Ares FC 37
Virgil Augen (8-0) vs Henrique Shiguemoto (15-5-1): Middleweight Title
Augen is finally back. We previously highlighted him in our selection of middleweights to watch in 2026, an article worth revisiting to better understand his profile. Augen’s 2025 campaign proved to be a disappointment. While French fans had hoped to see him sign with the UFC—most likely via Dana White’s Contender Series—injuries kept him out of the cage. Ultimately, his only appearance at the UFC came as a cornerman for Axel Sola.
2026 shapes up as a pivotal year for Augen, one in which he is expected to deliver and secure a UFC contract. To do so, he will need to defend his title against Shiguemoto in a highly anticipated rematch.
Shiguemoto first made his name on the Japanese circuit before transitioning to Europe. After a brief stint with Lions FC, he earned a shot on Dana White’s Contender Series, where he was submitted in just 50 seconds by Aliaskhab Khizriev. Since that setback, he has been signed with ARES. In three appearances, he has defeated the durable Nasrudin Nasrudinov and Pietro Penini, firmly establishing himself among Europe’s elite middleweights. His only loss in the organization came against Augen, in what was a highly entertaining contest.
Shiguemoto has not competed since June 2024, with his most recent bout being canceled. This matchup promises to be a compelling one, though the extended layoffs of both fighters could play a significant role. The winner could very well earn an opportunity on the 2026 Contender Series and stake a claim as the top middleweight in Western Europe.
Without question, this is the must-watch fight on the ARES card.
Moreno Kacapor (12-3) vs Xavier Lessou (5-2): Heavyweight Title
Is this Moreno Kacapor’s final fight before the UFC? The reigning ARES heavyweight champion returns for his first title defense. A former LFL and Lions FC champion—most notably having defeated Louie Sutherland—Kacapor is widely regarded as one of Europe’s top heavyweights.
In his ARES debut, he knocked out then-champion Aboubakar Bathily to claim the belt. Following that victory, many believed a move to the UFC was the logical next step. In a division lacking depth, Kacapor would represent a valuable addition, bringing much-needed substance to the roster. However, that signing has yet to materialize.
Kacapor will therefore defend his title against interim champion Xavier Lessou. The two fighters previously met four years ago, with Kacapor securing a submission victory. A similar outcome is expected this Friday.
Lessou is a respectable prospect on the French circuit but remains well below Kacapor’s level. He largely benefited from the dispute between ARES and Bathily to claim the organization’s interim title. He has shown little to suggest elite potential and has not competed in over a year, which raises legitimate concerns. That said, he does hold a few notable wins, most notably against Sofiane Boukichou.
It will be up to Lessou to pull off the upset if he hopes to claim the belt and earn a potential opportunity to sign with the UFC.
Ylies Djiroun (23-9)
Following a frustrating loss in his most recent outing, Ylies Djiroun returns to ARES. He suffered that defeat at home while fighting for the featherweight title, being knocked out by Josh O’Connor. The loss was a bitter one for Djiroun, who was not far from the UFC at the time—especially considering he had been largely in control of the fight.
Djiroun remains one of France’s top fighters. A veteran of BRAVE and a former PFL tournament participant, he has competed across some of the sport’s premier organizations. His résumé includes bouts against Islam Mamedov, Loik Radzhabov, Sam Patterson, Ananias Mulumba, and Olzhas Eskaraev.
He signed with ARES in 2024, where he made an immediate impact by knocking out Geraldo De Freitas in his promotional debut. That was followed by the title loss to O’Connor, after which he has been sidelined—until now. Djiroun now makes his return on home soil against Antonio Roberto (14–7).
On paper, the matchup strongly favors Djiroun, who is expected to secure the victory and potentially finish the fight. Notably, this bout marks his return to lightweight, a move that could signal a permanent shift back to the division.
Djiroun is clearly among the elite fighters on the ARES roster, and a win would place him in legitimate contention for titles in both weight classes. The hope is that this fight sparks a final run that could ultimately lead him to the UFC.
Moustapha Aida (10-3)
After more than two years away from competition, Moustapha Aida is finally set to return to ARES. Widely regarded as one of France’s top bantamweights, Aida made his mark early in his career on the French regional scene before truly breaking out at European Beatdown. There, he scored notable victories over Alfan Rocher-Labes and Florian Doskja, both highly regarded prospects at the time.
Aida signed with ARES in 2022. He made an immediate statement by defeating the durable Leopold Goi in his promotional debut. He followed that with a narrow loss to Demarte Pena in a highly competitive bout—one he may well have won had it been scheduled for five rounds. Then, he rebounded with an impressive knockout victory over Abdelmoumen Mssaate. After that, he stepped into a highly anticipated matchup against Aboubakar Younousov.
That fight captured the attention of French fans for several reasons. It was contested for the interim ARES title, pitted the old guard against the new generation of French MMA, and was fueled by intense pre-fight trash talk that turned the bout into a genuine rivalry. Unfortunately for Aida, the contest proved one-sided, as Younousov dominated before securing a spectacular second-round finish with a spinning elbow.
Since that loss in late 2023, Aida has remained sidelined, with multiple injuries delaying his return and stalling his momentum. He is now scheduled to step back into the cage this Friday.
Aida has long been recognized as a high-level fighter, particularly for his striking. The key question is whether the extended inactivity and recurring injuries have affected his overall level. Standing across from him will be Andrey Tyshchenko (6–3), a seasoned veteran of Cage Warriors and FCR. Tyshchenko has also been inactive for a year and enters the bout on the back of a loss to Alexander Loof.
On paper, Aida enters as the favorite and is expected to secure the win. The remaining uncertainty lies in whether he can perform at his peak against a savvy Tyshchenko capable of causing problems if given the opportunity.
Amir Aliev (10-2) vs Denis Palancica (10-2)
An intriguing bantamweight matchup to keep an eye on, featuring two potential future title challengers. Both Aliev and Palancica will be making their ARES debuts.
Aliev has seen two of his recent bouts canceled and has not competed in a year and a half. A proven competitor on the Russian circuit, he is expected to shine at ARES and quickly establish himself as a legitimate contender for the belt.
Palancica owns a respectable record but has faced relatively modest opposition to date. He has clearly been selected as a showcase opponent for Aliev. Though it remains to be seen whether he can defy expectations and turn the tables.
Sofiane El Fatni (3-0) vs Andrii Misiuk (5-0)
A very appealing matchup between two solid European lightweight prospects. Sofiane El Fatni will be eager to shine in front of his home crowd. After a brief amateur career (4–1), the Marseille native turned professional in early 2025, and his transition could hardly have gone better. With three victories, all three coming via first-round finishes, El Fatni has quickly caught the attention of French MMA observers.
While the level of opposition has not been the highest, he has displayed clear potential, particularly in the striking department. This will mark his second appearance at ARES, where he will have the opportunity to prove that he is among France’s top emerging talents. To do so, however, he must overcome by far the toughest test of his career.
That test comes in the form of Andrii Misiuk, who hails from Ukraine and first made his name on the amateur circuit. With an 11–6 amateur record, a gold medal at IMMAF Europe, and a third-place finish at the IMMAF World Championships, Misiuk is considered one of Ukraine’s top prospects. Following that successful amateur run, he turned professional in late 2024. He immediately took on the durable Adrian Hamerski (3–0) and stopped him via first-round TKO.
In 2025, Misiuk went on an impressive run, posting four wins in four fights. All of these victories come by finish—an outstanding year by any standard. The level of competition did not fully reflect his talent, with veteran Maxim Pashkov (14–10) standing out as his lone meaningful test. It is also worth noting that all four of those bouts took place at welterweight. We will see how his weight cut will translate at lightweight.
Stylistically, Misiuk relies on strong wrestling and a solid ground game. On the mat, he excels at advancing to dominant positions, where he can either hunt submissions or inflict damage with ground-and-pound. His striking appears to be the weakest area of his skill set, particularly his ability to absorb punishment—a potential liability against someone like El Fatni.
All eyes will be on which fighter emerges victorious from what promises to be a compelling clash of prospects.
Dione Abdoulaye (1-1) vs Nasser Boungab (2-1)
An intriguing matchup to watch between two fighters at the beginning of their careers. On one side, Nasser Boungab comes from a kickboxing background and notably shared the ring with legend Giorgio Petrosyan. Boungab made the transition to MMA recently, in 2025, skipping the amateur ranks altogether.
He made his professional debut at ARES, where he knocked out Ludovic Agoué. He then suffered a unanimous decision loss to another prospect, Amin Bouazza. That bout took place just one month after his professional debut. A turnaround that may have had an impact on his performance.
Toward the end of 2025, Boungab bounced back with a win over Ayoub Khoua, a solid competitor on the French circuit. Boungab is an excellent striker and poses a danger to anyone in the division. His ground game and wrestling are naturally his weaker areas, although he continues to work on them.
Across from him stands Dione Abdoulaye, a product of the French amateur circuit. With a record of 14-4, Dione Abdoulaye built a solid foundation during his amateur career, though he did not particularly stand out by capturing titles or defeating major names on the circuit. As a result, his transition to the professional ranks did not generate significant expectations—especially given how that move initially unfolded.
In his professional debut, Abdoulaye faced Ghassen Jbalia at ARES. Despite a respectable performance—particularly in light of what Jbalia has since gone on to achieve—Abdoulaye was ultimately outmatched. His cardio, in particular, revealed some notable weaknesses.
He rebounded well by submitting Ponzio at ARES 31, and this third professional outing represents another important test. Against an opponent who appears accessible on paper due to his limited MMA experience, Abdoulaye must demonstrate that he can establish himself as a genuine ARES prospect.
Nasser Boungab will be eager to spring the upset in front of his home crowd, where he can potentially position himself for bigger opportunities within ARES.