ARES 43: O'Connor and Diatta fight to a draw, Alexis Nicolas makes it quick, full results

ARES Fighting Championship was back at the Adidas Arena in Paris on Friday, September 25, 2026, with two champions for a single belt in the main event. Five rounds later, there are still two: Wales' Josh O'Connor and France's Fabacary Diatta fight to a draw. In the co-main event, Alexis Nicolas needs only one round.

Who won the ARES 43 main event?

Nobody: Josh O'Connor and Fabacary Diatta fight to a majority draw after five rounds, in a bout meant to unify the featherweight title. Two judges score it even, 47-47, the third gives it to Diatta 48-46.

Diatta comes close to finishing it in the fourth round, after a big knockdown. O'Connor answers in the fifth with wrestling and ground-and-pound.

O'Connor, champion since January 2025, keeps his belt and stays unbeaten. He was back in the cage for the first time since June 2025: an injury had kept him out, and ARES had named Diatta interim champion after his win over Ghassen Jbalia at ARES 39. The unification will have to wait.

An all-out war ending in a draw between O'CONNOR and DIATTA 🤝 Congratulations to both of them on a great performance! 👏🔥#ARES43
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How did Alexis Nicolas do?

Alexis "Barboza" Nicolas beats Ilyasse Drabo by first-round TKO, at welterweight. He hurts Drabo with low kicks and body kicks, finds the target with his hands without ever being in danger, drops him and then turns up the ground-and-pound until the referee steps in, inside three minutes.

BARBOZA SETS THE ARENA ON FIRE. 🔥 After an ultra-intense fight, Barboza wins by TKO in a completely crazy atmosphere. The crowd erupts. An incredible moment. 🤯
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The former ONE Championship kickboxing champion makes it two wins from two MMA fights, after a second-round TKO of Jack Woodard on his debut at ARES 40 in April.