ARES 42: full card, info and the clash Modibo Diakité

ARES 42: Paris reconnects the octagon

ARES, or ARES Fighting Championship, is the biggest French MMA organization. Understand: mixed martial arts, this combat sport where everything is allowed — feet, fists, wrestling, ground fighting — inside an eight-sided cage, the octagon. Since 2019, it has been electrifying the French scene.

On July 3, ARES 42 takes over the Adidas Arena, the 9,000-seat venue in Paris. Ten fights, two belts on the line, starting at 7:30 PM. The evening will be broadcast on CANAL+, the official ARES broadcaster in France.

At Project X Paris, we watch for these nights. Those when an entire arena holds its breath before the cage closes. July 3 will be one of those nights.

Two belts, ten fights: the card that ignites the Arena

Headlining, the main event — the featured fight — puts the welterweight belt (around 77 kg) on the line. Champion Jordan Zébo (10-1), nicknamed The Beast, defends his title against Andre Fialho (17-9), a veteran who passed through the UFC. Five rounds to decide.

Just below, the co-main event crowns the women's strawweight category (around 52 kg): Jade Jorand (5-3) vs Radija Aquino (2-1-1). Two belts in one night is rare.

The rest of the card is no filler. Amir Aliev, Antero dos Santos, Mouraz Kotchoyan, Ibrahima N'Diaye, Lionel Kamooze: a mix of rising French and international prospects. Ten fights, zero downtime.

Modibo Diakité, a king in silence

Modibo Diakité is like no one else. Born hearing impaired, he became the first hearing-impaired professional MMA fighter in France. A historic first, written with bare hands.

The Silent King reads lips. In fights as in training, no interpreter. When the Arena roars, he hears nothing — and that is perhaps where his strength lies. No noise to distract him: just instinct, sensations, the opponent’s gaze.

His path commands respect. Judo first, following in the footsteps of his six older brothers. Then the octagon at 16, like his brother Mohamed, up to MMA Factory. His role model? Jon Jones, one of the greatest in history. Today, the Silent King is undefeated in four fights, launched since his debut at ARES 29.

At Project X Paris, he is one of us. Modibo has entered the Cercle PXP, our ambassador circle. To mark the occasion, a diamond chain stamped with the brand’s emblem — a silent crown for a discreet but formidable king.

Diakité or Hamou, who will remain undefeated?

Two undefeated fighters enter the cage. Only one will leave with his zero intact. That’s the equation for this 100% French featherweight (66 kg): Modibo Diakité (4-0) vs Zakaria Hamou (4-0), nicknamed Tarzan.

This is the kind of fight that acts as a filter. The one who passes checks a box towards the elite; the one who falls drops lower in the hierarchy. Hamou is a tough opponent: undefeated as well, explosive, he’s not coming to Paris to make up the numbers.

But our bet leans one way. The Silent King fights at home, carried by an Arena heated to white-hot that he won’t hear — and this bubble of silence is his territory. When others tremble under the roar, he stays cool. Our prediction: Modibo keeps his zero.

See you on July 3. Don’t miss the king’s entrance.