Unbeaten Younousov claims Wood rejected him over feared Caucasian surname at UFC Paris

Unbeaten Ares FC bantamweight champion Aboubakar Younousov has claimed that Nathaniel Wood refused a short-notice matchup at UFC Paris on 5 September because his Caucasian surname marked him as too dangerous an opponent. Younousov made the allegation on Instagram after Pavel Andrusca was confirmed as Wood’s replacement at the Accor Arena in Paris.

Younousov (8-0) says he was prepared to step up on short notice and even move up a weight class to face Wood (23-6) after the Englishman’s original opponent, Mairon Santos, withdrew from the card roughly a week before fight night. He insists the circumstances favoured Wood — established weight, a full training camp and significantly more experience — yet the fight still did not happen.

“As you know, another fighter ultimately stepped in as a replacement because Nathaniel Wood refused to face me,” Younousov wrote. “Yet, the odds were stacked in his favor: weight, training camp, and experience. Honestly, I’m actually pleased about it, because it shows I’m feared. For my part, I was ready to take the fight at a moment’s notice. These days, getting into the UFC is very difficult when your surname ends in ‘ov’ or ‘ev’.”

Younousov’s argument rests on a widely held perception within MMA that fighters from the Caucasus region — whose surnames commonly end in ‘-ov’ or ‘-ev’ — carry a reputation for elite grappling and striking that makes opponents wary of accepting short-notice bouts against them. The Ares FC champion believes that reputation is actively costing him a UFC debut.

“Consequently, I have to work five times harder than everyone else to get the same opportunities,” he added. “In any case, we did everything in our power. Guys, everything is fine. It’s only a matter of time before I make it to the UFC and succeed there. I am 10,000% convinced of it.”

Wood has not publicly responded to the claims. The Londoner will instead face undefeated Moldovan Pavel Andrusca (8-0) — himself carrying an ‘-a’ suffix rather than ‘-ov’, though equally untested at UFC level — when UFC Paris takes place at the Accor Arena on 5 September.