Key facts
- ARES 44, Saturday, October 31, 2026, Zenith in Strasbourg, France.
- Card starts at 2:30 pm ET / 11:30 am PT (7:30 pm in Paris).
- Eight fights announced on the official card.
- Youssef Boughanem, unbeaten in five fights, faces Mohamed Soumah.
- Aboubakar Younousov, unbeaten in eight fights, faces Tyson Nam.
- Airs in France on Canal+ Sport 360.
ARES returns to the Zenith in Strasbourg on Saturday, October 31, 2026, for its 44th event. The official card features eight fights, headlined by two unbeaten fighters: Youssef Boughanem, five wins in five fights, and Aboubakar Younousov, eight wins in eight fights. The card starts at 2:30 pm ET / 11:30 am PT, which is 7:30 pm in Paris.
ARES 44 start time by region
| Region | Card start time |
|---|---|
| Eastern Time (US) | Saturday, 2:30 pm |
| Pacific Time (US) | Saturday, 11:30 am |
| UK (London) | Saturday, 6:30 pm |
| Central Europe (Paris) | Saturday, 7:30 pm |
Europe’s clocks went back to winter time on October 25, while US clocks do not change until November 1. Paris is therefore only five hours ahead of New York this Saturday, instead of the usual six.
Full ARES 44 card
| Weight class | Fight (records) |
|---|---|
| Bantamweight | Aboubakar Younousov (8-0) vs. Tyson Nam (23-16-1) |
| Welterweight | Youssef Boughanem (5-0) vs. Mohamed Soumah (3-3) |
| Lightweight | Sofiane El Fatni (4-1) vs. Mario Gagliardi (4-0) |
| Welterweight | Bilal Bakhouche-Chareuf (3-0) vs. Daniel Rodrigues (2-1) |
| Featherweight | Benoit Prigent (3-0) vs. Jafar Yousifi (2-0) |
| Women’s strawweight | Melissa Hurtado (3-0) vs. Weronika Cislo (1-1) |
| Lightweight | Maher Belkhadir (3-2) vs. Marc-Philippe Ngatchou (2-1-1) |
| Bantamweight | Lasha Gogishvili (3-1) vs. Alexandre Carole (2-2) |
The fights are listed in the order of ARES’s official card. The event is promoted around the fight between Youssef Boughanem and Mohamed Soumah, while the official card lists Aboubakar Younousov against Tyson Nam first. The fight order could still change before Saturday.
Two fights to watch
Youssef Boughanem is unbeaten in five MMA fights. He faces welterweight Mohamed Soumah, who carries a record of three wins and three losses.
Aboubakar Younousov, unbeaten in eight fights, faces bantamweight Tyson Nam, the most experienced fighter on the card with 40 professional fights, for a record of 23 wins, 16 losses and a draw.
Benoit Prigent, Bilal Bakhouche-Chareuf and Melissa Hurtado are also unbeaten, each with three wins.
Where to watch ARES 44
In France, ARES 44 airs on Canal+ Sport 360, starting at 7:30 pm Paris time. That same night, the UFC holds a Fight Night in Las Vegas: Renato Moicano faces Tom Nolan, with the main card starting at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT Saturday (1 am Sunday, Paris time). Full details are on our UFC tonight page.
Fighters will wear 4-ounce gloves for the event. Our MMA fight glove rankings compare the best model from each brand.
Frequently asked questions
What time does ARES 44 start?
The card starts at 2:30 pm ET / 11:30 am PT (7:30 pm in Paris) on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
What channel airs ARES 44?
In France, ARES 44 airs on Canal+ Sport 360.
Where does ARES 44 take place?
At the Zenith in Strasbourg, France, on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
How many fights are on the ARES 44 card?
Eight fights are on the card published by ARES on its official website.
