. 7 Serghei Spivac (Heavyweight Bout)
James: In the UFC Paris main event, ranked heavyweights Ciryl Gane and Serghei Spivac will throw down. Gane, the Frenchman, will have a massive homefield advantage. That should come in handy as this bout will be crucial for his career. Gane is coming off a first-round submission loss to Jon Jones.
Jones is the GOAT, but Gane’s performance was unaspiring and his grappling flaws were apparent. A win is necessary if he wants to remain near the top of the heavyweight rankings. On the other hand, Spivac is on a three-fight winning streak and is climbing the heavyweight rankings. A win would vault him even further up the ranks.
Gane is one of the best strikers in the heavyweight division. The weight class rarely features strikers with the movement, footwork and speed of Gane. This allows him to dance on the outside while landing jabs, straights and kicks. If needed, he is capable of striking on the interior as well.
Spivac is a grappler at heart. In most fights, he looks to land takedowns and wear on opponents with pressure and ground-and-pound. Once Spivac lands a takedown, it is hard for fighters to get back to their feet because he has excellent mat returns. That only helps wear on opponents further.
The preview for the UFC Paris main event hinges on the grappling progress that Gane has made since his fight with Jones. If he has not made any improvements he will lose. It likely will not be as dominant as Jones’ performance, but it does not have to be. Gane will present Spivac challenges on the feet and his movement will make him hard to find.
However, if he can land a takedown his pressure will wear on Gane and his movement will be diluted in the following round. I will take Spivac by third-round submission.
Garrett: Spivac via TKO
Jerry: Gane via KO/TKO
Anthony: Gane via KO/TKO
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