After a week off, the UFC is back for its latest visit to the “City of Lights” with ranked lightweights at the top of the lineup.
Here’s how to watch UFC Fight Night 243 with 155-pounders in the headlining spot, plus middleweights in the co-feature in Paris.
Broadcast and streaming info
UFC Fight Night 243 has a main card that starts at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The preliminary card streams on ESPN+ at noon ET.
Veteran broadcaster [autotag]Karyn Bryant[/autotag] serves as desk anchor and host at UFC Fight Night 243.
Former light heavyweight title challenger [autotag]Anthony Smith[/autotag] and retired lightweight veteran [autotag]Paul Felder[/autotag] join her as analysts at the desk for pre-fight coverage.
UFC Hall of Famer [autotag]Michael Bisping[/autotag] joins Bryant and Smith at the desk for post-fight coverage.
Longtime UFC correspondent [autotag]Heidi Androl[/autotag] will conduct pre and post-fight interviews backstage with some of the athletes on the UFC Fight Night 243 card, as well as report additional real-time updates for the event.
[autotag]John Gooden[/autotag] will serve as the leading man on the mic from cageside at UFC Fight Night 243.
He’ll command play-by-play and be joined in the booth by retired former middleweight champion and UFC Hall of Famer Bisping, as well as Felder.
(Mike Bohn, MMA Junkie)
Main event: Renato Moicano
Record: 19-5-1 MMA, 11-5 UFC
Opponent: Benoit Saint Denis (13-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Key wins: Jalin Turner, Drew Dober, Brad Riddell, Alexander Hernandez, Cub Swanson, Calvin Kattar
Misc.: Moicano, a Brazilian who trains at American Top Team in Florida, has not fought outside the U.S. since just before the pandemic – a 44-second submission of Damir Hadzovic in Brazil.
Main event: Benoit Saint Denis
Record: 13-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC
Opponent: Renato Moicano (19-5-1 MMA, 11-5 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Key wins: Matt Frevola, Thiago Moises, Ismael Bonfim, Gabriel Miranda
Misc.: This is Saint Denis’ favorite time of year: UFC Paris week. The promotion’s first two visits to his capital city resulted in $50,000 stoppage bonuses for him.
Co-main event: Brendan Allen
Record: 24-5 MMA, 12-2 UFC
Opponent: Nassourdine Imavov (14-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Key wins: Chris Curtis, Paul Craig, Bruno Silva,
Misc.: Allen has been an RNC machine during his current streak. Five of his seven straight wins have been by rear-naked chokes, including three for $50,000 bonuses.
Co-main event: Nassourdine Imavov
Record: 14-4 MMA, 6-2 UFC
Opponent: Brendan Allen (24-5 MMA, 12-2 UFC)
Division: Middleweight
Key wins: Jared Cannonier, Roman Dolidze, Joaquin Buckley, Edmen Shahbazyan
Misc.: It’s a home game for Russia’s Imavov, who lives and trains in France. Remarkably, Imavov has been favored against eight straight opponents (including a bout with Kelvin Gastelum that was canceled twice) – and three have been future champions or former or future title challengers.
UFC debut: Ivan Erslan
https://www.instagram.com/p/C9iJ3mcuosP/?img_index=1
Record: 14-3
Opponent: Ion Cutelaba (17-10-1 MMA, 6-9-1 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Misc.: 32-year-old Croatian has 11 of his 14 wins by stoppage.
UFC Fight Night 243 main card betting odds
MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 3 p.m. ET)
- Renato Moicano (+220) vs. Benoit Saint Denis (-270)
- Brendan Allen (+175) vs. Nassourdine Imavov (-210)
- Joanderson Brito (-260) vs. William Gomis (+210)
- Bryan Battle (-150) vs. Kevin Jousset (+125)
- Morgan Charriere (-550) vs. Gabriel Miranda (+400)
- Matt Frevola (-125) vs. Fares Ziam (+105)
UFC Fight Night 243 prelim betting odds
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, noon ET)
- Ion Cutelaba (-125) vs. Ivan Erslan (+105)
- Da Woon Jung (+350) vs. Oumar Sy (-450)
- Ludovit Klein (-700) vs. Roosevelt Roberts (+500)
- Taylor Lapilus (-355) vs. Vince Morales (+280)
- Ailin Perez (-260) vs. Darya Zheleznyakova (+210)
- Victor Altamirano (+115) vs. Daniel Barez (-145)
- Jacqueline Cavalcanti (-195) vs. Nora Cornolle (+155)
- Chris Duncan (+160) vs. Bolaji Oki (-190)
