Nell Ariano fights for a UFC contract tonight: the unbeaten Parisian meets Preston LaGrange on the Contender Series
Nell Ariano has a date with Dana White. The 31-year-old Parisian light heavyweight, unbeaten in 6 fights, faces American Preston LaGrange this Tuesday, October 6 at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, on week 9 of the Contender Series. A convincing win can earn him a UFC contract. His opponent took the fight on 2 weeks’ notice and is moving up a weight class.
Key takeaways
- Nell Ariano (6-0) faces Preston LaGrange (6-1) at light heavyweight on October 6 at the Meta APEX in Las Vegas, with a UFC contract at stake.
- Ariano, 31, a judo black belt and former member of the French national team, has 4 KOs in 6 wins.
- LaGrange, a 27-year-old middleweight, replaced Ivan Gnizditskiy on 2 weeks' notice. He weighed 199.5 pounds, Ariano 205.
Nell Ariano, from judo to the UFC's door
The profile
Nell Ariano was born in Paris. A judo black belt, he represented the French national team for nearly 10 years before switching to MMA during Covid, the UFC says in its preview of the card.
The record
He has 6 wins in 6 professional fights, 4 of them by KO. Combat Press describes him as a tall, lanky striker. He trains at Platinum MMA Training Center.
What drives him
The UFC reports that he came through a stroke at 27. At 31, he says he will not give up on his dream.
Preston LaGrange, an opponent who arrived 2 weeks ago
The replacement
Ariano was due to face Ivan Gnizditskiy. Instead, Preston LaGrange, 27, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, took the fight on 2 weeks’ notice.
A middleweight at light heavyweight
LaGrange usually fights at middleweight. He has 6 wins, all inside the distance, and one loss. At the weigh-in he came in at 199.5 pounds against 205 for Ariano, according to Sherdog.
His plan
A wrestler by background, he intends to lean on his speed, cardio and wrestling, the UFC says. Combat Press does not see the fight reaching the judges.
I'm not gonna give up on my dream.
What the Contender Series puts on the line
The format
Every Tuesday, 5 fights take place in front of Dana White, who decides at the end of the night who gets a UFC contract. A win is not always enough: how you win matters.
The card
Week 9 starts at 7 p.m. ET on Paramount+. The main event pits Summer Onley (6-0) against Alivia Bierley (5-1) at women’s bantamweight. All 10 fighters made weight.
Follow the season
Season 10 stood at 38 contracts after week 8. The new signings’ profiles and records are in the FightHub app.
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