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MMA This Weekend (October 31): UFC Vegas 123, OKTAGON 96 & ARES FC 44 Preview, Odds and Full Fight Cards

MMA This Weekend (October 31): UFC Vegas 123, OKTAGON 96 & ARES FC 44 Preview, Odds and Full Fight Cards

Three MMA promotions, three countries and more than 30 fights. Saturday, October 31, 2026, offers an unusually busy schedule for fans who follow the sport beyond the UFC.

In Las Vegas, Renato Moicano faces Australia's Tom Nolan in a five-round lightweight main event at UFC Vegas 123. In Munich, Amiran Gogoladze fights former UFC competitor Jessin Ayari for the vacant OKTAGON welterweight championship. And in Strasbourg, undefeated ARES bantamweight champion Aboubakar Younousov defends his belt against veteran knockout artist Tyson Nam.

The weekend's schedule has also changed significantly during fight week. OKTAGON lost its original title challenger, Felix Klinkhammer, and replaced him with Ayari. Two other Munich matchups have changed, while the UFC's preliminary card includes a fighter who missed weight.

For viewers trying to follow all three events, there's good news: the start times are staggered. OKTAGON begins first, ARES follows 90 minutes later, and the UFC preliminaries start later in the European evening.

MMA events this Saturday, October 31: Start times and how to watch

Event Location Start time Broadcast
OKTAGON 96 Munich, Germany 18:00 CET / 13:00 ET RTL+ / OKTAGON.TV
ARES FC 44 Strasbourg, France 19:30 CET / 14:30 ET Canal+ Sport 360, Canal+ Twitch
UFC Vegas 123 Las Vegas, USA 17:00 ET prelims / 20:00 ET main card Paramount+ (US)

European clocks moved back on October 25, while the United States doesn't switch until November 1. That means Central European Time is five hours ahead of US Eastern Time on Saturday, rather than the usual six. UFC Vegas 123's main card begins at 01:00 CET on Sunday, November 1.

UFC Vegas 123 Preview: Renato Moicano vs. Tom Nolan

The UFC returns to the Meta APEX in Las Vegas with a lightweight matchup that could significantly change the division's rankings.

Renato Moicano, ranked No. 12, faces No. 14 Tom Nolan in the main event of UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Nolan, also known as UFC Vegas 123.

Moicano enters with a 21-7-1 record and more than a decade of UFC experience. The 37-year-old Brazilian has shared the cage with several of the promotion's leading lightweights and challenged Islam Makhachev for the championship in January 2025.

After consecutive defeats against Makhachev and Beneil Dariush, Moicano returned to winning form in April 2026, submitting Chris Duncan with a rear-naked choke in the second round.

That victory showed exactly why he remains dangerous against younger contenders. Moicano doesn't need to dominate the striking exchanges to win. His timing, back takes and submission ability can turn a competitive fight into a finish within seconds.

Nolan presents a different challenge.

The 26-year-old Australian enters at 11-1 and has won five consecutive UFC fights since suffering a first-round knockout against Nikolas Motta in his promotional debut.

His recent victories include a first-round submission of Charlie Campbell and a unanimous decision over Farès Ziam in June. At approximately 6-foot-3, Nolan brings unusual height and length to the lightweight division, along with effective body attacks and an increasingly confident striking game.

The age difference is substantial, but so is the gap in experience.

Nolan has never fought a scheduled five-round main event, while Moicano has already experienced the pressure of championship-level opposition.

Moicano vs. Nolan breakdown and betting odds

On the feet, Nolan has the tools to make this difficult for Moicano. He is taller, throws powerful kicks and combinations, and attacks the body with enough frequency to potentially slow the Brazilian over five rounds.

Moicano's clearest advantage is grappling. Nolan has improved considerably since his UFC debut, but defending submissions against a specialist who has finished 11 professional opponents by submission represents another level of difficulty.

The main event is priced almost evenly. October 30 sportsbook listings have Moicano around -115 to -125, with Nolan ranging from approximately -105 to +115 depending on the operator.

That variation is important because the market has moved considerably. Nolan opened as the favorite at some sportsbooks before money shifted toward Moicano.

MMAtown betting assessment: No official pick. Nolan's striking, youth and length make him dangerous, but Moicano's grappling presents a genuine finishing threat. The market already reflects a close fight, and neither side offers a sufficiently clear edge at the current prices.

Randy Brown vs. Jacobe Smith: Undefeated prospect faces experienced veteran

The co-main event is another contest with important implications for a developing contender.

Randy Brown vs. Jacobe Smith pairs a longtime UFC welterweight against one of the division's fastest-rising prospects.

Smith is 13-0 and has finished all four of his UFC opponents. His combination of explosive wrestling, ground-and-pound and physical pressure has made him a difficult matchup for opponents who cannot prevent him from closing distance.

Brown, 20-8, offers a significant step up in experience. The Jamaican is approximately five inches taller, has a six-inch reach advantage and is capable of punishing reckless entries with straight punches and submission attempts.

However, Brown has lost his last two appearances, while Smith enters after another stoppage victory earlier in October.

Smith is a substantial favorite, generally priced around -260 to -285, with Brown between +210 and +235.

Smith is the more likely winner, particularly if he can establish his wrestling. But Brown's size, experience and defensive skills make the underdog dangerous enough that we wouldn't recommend chasing an expensive favorite purely because of his undefeated record.

Other UFC Vegas 123 matchups worth watching

The remainder of the main card includes several intriguing contests.

Yana Santos vs. Luana Santos brings together two ranked women's bantamweights. Yana's experience and clinch striking will be tested against Luana's judo, takedowns and submission game. Luana is favored in most available markets, but the older Santos has enough experience to make the price worth examining carefully.

Ode Osbourne vs. Cody Durden is priced close to even. Osbourne brings reach and explosive striking, while Durden's wrestling gives him a direct route to controlling rounds. Neither fighter has been consistent enough recently to make this an obvious betting opportunity.

Another interesting clash is Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani vs. Farman Hasanov. Lebosnoyani is a dangerous submission grappler, while Hasanov is an undefeated Azerbaijani wrestler. Their contrasting approaches make this one of the more technical fights on the card.

The preliminaries include several developing prospects and established UFC veterans. Julian Erosa faces Jeong Yeong Lee, Lucia Szabová meets Tainara Lisboa, and Mickey Gall returns against Zachary Reese.

UFC Vegas 123 weigh-in controversy: Francis Marshall misses weight

Friday's official weigh-ins produced one complication.

Francis Marshall weighed 148 pounds for his scheduled featherweight fight against Dakota Hope, two pounds above the 146-pound non-title limit. Hope successfully weighed 145.5 pounds.

The matchup will proceed at catchweight, with Marshall forfeiting 20 percent of his purse.

The situation is particularly unfortunate for Hope, who accepted the fight on short notice after Gaston Bolaños withdrew because of an eye injury.

The main-event fighters made weight without problems: Moicano registered 156 pounds and Nolan 155.5 pounds.

UFC Vegas 123 full fight card

Main card:

Preliminary card:

All 12 fights are scheduled to stream on Paramount+ in the United States. The preliminaries begin at 5 p.m. ET, with the main card following at 8 p.m. ET. There is no separate pay-per-view purchase required for US subscribers.

Fans can also watch the final pre-fight moments in our UFC Vegas 123 fighter face-offs, featuring Moicano, Nolan, Brown, Smith and other competitors from the Halloween card.

OKTAGON 96 Preview: Gogoladze vs. Ayari for the vacant welterweight title

The most dramatic developments of the week have taken place in Munich, where OKTAGON MMA has been forced to rebuild several important fights just days before the event.

The original championship matchup between Amiran Gogoladze and undefeated Felix Klinkhammer was canceled after Klinkhammer suffered an injury during training.

Former UFC fighter Jessin Ayari accepted the opportunity on short notice and now challenges Gogoladze for the vacant welterweight championship in the main event of OKTAGON 96 at SAP Garden.

That change significantly alters the fight's competitive balance and betting market.

Amiran Gogoladze vs. Jessin Ayari: Can the replacement challenger pull off the upset?

Gogoladze enters with an 18-3 professional record and an impressive collection of fast finishes.

The Georgian's most recent victory came against former champion Ion Surdu in April, when he returned from a long absence and secured another first-round knockout.

Gogoladze has finished eight opponents in less than 100 seconds during his career, and his ability to counter opponents who enter aggressively has become one of his defining strengths.

Ayari, 19-6, brings a different set of challenges. The German veteran has spent years competing against experienced opponents, including a four-fight run in the UFC. His grappling is particularly dangerous, with nine submission victories on his professional record.

He also enters with the advantage of competing close to home, having established himself in Nuremberg.

However, Ayari has taken the championship opportunity with only a few days to adjust his preparation. That is especially important because five-round title fights require different pacing and conditioning from ordinary three-round contests.

Gogoladze, meanwhile, has spent months preparing specifically for a championship fight, although his original opponent was a different grappling specialist.

There is a clear difference in the betting markets. Gogoladze was a moderate favorite against Klinkhammer, but the revised matchup now has him around -725 to -900 at several operators, with Ayari roughly +450 to +515.

MMAtown betting assessment: No bet. Gogoladze deserves to be favored, but the line now implies an extremely high probability of victory. Ayari has enough experience and submission ability to create problems, and the short-notice nature of the fight introduces additional uncertainty.

Gökhan Aksu receives new opponent after Niko Samsonidse withdrawal

The lightweight contender matchup between Gökhan Aksu and Niko Samsonidse was another casualty of fight week.

Samsonidse withdrew because of injury, leaving Aksu without the ranked opponent he had originally been preparing to face.

Rene Runge stepped in as his replacement, and the contest will now take place at a 73-kilogram catchweight.

That makes Aksu vs. Runge a less predictable contest than a simple comparison of records might suggest.

Aksu, 14-7-1, has finished all 14 of his professional victories and previously challenged for the OKTAGON lightweight championship. Runge, 14-8-1, brings extensive regional experience but has had considerably less time to prepare for this specific opponent.

The matchup becomes even more complicated following Friday's weigh-ins, when Runge missed his agreed weight limit by approximately 0.3 kilograms.

The contest is still scheduled to proceed.

Paradeiser vs. Pfeifer and Todev vs. Biyong headline the supporting card

The strongest remaining non-title matchup could be Ronald Paradeiser vs. Tyrone Pfeifer.

Paradeiser is a former OKTAGON lightweight champion who has struggled recently against high-level welterweights. He enters looking to rebound from consecutive stoppage defeats.

Pfeifer is 8-1 and has won both of his OKTAGON appearances by stoppage, including a rapid finish of former UFC fighter Niklas Stolze.

The German's recent momentum contrasts sharply with Paradeiser's difficult run, but the former champion has faced substantially more experienced opponents.

Available markets favor Paradeiser at approximately -140 to -190, with Pfeifer generally offered between +110 and +165.

It is a tempting underdog matchup given Pfeifer's finishing power, but his level of opposition remains a question. No MMAtown bet qualifies under our stricter confidence standard.

At heavyweight, Lazar Todev vs. Simon Biyong carries potential title implications.

Todev has won three consecutive bouts and sits at the top of OKTAGON's heavyweight rankings. His recent victory over former UFC heavyweight Martin Buday was particularly important.

Biyong brings finishing power and championship experience from smaller promotions, but the available betting line favors Todev heavily, around -400 or shorter at some operators.

Again, the difference between a likely winner and a worthwhile wager is substantial.

OKTAGON 96 weigh-in results: Four fighters miss weight

Friday's weigh-ins added another layer of uncertainty.

Gogoladze and Ayari both made the welterweight championship limit, allowing the title fight to proceed without restrictions.

Four fighters failed to meet their contracted limits: Rene Runge, Kevin Hangs, Marat Nessar and Hafeni Nafuka.

Nafuka had the largest miss, initially weighing approximately three kilograms above the agreed 72-kilogram catchweight limit. He reduced his weight on a second attempt but remained over the limit.

Medical officials prevented several fighters from continuing their cuts. All four affected matchups are currently expected to proceed.

These weight problems are another reason to be cautious when evaluating late betting opportunities, particularly on a card already affected by multiple injuries and replacements.

OKTAGON 96 full fight card

OKTAGON 96 begins at 18:00 CET, with RTL+ streaming coverage from 17:30 CET in Germany and other supported markets. International fans can access the event through OKTAGON.TV where available.

For a closer look at the fighters and the weight-cutting complications, watch our OKTAGON 96 official weigh-ins.

ARES FC 44 Preview: Aboubakar Younousov vs. Tyson Nam

While the UFC and OKTAGON attract much of the international attention, France's ARES Fighting Championship has assembled an interesting event of its own.

ARES FC 44 takes place at the Zénith in Strasbourg, with undefeated bantamweight champion Aboubakar Younousov defending his belt against former UFC fighter Tyson Nam.

The card also features decorated kickboxer Youssef Boughanem, several undefeated prospects and a lightweight contest between Sofiane El Fatni and Mario Gagliardi.

Aboubakar Younousov vs. Tyson Nam: Undefeated champion meets UFC veteran

Aboubakar Younousov vs. Tyson Nam is a matchup built around a considerable experience gap.

Younousov enters with an 8-0 professional record and returns after approximately a year away from competition. The French fighter has developed into one of ARES' most promising bantamweights and now faces the biggest name of his professional career.

Nam, meanwhile, has accumulated 40 professional MMA appearances and competed against several established opponents during his UFC career.

At 23-16-1, the American veteran has seen almost every kind of fight. He is particularly dangerous when opponents allow him to counter with powerful punches, but his consistency against younger, well-rounded fighters has been less impressive.

Younousov's advantage lies in his youth, momentum and development within the promotion. Nam brings experience and a history of knockouts, but he must demonstrate that he can still compete effectively against an undefeated champion.

The betting market strongly favors Younousov. Available lines have been as short as -1500, with Nam offered from approximately +600 to +875 depending on the operator.

MMAtown betting assessment: No bet. Younousov is a clear favorite, but the price leaves almost no margin for error. Nam's power makes such a large favorite particularly unattractive.

Youssef Boughanem vs. Mohamed Soumah: Kickboxing pedigree meets MMA experience

One of the most recognizable fighters on the ARES 44 card is Youssef Boughanem.

The Belgian-Moroccan has spent years competing at the highest levels of Muay Thai and kickboxing, collecting major titles before transitioning into professional MMA.

He is currently undefeated at 5-0 in MMA and faces Mohamed Soumah in a 72.5-kilogram catchweight contest.

Soumah is listed at 4-3 on the latest fight card and has more mixed results than his opponent. However, his experience competing under MMA rules gives him a different kind of background from Boughanem's striking-focused career.

Boughanem vs. Soumah should be particularly interesting if Soumah attempts to exploit the grappling transitions rather than accept a prolonged striking contest.

The favorite is priced around -400, with Soumah approximately +250 to +300.

We expect Boughanem's striking pedigree to be a major advantage, but the moneyline is too expensive to qualify as a value recommendation without stronger evidence about Soumah's ability to impose his grappling.

Sofiane El Fatni vs. Mario Gagliardi: The closest ARES betting matchup

Among the available ARES 44 odds, Sofiane El Fatni vs. Mario Gagliardi appears considerably more competitive.

El Fatni enters at 4-1, while Gagliardi brings a perfect 4-0 professional record.

Both are still early in their professional development, and the relatively small sample of fights makes it difficult to confidently determine how their styles will translate against stronger opposition.

Available prices have El Fatni around -130, with Gagliardi between approximately -110 and +110 depending on the sportsbook.

That makes this one of the few ARES fights where the market expects a genuinely close contest.

However, a close betting line does not automatically create value. With limited reliable information about each fighter's recent opposition and tactical development, we do not see a compelling reason to select either side.

Other ARES 44 prospects: Misiuk, Hurtado and Bakhouche-Chareuf

The supporting card includes several unbeaten fighters attempting to move toward bigger opportunities.

Andrii Misiuk, 6-0, faces Thailand's Phruethukorn Chaichongcharden in a lightweight matchup. Misiuk is a substantial betting favorite, reflecting his unbeaten record and early professional success.

Melissa Hurtado enters at 3-0 against Polish strawweight Weronika Cisło. Both fighters have relatively limited professional experience, making the matchup important for their development within the division.

Bilal Bakhouche-Chareuf also enters undefeated at 3-0. He faces Daniel Rodrigues, another developing fighter seeking to establish himself on a larger stage.

Elsewhere, undefeated featherweight Benoit Prigent meets Jafar Yousifi, while Maher Belkhadir takes on Marc-Philippe Ngatchou in a lightweight contest.

ARES FC 44 full fight card

The latest 10-fight lineup:

ARES FC 44 begins at 19:30 CET on Saturday, October 31. The preliminary program is scheduled for Canal+ Sport's Twitch coverage, followed by Canal+ Sport 360 from 20:30 CET and the main card at approximately 21:30 CET.

International broadcast availability may vary, so viewers outside France should confirm whether the event is included through their local distribution arrangements.

October 31 MMA betting odds: Best opportunities across UFC, OKTAGON and ARES

The weekend offers a wide range of prices, from an almost even UFC main event to championship favorites priced well beyond -700.

Here is a comparison of several notable moneylines from October 30. The figures are indicative sportsbook snapshots rather than guaranteed prices.

Event Matchup Approximate odds MMAtown verdict
UFC Vegas 123 Moicano vs. Nolan Moicano -115 / Nolan -105 No bet
UFC Vegas 123 Brown vs. Smith Brown +210 / Smith -260 No bet
OKTAGON 96 Gogoladze vs. Ayari Gogoladze -800 / Ayari +450 No bet
OKTAGON 96 Paradeiser vs. Pfeifer Paradeiser -175 / Pfeifer +130 No bet
ARES FC 44 Younousov vs. Nam Younousov -1500 / Nam +600 No bet
ARES FC 44 El Fatni vs. Gagliardi El Fatni -130 / Gagliardi +110 No bet

We have deliberately avoided issuing an official MMAtown betting pick for any of the three events.

There are reasonable arguments for certain fighters, but none of the available prices provides a sufficiently strong combination of matchup advantage, reliable information and compensation for the risks involved.

The most tempting situations are the near-even Moicano vs. Nolan fight and the developing-prospect matchup between El Fatni and Gagliardi. Both, however, contain substantial uncertainties that make a confident value recommendation difficult.

OKTAGON's late opponent replacements and multiple weight misses further reduce confidence in the available markets. And ARES' biggest favorites are priced so aggressively that predicting their victories is not enough to justify a wager.

Passing on an entire weekend is preferable to presenting a prediction as betting value when the evidence does not support that conclusion.

October 31 MMA FAQ

What MMA events are happening on Saturday, October 31, 2026?

Three notable events take place on Saturday: UFC Vegas 123: Moicano vs. Nolan in Las Vegas, OKTAGON 96: Gogoladze vs. Ayari in Munich, and ARES FC 44: Younousov vs. Nam in Strasbourg.

What time does UFC Vegas 123 start?

The UFC Vegas 123 preliminary card begins at 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT on Saturday, October 31. The main card starts at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. The entire event streams on Paramount+ in the United States.

Why is Jessin Ayari fighting Amiran Gogoladze at OKTAGON 96?

Jessin Ayari accepted a short-notice championship opportunity after Felix Klinkhammer withdrew because of a training injury. Ayari now faces Gogoladze for the vacant OKTAGON welterweight title on October 31 in Munich.

Why was Gökhan Aksu vs. Niko Samsonidse canceled?

Niko Samsonidse withdrew from OKTAGON 96 because of injury. Rene Runge replaced him and is now scheduled to fight Gökhan Aksu at a 73-kilogram catchweight.

Who is fighting in the ARES FC 44 main event?

Undefeated ARES bantamweight champion Aboubakar Younousov (8-0) defends his title against former UFC veteran Tyson Nam (23-16-1) at the Zénith in Strasbourg, France.

Where can I watch OKTAGON 96 live?

RTL+ will stream OKTAGON 96 from 17:30 CET in Germany and supported territories. The event itself begins at 18:00 CET. International viewers can watch through OKTAGON.TV in eligible countries.

What are the betting odds for Renato Moicano vs. Tom Nolan?

October 30 markets price the UFC Vegas 123 headliner almost evenly. Moicano is approximately -115 to -125, while Nolan ranges from around -105 to +115 depending on the sportsbook. The line has moved toward Moicano during fight week.

What is MMAtown's best MMA bet for October 31?

MMAtown has not selected an official bet for the UFC, OKTAGON or ARES cards. Several favorites are priced too heavily, while the closer matchups contain enough uncertainty that we cannot establish a compelling value advantage at the available odds.

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