Ares Fighting Championship, France’s premier MMA promotion, is set to return this morning live from Dôme de Paris in Paris, France for Ares FC 12.
Bantamweight gold will be up for grabs in the main event when Demarte Pena meets Elias Boudegzdame for the vacant belt. The show will also see UFC veteran Felipe Colares return to action against regional favorite Alioune Nahaye in the co-main event.
Fight fans can catch Ares FC 12 streaming live on UFC Fight Pass beginning at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT. Robin Black and UFC strawweight Veronica Macedo will have the call.
Ares FC Vacant Bantamweight Championship – Pena vs. Boudegzdame
Pena will look to pen the latest and greatest chapter in his redemption story against a game opponent in Algeria’s Boudegzdame. A standout champion in Extreme Fighting Championships in his native Africa, Pena tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs after a 2017 title defense against Irshaad Sayed and would be subsequently barred from the sport for four years. Pena returned to the sport last year at Ares FC 5, and the 33-year-old now has his sights set on bantamweight gold after scoring a dominant victory at Ares FC 10.
“The Wolf” earned a unanimous decision victory over Moustapha Aidaat Ares FC 10, but will be staring down a different challenge in the form of Boudegzdame, a tested veteran and French resident. “Smile” has fought in global organizations such as BRAVE CF and UAE Warriors. While he will be making his promotional debut in a pressure situation, Boudegzdame will enter the cage on Friday a winner in three of his last four fights. With 25 total fights under his belt (18-7), the Algerian has established himself as a crafty submission specialist who is comfortable wherever the fight goes. Pena, meanwhile, still carries a considerable amount of power against a fighter with two defeats by knockout.
Most sportsbooks see Pena as a -170 favorite, while Boudegzdame bettors can bet the underdog at approximately a +145 price tag.
Co-Main Event – Colares vs. Nahaye
The Brazilian Colares is a fighter who saw mixed success during his six-fight run in the UFC. Colares managed a 2-4 record with wins over Luke Sanders and Domingo Pilarte. While he entered the world’s top promotion as a promising 8-0 prospect, Colares has seen his stock fall but has traditionally responded well to defeats. Both of his UFC wins occurred with him as the betting underdog, but “Cabocão” will enter the cage on Friday as a slight-to-moderate favorite over Nahaye.
The Frenchman is arguably the brightest prospect to come out of local gym Obyfight. He is earning a reputation as a do-or-die fighter, with each of his fights since 2020 resulting in him knocking out his opponent or getting finished himself. Colares is not above getting finished, having been knocked out on the ground by Chase Hooper in his most recent fight, but the Brazilian will represent a true test for his opponent and has a prime opportunity in front of him to breathe new life into his career.
Rest of the Card
The remainder of Friday’s main card is laden with inexperienced, but talented prospects looking to prove themselves in front of a global audience on UFC Fight Pass. Youssouf Binate, who fights out of the Ivory Coast, will aim to once again put on a show in the Ares FC cage against Brazilian prospect Tito Martins. Unbeaten MMA Factory product Turpal Younousov will aim look to climb to 4-0 against 21-year-old Italian Daniele Scagliusi, whose only loss came against Cage Warriors’ Adam Shelley.
Heavyweights are also scheduled to collide on the main card, with Russia’s Zaurbek Sabanov set to make his professional debut against Atch Academy’s Rony Bouzy. All but one of Bouzy’s six bouts have ended in the second round or sooner. Meanwhile, a featherweight fight between Paraguay’s Pedro Colman and France’s Asilder Badouiev will open the main card. After starting his career 2-2, Colman has since pieced together a six-fight winning streak with at least two finishes on the South American regional scene. As always, bouts and bout order are subject to change.
Ares FC 12 Results
Main Card
Demarte Pena def. Elias Boudegzdame via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46) — for the vacant Ares FC Bantamweight Championship
Felipe Colares def. Alioune Nahaye via Submission (RNC) at 2:45 of Round 1
Youssouf Binate def. Tito Martins via TKO (Leg Kicks) at 2:51 of Round 1
Turpal Younousov def. Daniele Scagliusi via Submission (Guillotine) at :15 of Round 1
Zaurbek Sabanov def. Rony Bouzy via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)
Asilder Badouiev def. Pedro Colman via Submission (Forearm Choke) at 2:38 of Round 1
Preliminary Card
Manuela Marconetto def. Mona Ftouhi via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-28)
Virgil Augen def. Mahamadou Soukouna via Unanimous Decision (30-26, 30-25, 30-25)
Osman Minbatirov def. Bobby Pallett via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Mossab El Marzkioui def. Alexandre Carole via Submission (Standing Guillotine) at 2:15 of Round 1
