France's Aboubakar Younousov beats American Tyson Nam by third-round TKO (doctor stoppage) and keeps his ARES bantamweight title, on Saturday, October 31, 2026 at the Zenith de Strasbourg. In the co-main event, Youssef Boughanem, on the verge of being knocked out, comes back to submit Mohamed Soumah with a rear-naked choke in the first round.
Who won the ARES 44 main event?
Aboubakar Younousov, by third-round TKO: the doctor stops the fight at 3:20, and the bantamweight champion (-61 kg) keeps his belt.
Younousov stays unbeaten at 9-0. He was back in the cage for the first time since his KO win at ARES 35 in October 2025. Nam, a UFC veteran with around forty pro fights, was making his ARES debut.
How did Youssef Boughanem beat Mohamed Soumah?
With a first-round rear-naked choke, after a complete turnaround. France's Mohamed Soumah takes the fight to him from the opening bell and never lets up: Boughanem comes close to being knocked out. He survives, takes the fight to the ground, does damage there, then finishes with the submission.
Youssef Boughanem's historic comeback against Mohamed Soumah! 🤯 #ARES44 This post may show graphic fight footage.
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The Belgian-Moroccan Muay Thai star, who still called himself a beginner on the ground, wins by submission on his ARES debut. Boughanem stays unbeaten in MMA, now six wins from six, after leaving Brave CF in August.
ARES 44 full results, October 31, 2026
Main card
ABOUBAKAR YOUNOUSOV vs TYSON NAM
ABOUBAKAR YOUNOUSOV wins by TKO (doctor stoppage) in Round 3
YOUSSEF BOUGHANEM vs MOHAMED SOUMAH
YOUSSEF BOUGHANEM wins by submission in Round 1
SOFIANE EL FATNI vs MARIO GAGLIARDI
MARIO GAGLIARDI wins by split decision
BILAL BAKHOUCHE-CHAREUF vs DANIEL RODRIGUES
BILAL BAKHOUCHE-CHAREUF wins by TKO in Round 1
BENOIT PRIGENT vs JAFAR YOUSIFI
BENOIT PRIGENT wins by majority decision
Prelims
MELISSA HURTADO vs WERONIKA CISLO
MELISSA HURTADO wins by TKO in Round 1
MAHER BELKHADIR vs MARC-PHILIPPE NGATCHOU
MARC-PHILIPPE NGATCHOU wins by unanimous decision
LASHA GOGISHVILI vs ALEXANDRE CAROLE
LASHA GOGISHVILI wins by unanimous decision
Andrii Misiuk - Phruethukorn Chaichongcharden and Mohadi Nazirov - Ibrahima Dosso, announced on the card, did not take place.
Sources
Sherdog — ARES 44 - Younousov vs. Nam
Dicodusport — ARES 44 : les résultats complets
La Sueur — ARES 44 – Au bord du K.O. Youssef Boughanem renverse Mohamed Soumah
Next-Fight — Youssef Boughanem at ARES 44: the Muay Thai legend who calls himself an MMA beginner