Pavel Andrusca made five days’ notice look like a plan. The undefeated Moldovan featherweight took a unanimous decision over Nathaniel Wood on the UFC Paris prelims at Accor Arena on Saturday, September 5, 2026, with the judges reading 30-27, 30-27 and 29-28.
UFC’s prelim recap says Andrusca started strong with heavy shots and early grappling, survived a second-round knockdown from the British veteran, then closed the third by neutralizing Wood on the mat and splitting him open. He advanced to 9-0. UFC lists the 24-year-old out of Barbarosa School in Moldova, with an Octagon debut dated September 5, 2026, a Vendetta Fight Nights title won and defended in 2024, and two U20 European freestyle wrestling bronzes. He joins Sergei Spivac and Ion Cutelaba as Moldovan fighters on the UFC roster.
The host nation opened loud. Delphine Benouaich submitted Sofia Montenegro with a rear-naked choke at 4:22 of round two. Matthieu Duclos knocked out Luis Felipe Dias at 4:35 of round one. Nora Cornolle swept Klaudia Sygula 30-27 across the board. Fabia Sintes then took a unanimous decision over Michael Aljarouj (29-28, 29-28, 29-27) in his promotional debut.
Light heavyweight Modestas Bukauskas stopped Oumar Sy by TKO at 3:57 of round two after absorbing early ground damage. Heavyweight Mario Pinto finished Ryan Spann by TKO 55 seconds into round two and moved to 4-0 in the Octagon and 13-0 overall. Felipe Lima closed the prelims with a unanimous decision over Morgan Charriere (30-27, 30-27, 29-28).
On the main card, Losene Keita knocked out Muhammad Naimov at 2:54 of round one, and Kurtis Campbell submitted Trevor Peek with a rear-naked choke at 3:07 of round three. The night was billed around No. 10 lightweight Dan Hooker welcoming Salahdine Parnasse to the Octagon.
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