UFC Paris Crowd Deservingly Rewarded With “Best Prelims” of 2025

Dana White knows exactly how to deliver for the fans. Returning to Paris for its fourth outing after a year, the UFC wasted no time proving why it’s still the premier fight promotion. Even before the main card, the prelims had the Accor Arena buzzing. Right from the start, the action exploded with a women’s strawweight bout.

The UFC Paris prelims kicked off in emphatic fashion as American rising star Sam Hughes made a statement, submitting Irish prospect Shauna ‘Mama B’ Bannon with a rear-naked choke just 1:58 into the second round. Hughes’ dominant, wrestling-heavy performance immediately set the tone for the night, leaving fans and commentators stunned.

From there, the prelims became a nonstop highlight reel. In the welterweight division, Rinat Fekhretidov delivered a lightning-fast knockout, sending Andreas Gustafsson crashing to the cage. Then, moments later, Robert Bryczek put Brad Tavares to sleep in the third round, scoring his first UFC win and moving to 1-1.

The momentum kept rolling – Sam Patterson flattened Trey Waters in the first round, followed by Kaue Fernandez, who recorded the night’s fourth consecutive knockout with a devastating leg kick on Harry Hardwick in his debut. By the end of the prelims, the Accor Arena buzzed with energy, and fans online erupted with excitement. Moreover, the action didn’t stop there.

Ante Delija, making his UFC debut, bounced back from his last loss with a first-round knockout of Marcin Tybura, showcasing heavy, pinpoint punches. With only one prelim fight remaining before the main card, fans were already on the edge of their seats, energized by a string of highlight-reel finishes. Then, the action didn’t let up – Oumar Sy closed out the prelims in style, defeating Brandon Ribeiro with a first-round knockout.

Ultimately, Dana White and the UFC matchmakers delivered a card that was as brutal as it was thrilling, leaving the crowd craving more. Now, let’s take a closer look at what fans are saying about these unforgettable prelims.

UFC Paris fight card receives rave reviews from fans worldwide

Dana White and the UFC have long faced scrutiny from fans and critics alike, particularly over matchmaking decisions criticized as uninspired or mismatched. For instance, at UFC 319, the pairing of middleweight Jared Cannonier with welterweight Michael ‘Venom’ Page drew backlash from both fighters and fans. Cannonier voiced his frustration, saying Page wasn’t a natural middleweight and that the fight felt like a step backward in his title chase.

However, that narrative has shifted dramatically with UFC Paris. Fans on X hailed the prelims as the “Best Prelims so far this year,” with one writing, “Best card year.” In contrast, Dana White once labeled UFC 304 the most boring fight card in MMA history, who criticized its decision-heavy bouts and refused to raise bonuses again, noting, “Seven decisions in a row.”

Similarly, the same issue played out at UFC 319, where the headliner dragged 24 minutes on the ground. This time, UFC Paris delivered six finishes and five knockouts. Dana White reacted, “THIS CARD IS CRAZY SO FAR!!” while a fan added, “Fast and unexpected finish!” Still, tension remains for White, known for his cost-conscious approach.

As one fan highlighted, “4 for 4! Hope Dana gives bonuses for all finishes tonight with that new TV deal.” Meanwhile, this comes ahead of the UFC’s recently announced seven-year, $7.7 billion broadcast deal with Paramount ($1.1 billion per year), starting January 2026. With the traditional pay-per-view system ending, fans are eager to see if the new model will also benefit fighters’ earnings. Stay tuned.