UFC Signs Undefeated Knockout Machine for Short-Notice Debut Fight at UFC Paris

One of MMA’s most highly-touted prospects has signed on to make his UFC debut on less than a week’s notice at UFC Paris.

Taking place this Saturday (September 5) at the Accor Arena, this year’s UFC Paris card is headlined by a huge lightweight class that will see fan favorite Dan Hooker welcome former KSW star Salahdine Parnasse to the UFC.

The card is loaded with both French and European talent across 14 scheduled bouts, one of which underwent a very late change just as fight week for UFC Paris got underway.

Pavel Andrusca Answers Call for UFC Debut in Paris

First reported by Marcel Dorff, undefeated bantamweight prospect Pavel Andrusca is replacing Mairon Santos at UFC Paris and will move up to the featherweight division to debut against Nathaniel Wood.

A perfect 8-0 since beginning his professional mixed martial arts career in 2021, Andrusca won his debut via unanimous decision but hasn’t seen the judges’ scorecards since then.

The Moldovan won the Vendetta Fight Nights bantamweight title in 2024 and defended it twice the following year before moving on to UAE Warriors, where he made an immediate impact in his promotional debut when he knocked out Daermisi Zhawupasi in the first round.

Andrusca returned to UAE Warriors in July and also knocked out Gexipengchu in just over two minutes, which was the second fastest win of his career and also his fifth first-round finish out of eight professional victories.

Nathaniel Wood Comes Into UFC Paris on Four-Fight Win Streak

Moving up a weight class is always already a difficult ask for fighters making their UFC debuts, but Andrusca will also be taking on an especially difficult opponent when he meets Wood at UFC Paris.

A former Cage Warriors bantamweight champion, Wood joined the UFC in 2018 and stopped his first three opponents before he was knocked out by former UFC title challenger John Dodson in 2020.

Nathaniel Wood (red gloves) reacts before the fight against Losene Keita (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at O2 Arena. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“The Last Kingsman” ultimately decided to move up to the featherweight division in 2022 and initially went 3-0 until he dropped a decision to Muhammad Naimov at UFC 294, but since then Wood has won four-straight fights.

The 33-year-old most recently competed at last year’s edition of UFC London, where he spoiled the highly-anticipated debut of Losene Keita when he defeated “Black Panther” via split decision.

Nathaniel Wood (red gloves) fights Losene Keita (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at O2 Arena. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Provided that there are no issues during weigh-ins for the event, UFC Paris is all set to go ahead with a full slate of 14 fights with Andrusca stepping in to face Wood as part of the night’s prelim card.

UFC Paris Fight Card

Main Event: Dan Hooker vs. Salahdine Parnesse

Co-Main Event: Fares Ziam vs. Axel Sola

Michael Page vs. Nursulton Ruziboev

Punahele Soriano vs. Daniil Donchenko

Morgan Charriere vs. Felipe Lima

Losene Keita vs. Muhammad Naimov

Mario Pinto vs. Ryan Spann

Kurtis Campbell vs. Trevor Peek

Oumar Sy vs. Modestas Bukauskas

Nathaniel Wood vs. Pavel Andrusca

Fabia Sintes vs. Michael Aljarouj

Nora Cornolle vs. Klaudia Sygula

Luis Felipe Dias vs. Matthieu Duclos

Delphine Benouaich vs. Sofia Montenegro

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