Younousov Says Wood Rejected UFC Paris Fight Over Surname

Undefeated bantamweight Aboubakar Younousov says Nathaniel Wood rejected a short-notice fight with him at UFC Paris because of his surname.

Younousov, the 8-0 Ares FC champion, told followers on Instagram he was ready to step in when Wood's original opponent pulled out of the September 5 card at Accor Arena. Wood, according to Younousov, declined the matchup despite holding advantages in weight, camp time, and UFC experience. "As you know, another fighter ultimately stepped in as a replacement because Nathaniel Wood refused to face me," Younousov wrote, per Sherdog. "Honestly, I'm actually pleased about it, because it shows I'm feared."

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Why '-ov' Surnames Create Obstacles For UFC Hopefuls

Younousov believes surnames ending in '-ov' or '-ev', common among fighters from the Caucasus region, carry a stigma that makes established names wary of booking those matchups. "These days, getting into the UFC is very difficult when your surname ends in 'ov' or 'ev'," he posted. He added that he has to work five times harder than others for the same opportunities but remains convinced his UFC debut is inevitable.

Wood instead faces undefeated Moldovan Pavel Andrusca, who accepted the fight on five days' notice. Younousov was willing to move up a weight class for the bout but thanked his manager for the effort and said he is 10,000 percent certain he will reach the UFC.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — UFC hopeful says his ‘-ov’ surname made Nathaniel Wood turn him down