UFC Fight Night 258: Shauna Bannon vs Sam Hughes Preview & Prediction
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The prelims at UFC Paris kick off with the only female fight on the card in the strawweight division, as Ireland’s Shauna Bannon takes on gritty American veteran Sam Hughes.
Shauna Bannon vs Sam Hughes facts
What time are Shauna Bannon and Sam Hughes expected to walk out?
Where is UFC Fight Night 258: Imavov vs Borralho? Accor Arena, Paris, France
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night 258: Imavov vs Borralho? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 258
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night 258: Imavov vs Borralho on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN+
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night 258: Imavov vs Borralho? UK – TNT Sports subscribers can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC Fight Night 258: Imavov vs Borralho main card
Nassourdine Imavov vs Caio Borralho (Middleweight)
Benoit Saint Denis vs Mauricio Ruffy (Lightweight)
Modestas Bukauskas vs Paul Craig (Light Heavyweight)
Bolaji Oki vs Mason Jones (Lightweight)
Rhys McKee vs Axel Sola (Welterweight)
UFC Fight Night 258: Imavov vs Borralho prelims
William Gomis vs Robert Ruchala (Featherweight)
Oumar Sy vs Brendson Ribeiro (Light Heavyweight)
Marcin Tybura vs Ante Delija (Heavyweight)
Harry Hardwick vs Kaue Fernandez (Lightweight)
Sam Patterson vs Trey Waters (Welterweight)
Brad Tavares vs Robert Bryczek (Middleweight)
Andreas Gustafsson vs Rinat Fakhretdinov (Welterweight)
Shauna Bannon vs Sam Hughes (Women’s Strawweight)
The prelims at UFC Paris feature the only female fight on the card in the strawweight division, as Ireland’s Shauna Bannon takes on gritty American veteran Sam Hughes.
Shauna Bannon: Ireland’s Leading Lady in the UFC
Shauna Bannon (7-1) enters this bout on a two-fight winning streak, most recently submitting Puja Tomar via armbar. Prior to that, she edged out Alice Ardelean in a split decision. The 31-year-old lost her UFC debut to Bruna Brasil via unanimous decision but has since rebounded well, and now holds a 2-1 record in the promotion.
A former point-style taekwondo striker, Bannon is known for her speed and clean technique. However, her lack of power and tendency to rely on predictable kicks — especially the body kick — can make her striking a little one-dimensional at range. She’s never been finished in her career, but her grappling remains underwhelming, particularly when put under pressure.
Sam Hughes: Rewriting the Narrative with Grit and Grind
Sam Hughes (10-6) has experienced a resurgence in her UFC career, entering this match-up on a two-fight winning streak. Both of her recent victories — over Stephanie Luciano and Victoria Dudakova — came by split decision, showcasing her ability to edge out tough fights. Training out of Fortis MMA under top coach Sayif Saud, the 33-year-old brings a wealth of Octagon experience with a 5-5 UFC record.
Known for her gritty, relentless approach, Hughes is a pressure-heavy wrestler who looks to grind opponents down. While her striking is serviceable, it’s her ability to dictate the pace, mix in takedowns, and land ground-and-pound that makes her effective. She excels in making fights ugly and dragging her opponents into uncomfortable territory.
Shauna Bannon vs Sam Hughes prediction
Sam Hughes enters this bout with the edge in UFC experience and a fighting style that could cause problems for Bannon. While the Irish fighter may have the cleaner striking technique, Hughes is expected to push a pace that disrupts Bannon’s rhythm and neutralises her range attacks.
Look for Hughes to mix in her wrestling, apply top pressure, and outwork Bannon over the course of the fight. With her grit, cardio, and game plan, she appears well-suited to grind out another decision victory.
Prediction: Sam Hughes to win, over 1.5 rounds
