ARES Fighting Championship wanted a clear answer at featherweight from ARES FC 43. After 25 minutes between Josh O’Connor and Fabacary Diatta, it didn't get one.
The September 25 card at the Adidas Arena in Paris ended with O’Connor vs. Diatta going to a majority draw, leaving the promotion’s featherweight title picture unresolved. Two judges scored the five-round fight 47-47, while the third had Diatta ahead 48-46.
That unusual ending headlined a nine-fight ARES FC 43 card that produced five finishes, including explosive first-round wins for Alexis Nicolas, Jimmy Vienot and Wael Kambouche.
O’Connor vs. Diatta ends in a majority draw
O’Connor entered as the ARES featherweight champion, while Diatta had claimed the interim belt by beating Ghassen Jbalia at ARES 39. This was supposed to remove the interim tag and leave one champion standing.
Instead, neither man could separate himself enough on the scorecards.
Diatta received the only winning scorecard, 48-46, but the two 47-47 cards produced a majority draw. O’Connor therefore remains unbeaten, while Diatta avoids a second career defeat, and ARES is left with essentially the same championship question it had before the fight.
🚨 DIATTA ET O’CONNOR SE QUITTENT SUR UN NUL ! 🇫🇷🔥
— MMA CENTRAL (@MMACENTRAL07) September 26, 2026
Après 5 rounds de guerre à l’ARES 43, Fabacary Diatta et Josh O’Connor n’ont pas réussi à se départager.
Un nul majoritaire qui pourrait bien appeler une revanche… 👀🥊#ARES43 #MMA #Diatta pic.twitter.com/eB5UFQbz3t
A rematch would be the obvious way to settle the situation, although ARES had not officially announced one immediately after the event.
Alexis Nicolas moves to 2-0 in MMA
One of the more interesting stories on the ARES roster continues to be Alexis Nicolas’ transition from elite kickboxing into MMA.
The former ONE lightweight kickboxing world champion needed less than one round to beat Ilyasse Drabo. Nicolas used his kicks early, hurt Drabo with his hands and then finished the sequence with ground-and-pound for a TKO at 2:51 of Round 1.
The victory in Nicolas vs. Drabo moved Nicolas to 2-0 as a professional MMA fighter. His striking pedigree was never in question, but two consecutive MMA wins give ARES considerably more to work with than the novelty of a decorated kickboxer trying a different sport.
Alexis "Barboza" Nicolas just dealt with Ilyasse Drabo in a chaotic first round. This was wild while it lasted. The former ONE lightweight kickboxing champ is now 2-0 in MMA. #ARES43 pic.twitter.com/fNcKCR7LoO
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 25, 2026
Jimmy Vienot ends it with a body shot
Jimmy Vienot produced an even quicker finish against Josenildo Pantoja.
The French striker closed Vienot vs. Pantoja inside the opening minute, folding Pantoja with a body shot for a first-round knockout. For Vienot, another high-level striker building an MMA career, it was exactly the kind of clean finish that translates beyond the kickboxing audience already familiar with him.
Body shot KO by Jimmy Vienot #ARES43 pic.twitter.com/VQkIl7jCNG
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) September 25, 2026
Five finishes across the ARES FC 43 card
There was plenty happening below the two most recognizable striking names.
Wael Kambouche ended his fight with Ulysse Ndong by first-round anaconda choke, while Vincent Yerly stopped Joelson Ferreira with punches in the opening round of Yerly vs. Ferreira.
Brad Jean-Elie also got a first-round stoppage, finishing Danylo Kartavyi with ground-and-pound in their heavyweight bout.
Akhmed Amaev had to work longer against Luke Shanks. Amaev took a unanimous decision in Amaev vs. Shanks, preserving his unbeaten professional record against the significantly more experienced Englishman.
Kevin Tchoupa earned a unanimous decision over William Loussala in Tchoupa vs. Loussala, while Anuj Anuj also went the distance to defeat Dylan Antoine unanimously in Antoine vs. Anuj.
ARES FC 43 full results
- Josh O’Connor vs. Fabacary Diatta — majority draw, five rounds
- Alexis Nicolas def. Ilyasse Drabo — TKO, Round 1
- Akhmed Amaev def. Luke Shanks — unanimous decision
- Wael Kambouche def. Ulysse Ndong — submission (anaconda choke), Round 1
- Vincent Yerly def. Joelson Ferreira — TKO, Round 1
- Jimmy Vienot def. Josenildo Pantoja — KO (body shot), Round 1
- Brad Jean-Elie def. Danylo Kartavyi — TKO (ground-and-pound), Round 1
- Kevin Tchoupa def. William Loussala — unanimous decision
- Anuj Anuj def. Dylan Antoine — unanimous decision
The main event may have failed to produce the single featherweight champion ARES was looking for, but the rest of the card delivered a useful snapshot of where several of the promotion's developing names currently stand. Nicolas is now 2-0 in MMA, Vienot has another highlight-reel finish, and Amaev continues to move forward without a professional loss.
For the final look at both main-event fighters before they entered the cage, watch the ARES FC 43 ceremonial weigh-ins and face-offs.
ARES FC 43 FAQ
Who won Josh O’Connor vs. Fabacary Diatta at ARES FC 43?
Nobody won. Josh O’Connor vs. Fabacary Diatta ended in a majority draw after five rounds. Two judges scored the featherweight title fight 47-47, while the third scored it 48-46 for Diatta.
Was the ARES featherweight title unified at ARES FC 43?
No. O’Connor entered as the ARES featherweight champion and Diatta as the interim champion, but their majority draw meant the planned title unification did not produce a single winner.
Who won Alexis Nicolas vs. Ilyasse Drabo?
Alexis Nicolas defeated Ilyasse Drabo by first-round TKO at 2:51. The victory improved the former ONE kickboxing world champion to 2-0 in professional MMA.
How did Jimmy Vienot beat Josenildo Pantoja at ARES FC 43?
Jimmy Vienot knocked out Josenildo Pantoja with a body shot in the first round of their catchweight fight, finishing the bout inside the opening minute.
Where did ARES FC 43 take place?
ARES FC 43: O’Connor vs. Diatta took place on September 25, 2026 at the Adidas Arena in Paris, France.