Patrick Habirora accomplished quite a bit in his early combat career, winning a European junior championship in the -77 kg category and a bronze medal at the World Junior Championships in Abu Dhabi. He then captured amateur gold in March 2023 before making his professional MMA debut earlier this year. Known for his striking power, with three wins by KO/TKO, Habirora scored a first-round finish of Alex Aston in June.

 

Catalin Safta has shown prowess on the ground, having been a two-time WBJJA Grappling Champion. Making his professional MMA debut in 2021, Safta is 5-2, with four wins coming via a finish. He fought mere weeks ago, scoring a third-round TKO of Niko Aikonen, and now quickly turns around to make his first walk in a major MMA promotion.

 

Which man will come out on top in this 165-pound catchweight showcase co-main event?

 

 

Round 1

 

Safta with a low kick. Habirora with a quick right hand. One-two from Habirora. Low kick misses for Safta. Right hand from Habirora to the body. Low kick from Safta. Right hand from Safta is blocked. Left hand from Habirora. Habirora misses the left. Body kick by Safta. Overhand shots landing for Safta, and Habirora seems troubled until securing a body lock and a takedown. They quickly get back to their feet, with Habirora pressing Safta into the fence. Safta landing a few inside shots before attempting to reverse the hold. Safta landing elbows to the thigh before he’s able to reverse the position.

 

The referee calls for a break and returns the two to the center. Kick lands low and the referee calls for time – but Safta lands a couple of overhands before a break. On the fight’s resumption, Habirora lands a right hand. Safta tries for a level change, but Habirora shrugs it off and presses Safta into the fence briefly. Safta misses a low kick. Crisp right hand lands for Habirora, followed by a one-two to the body. Body kick by Safta. Low kick by Safta. Counter right by Habirora. Safta misses the left. Low kick by Safta. Right hand by Habirora. Round kick by Safta. Low kick by Safta. Right hand by Habirora. Round kick by Safta.

 

 

Round 2

 

Body kick by Safta. Low kick by Safta. Right hand by Safta. Front kick to the face by Safta. Right hand by Safta. Habirora with a body lock, but Safta brings him over to the fence. Elbow by Safta. Habirora tries to reverse the position, but Safta brings it right back. Safta breaks the clinch. Right hand to the body by Habirora. Kick to the body and a jab by Habirora. Right hand by Safta. Low kick by Habirora. Habirora shoots in, but Safta defends the takedown.

 

Safta continues to pursues, and Habirora rains down some elbows to make him pay the price. Safta stands back up. Left hand from Habirora. Combination by Habirora. Safta tries to offer one up. Habirora with a right kick to the body. Habirora catches the kick and dumps Safta. Body kick by Habirora. Safta tries to come forward and Habirora with a small combination. Low kick by Safta. Safta misses with the left. Habirora fires off a small combination. Right hand by Safta. Habirora with a spinning backfist and a jab.

 

 

Round 3

 

Low kick by Safta. Round kick from Safta is blocked. Habirora with a left. Habirora flashing different stances. Safta with a one-two, but Habirora lands a counter left. Left hand by Habirora. Combination by Safta. Habirora misses a knee. Low kick by Safta. Habirora with a front kick to the midsection. Left hand by Habirora, followed by a right. Leg kick from Safta. Safta goes for a wide one-two, but Habirora rolls out and LANDS A QUICK RIGHT HAND ON THE BUTTON! SAFTA IS OUT COLD AND OUT BAD!

 

 

Patrick Habirora goes right into the crowd to celebrate his huge finish with the people of Lyon!

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Patrick Habirora def. Catalin Safta via third-round KO (punch, 2:16)