The Facts
- Aboubakar Younousov beats Tyson Nam by TKO (doctor stoppage) in the third round, in the main event of ARES 44, on October 31, 2026, at the Zénith de Strasbourg.
- Younousov retains the ARES bantamweight belt, which he has held since ARES 25 in September 2024.
- Youssef Boughanem submits Mohamed Soumah with a rear-naked choke in the first round, at a 160-pound catchweight limit.
- Eight fights contested: four finishes and four decisions.
- Three announced fights were canceled before the event.
The Zénith de Strasbourg hosted ARES 44 on Saturday, October 31, 2026. Five fights made up the main card, broadcast on Canal+ Sport 360, with three more on the preliminary card, streamed on the Canal+ Sport Twitch channel. Aboubakar Younousov, ARES bantamweight champion, defended his title against Tyson Nam there. Four of the eight fights ended before the final bell.
Main Event: Younousov Keeps His Title Against Tyson Nam
Aboubakar Younousov got the stoppage in the third round, with the cage doctor ending the fight. His Sherdog record shows nine wins in nine professional fights. Tyson Nam now stands at 23 wins, 17 losses, and one draw.
Boughanem Turns the Tide on Soumah in the Co-Main Event
Youssef Boughanem came close to being knocked out early against Mohamed Soumah, then turned the fight around and finished it with a rear-naked choke in the first round. Mohamed Soumah criticized the officiating after his loss.
Main Card Results
| Division | Winner | Opponent | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bantamweight, title | Aboubakar Younousov | Tyson Nam | TKO (doctor stoppage), round 3 |
| Catchweight, 160 pounds | Youssef Boughanem | Mohamed Soumah | Submission (rear-naked choke), round 1 |
| Lightweight | Mario Gagliardi | Sofiane El Fatni | Split decision |
| Catchweight, 176 pounds | Bilal Bakhouche-Chareuf | Daniel Rodrigues | TKO (punches), round 1, 3:22 |
| Featherweight | Benoit Prigent | Jafar Yousifi | Majority decision |
Mario Gagliardi won by split decision over Sofiane El Fatni, Benoit Prigent by majority decision over Jafar Yousifi. Bilal Bakhouche-Chareuf stopped Daniel Rodrigues with punches in the first round.
Preliminary Card Results
| Division | Winner | Opponent | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strawweight | Melissa Hurtado | Weronika Cislo | TKO (punches), round 1, 0:49 |
| Lightweight | Marc-Philippe Ngatchou | Maher Belkhadir | Unanimous decision |
| Bantamweight | Lasha Gogishvili | Alexandre Carole | Unanimous decision |
Melissa Hurtado posted the fastest finish of the night, in 49 seconds against Weronika Cislo. The announced fights between Andrii Misiuk and Phruethukorn Chaichongcharden, Amir Aliev and Adionai Maciel, and Mohadi Nazirov and Ibrahima Dosso did not take place.
Next Event: ARES 45 in Paris
ARES 45 will take place on Friday, November 20, 2026, at the adidas Arena in Paris, headlined by the rematch between Jordan Zebo and Baissangour Chamsoudinov. The event was originally scheduled for November 7; tickets already purchased remain valid for the new date. The promotion’s full schedule is on our ARES FC page.
To compare gloves worn in competition, see our ranking of MMA gloves by brand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the ARES 44 main event?
Aboubakar Younousov, by TKO on a doctor stoppage in the third round against Tyson Nam.
Is Aboubakar Younousov still the ARES champion?
Yes. He retains the bantamweight belt, which he has held since ARES 25 in September 2024.
How did Youssef Boughanem beat Mohamed Soumah?
By submission, a rear-naked choke in the first round, after being in trouble during the early exchanges.
When is the next ARES event?
ARES 45 takes place on Friday, November 20, 2026, at the adidas Arena in Paris, headlined by Jordan Zebo against Baissangour Chamsoudinov.
