Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is going back to “The City of Love.”
For the fifth straight year, UFC is headed back to Paris, France, for a Fight Night event on Sat., Sept. 5, 2026, and it will all go down inside Accor Arena.
No main event has been announced for the card, and no fights have been revealed yet.
But if we’re playing the guessing game, there
are three names who make the most sense to headline the card — and all three have already headlined Accor Arena for UFC in the past.
First, there is Ciryl Gane. If the former interim Heavyweight champion loses to Alex Pereira at UFC Freedom 250, then he will likely be pushed out of the immediate title picture for now. And if that happens, a return to Paris would make plenty of sense, especially considering he has already headlined two UFC events in France.
Second, there is Nassourdine Imavov, who is currently stuck in no man’s land while waiting for a Middleweight title fight. If current champion Sean Strickland and Khamzat Chimaev run it back later this year — or if someone else leapfrogs him — then Imavov may be forced to fight again before getting his shot. And considering he is the most recent French fighter to headline a UFC Paris card, he would be an obvious option.
Lastly, and probably the most obvious, is Benoit Saint Denis. “God of War” has headlined UFC Paris once before in a losing effort, and while he remains one of the most popular French fighters on the roster, he is still not quite in the Lightweight title picture. So, if UFC needs a fan-friendly main event, expect Saint Denis to get the call.
The Paris fanbase should get an answer in the coming weeks.
But either way, UFC is officially headed back to France.
