Aboubakar Younousov defends his ARES bantamweight title against UFC veteran Tyson Nam, using pressure, grappling and damaging elbows to force a medical stoppage in the third round.
Aboubakar Younousov puts his unbeaten record and ARES bantamweight title on the line against former UFC fighter Tyson Nam when ARES FC 44 arrives in Strasbourg, France, on Saturday, October 31.
The main event brings together two fighters at very different stages of their careers. Younousov is an undefeated champion looking to strengthen his reputation, while Nam arrives with years of experience against high-level opposition and the kind of knockout power that can change a fight in an instant.
The event takes place at the Zénith de Strasbourg in Eckbolsheim, near Strasbourg, France, with the bantamweight championship contest scheduled as the headline attraction.
Younousov enters the contest with an unblemished professional record of 8-0, and he will have the opportunity to make another statement in front of the French crowd. The 26-year-old champion claimed the ARES bantamweight title in 2024 with a victory over Matheus Malta before successfully defending it against Gustavo Lopez at ARES 35, where he secured a first-round knockout.
Standing across from the champion is Tyson Nam, The 43-year-old Hawaiian competed in the UFC between 2019 and 2023, recording three victories during his run with the promotion. His experience at that level makes him a serious test for a champion who has yet to taste defeat.
Younousov begins by pressing forward and closing the distance. He finds an opening with a well-placed uppercut, but Nam absorbs the shot and remains on his feet. The champion then changes levels and takes the fight to the ground. From the top position, Younousov looks for submission opportunities, forcing Nam to focus on defending rather than launching his own offense. Nam shows composure and prevents the champion from securing a finish. However, Younousov’s pressure and positional control give him the advantage in the opening round,
The second round features more action on the feet, with both fighters finding moments to connect. Nam looks to use his striking and power, keeping the champion aware of the danger he presents. Younousov, however, finds a decisive opening in close range. He lands a sharp elbow that opens a cut around Nam’s eyebrow, causing blood to flow across the veteran’s face. The injury begins to affect Nam’s vision, making the exchanges increasingly difficult. Near the end of the round, the referee calls for a medical examination. The doctor allows the fight to continue, but the damage becomes a major concern heading into the final round.
Younousov returns to the center of the cage and continues applying pressure. With Nam already dealing with the cut, the champion targets him with further strikes and lands another damaging elbow. The wound worsens, and the blood continues to affect Nam’s ability to see clearly. Despite the veteran’s determination to continue, the referee calls the doctor back into the cage. This time, the medical team determines that Nam cannot safely continue. The contest ends by technical knockout via doctor stoppage at 3:21 of the third round, with Younousov retaining his ARES bantamweight championship.
Younousov’s performance demonstrates his ability to combine pressure, grappling and damaging close-range striking. He uses his wrestling to control the opening round before making his elbows a decisive weapon in the later stages.For Nam, the fight ends in a difficult fashion, with the doctor’s intervention preventing him from continuing. The veteran remains dangerous throughout, but Younousov’s precision and pressure ultimately decide the championship contest.
The co-main event also saw Youssef Boughanem earn a first-round submission victory over Mohamed Soumah at ARES 44 in Strasbourg, France. Boughanem, a decorated Muay Thai champion with an unbeaten MMA record entering the event, secured the win by rear-naked choke in Round 1. The victory added another finish to his MMA career and kept his unbeaten run intact.
ARES 44 full results
Aboubakar Younousov def. Tyson Nam — TKO (doctor stoppage), Round 3, 3:20
Youssef Boughanem def. Mohamed Soumah — submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 3:43
Mario Gagliardi def. Sofiane El Fatni — split decision, Round 3
Bilal Bakhouche-Chareuf def. Daniel Rodrigues — TKO (punches), Round 1, 3:22
Benoit Prigent def. Jafar Yousifi — majority decision, Round 3
Preliminary card
Melissa Hurtado def. Weronika Cislo — TKO (punches), Round 1, 0:49
Marc-Philippe Ngatchou def. Maher Belkhadir — unanimous decision, Round 3
Lasha Gogishvili def. Alexandre Carole — unanimous decision, Round 3
Andrii Misiuk – Phruethukorn Chaichongcharden and Mohadi Nazirov – Ibrahima Dosso, announced on the card, did not take place.
