Many of the fighters from Saturday’s electrifying event in Paris may still be dealing with the ringing in their ears after the deafening noise generated by the passionate French fans inside the Accor Arena. Beyond being a massive success in terms of gate receipts and atmosphere, several notable names on the card delivered in a big way.
Let’s take a look at what could be next for some of the biggest winners from UFC Fight Night 258.
Nassourdine Imavov
The first installment of what many consider to be a four-man middleweight grand prix played out in Saturday’s main event. Nassourdine Imavov (17-4 MMA, 9-2 UFC) extended his winning streak to five with a composed decision victory over Caio Borralho (17-2 MMA, 7-1 UFC), further strengthening his case to be next in line for newly crowned middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev.
While “The Sniper” got the job done impressively on Saturday, the outcome of the UFC Vancouver headliner between Reinier de Ridder (21-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) and Anthony “Fluffy” Hernandez (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC) on October 18 will surely play a role in determining who gets the next title shot.
On merit alone, Imavov should be the clear frontrunner. But given the pragmatic, methodical nature of his win over Borralho, the door remains open for one of his rivals to leapfrog him with a statement performance in Vancouver. In fact, with both Hernandez and de Ridder earning their recent victories in far more chaotic and unpredictable fashion, there’s a strong chance the winner of their clash could snatch Imavov’s spot in line.
If that scenario unfolds and Imavov is forced to fight once more before a title shot, a No. 1 contender matchup against recently dethroned champion Dricus Du Plessis (23-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) could very well be the fight to make.
Benoit Saint Denis
One of the biggest surprises of Saturday’s card came in the co-main event, where Benoit Saint Denis (15-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) derailed the Mauricio Ruffy hype train in emphatic fashion. “God of War” delivered a sensational performance to become the first fighter to defeat Ruffy inside the Octagon, while also reminding fans that—despite a pair of crushing setbacks to Dustin Poirier and Renato Moicano in 2024—he remains a dangerous force at 155 pounds.
In his post-fight press conference, the Frenchman called for a matchup with Arman Tsarukyan. While that fight might not materialize immediately, Saint Denis could earn his way back into the lightweight elite with another big win or two. A more realistic next step might be Mateusz Gamrot (25-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC), who currently holds the No. 8 spot in the rankings, just five places above him.
Modestas Bukauskas
Former Cage Warriors champion Modestas Bukauskas (19-6 MMA, 7-4 UFC) continued his career resurgence on Saturday, capping off the first round with a devastating elbow that knocked out—and retired—Paul Craig.
“The Baltic Gladiator” has now won six of seven since rejoining the UFC in 2023, putting together the kind of momentum that all but demands a step up in competition. A shot at the light heavyweight rankings seems inevitable, and a matchup with Nikita Krylov (30-11 MMA, 11-9 UFC) could be just the test to get him there.
Mason Jones vs. Kaue Fernandes
Two of Saturday’s standout performers may well find themselves on a collision course.
Welsh talent Mason Jones (17-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) overcame a rocky start to stop Bolaji Oki and collect a Performance of the Night bonus, pushing his record to 2-0 since returning to the UFC. Earlier in the evening, Nova União’s Kaue Fernandes (11-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) dismantled promotional newcomer Harry Hardwick with brutal leg kicks that left the former Cage Warriors champion exiting the arena in a wheelchair.
The solution seems simple: match Jones and Fernandes against each other and let the sparks fly.
