Canadian featherweight Charles (Air) Jourdain lost a unanimous decision to EnglandB次元官网网址檚 Nathaniel (The Prospect) Wood on a UFC Fight Night card Saturday.

The judges scored it for 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 for LondonB次元官网网址檚 Wood after a tight fight contested in close quarters with both landing shots.

The show at Accor Arena was the UFCB次元官网网址檚 first in France, which adopted regulations allowing MMA in January 2020. Former welterweight and middleweight champion Georges St-Pierre of Montreal was cageside for the event.

Earlier, veteran Montreal lightweight John (The Bull) Makdessi lost a unanimous decision to German-born Moroccan Nasrat Haqparast in a battle of former teammates at MontrealB次元官网网址檚 renowned Tristar Gym.

The judges scored it 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 for Haqparast after a bout contested almost entirely on the feet. Makdessi, awarded the first round by one of the judges, nodded and applauded as the decision was announced.

At five foot nine, Jourdain had a three-inch height advantage in the opening bout of the main card. But Wood had power in his hands and repeatedly managed to send the Canadian to the ground with trips.

Wood (15-8-0) beat Charles (Boston Strong) Rosa last time in July in his first outing at 145 pounds after campaigning as a bantamweight (135 pounds).

B次元官网网址淚 feel incredible at this weight class,B次元官网网址� Wood, who improved to 6-2-0 in the UFC, said after the win. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e had two years off for injuries. ThereB次元官网网址檚 a new boy in town at 145 (pounds).B次元官网网址�

Wood acknowledged he suffers from anxiety and felt it before this bout.

B次元官网网址淚 trained for Charles like I was fighting, I donB次元官网网址檛 know, an absolute monster which he is B次元官网网址� Hats off to Charles, heB次元官网网址檚 one hell of a fighter,B次元官网网址� he added.

FranceB次元官网网址檚 Ciryl (Bon Gamin) Gane (10-1-0), a former interim heavyweight champion, faced Australian Tai (Bam Bam) Tuivasa (15-3-0) in the main event. Gane is ranked No. 1 among heavyweight contenders compared to No. 3 for Tuivasa, who came into the fight with 11 first-round finishes.

Jourdain (13-6-1) was coming off a majority-decision loss to (Hurricane) Shane Burgos in July after a late rally fell short. The 26-year-old from Beloeil, Que., had won two straight prior to that. His UFC record dropped to 4-5-1.

The two came out swinging and Jourdain found himself on his back in the first minute after being taken down. Wood was unable to do damage on the ground and the Canadian used the fence to get back up.

Jourdain then went to work striking, only to be wobbled by a blow to the temple from Wood. The two touched gloves as a sign of respect after a busy first round. While Jourdain was busier, WoodB次元官网网址檚 power was evident.

The Canadian ended on the ground again in the second round but got up quickly. Jourdain went to the body but ended back on the mat after a Wood trip. Referee Rich Mitchell stood the fighters up as the action stalled on the ground.

The two continued the fight at close quarters, both scoring with strikes in gruelling action. They exchanged brief takedowns before the round ended.

Jourdain had a mouse under his right eye after two close rounds. Wood scored with elbows and got Jourdain down to the ground two more times.

Makdessi and Haqparast, who had been scheduled to meet on two previous occasions but the bout never came off, exchanged words at FridayB次元官网网址檚 ceremonial faceoff with Haqparast repeating B次元官网网址淟etB次元官网网址檚 go.B次元官网网址�

But Haqparast was gracious in victory, praising Makdessi, was giving up 10 years and two inches in height and four in reach to his five-foot-10 opponent.

Makdessi (18-8-0) stalked Haqparast from the get-go, landing kicks while a patient Haqparast looked to counter as he found his striking range. The crowd did not see enough action, booing the fighters as they went to their corners with referee Marc Goddard stepping in to separate the two when the round ended.

MakdessiB次元官网网址檚 face began to show damage as the fight wore on with blood leaking from around his eye. The Canadian asked for a stop two minutes into the second round for an eye-poke but Goddard told him to keep fighting.

Haqparast (14-5-0) dropped Makdessi with a right hook with 90 seconds remaining in the round but the Canadian survived.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got to go hard this round,B次元官网网址� MakdessiB次元官网网址檚 corner told him ahead of the third round.

The 37-year-old Makdessi kept coming forward in the third but at a cost, absorbing Haqparast strikes. And he was taken down twice in the dying seconds as he looked to press the action.

Makdessi, whose UFC career dates back to UFC 124 in December 2010, had won four of his previous five fights. His record in the promotion stands at 11-8-0.

Haqparast, who is 6-4-0 in the UFC, was coming off back-to back losses to Bobby (King) Green and Dan (The Hangman) Hooker.

B次元官网网址� The Canadian Press