Overview
- Opening the main card at Madison Square Garden, Saint Denis stopped the No. 9-ranked Dariush with a left hand in just 15 seconds.
- Dariush missed weight by 544 grams at the official weigh-in, and the fight proceeded after he agreed to forfeit 20% of his purse to Saint Denis, reported at about €51,600.
- Saint Denis successfully made the lightweight limit under 70.76 kg and appeared composed on the scale before the bout.
- A win over a higher-ranked opponent could move Saint Denis into the top 10, with UFC rankings determined by a media voting committee rather than automatic progression.
- The result extends his 2025 rebound under coach Nicolas Ott after a difficult 2024, building on a recent win at UFC Paris and a condensed six-week training camp.