This Saturday, Sept. 5, the UFC hits the “City of Light” for its annual Paris fight night, and we are finally getting the highly-anticipated promotional debut of former KSW kingpin Salahdine Parnasse. This dude, who held gold at both featherweight and lightweight for the Polish MMA giant, is stepping into the Octagon against veteran lightweight contender Dan Hooker.
“The Hangman” Is In For A Rude Welcome
Dan Hooker, “The Hangman” himself, is heading into enemy territory with what the source says is “a big upset in mind.” But let’s be real, his late-career resurgence seems to have hit a wall after that sweet three-fight win streak from 2022-24. Since then, he’s suffered two tough defeats to Arman Tsarukyan and Benoit Saint Denis. No shame in those losses, but they definitely showed us what Hooker is at this stage: an ultra-tough, savvy veteran who is limited, but still very dangerous on his feet. The problem? Parnasse is an absolute nightmare. Like Tsarukyan and “BSD,” Parnasse has all the tools to beat and dissect opponents wherever the fight goes. He is a wildly exciting addition to the division because he is so well-rounded. This man brings nasty ground-and-pound, submission ability when he softens opponents, and he still works the body and throws strikes in a diverse manner. Seriously, there is just so much more to think and worry about with Parnasse. The secret to beating Hooker, which is just closing the distance and forcing him to work, isn’t a secret anymore. Someone like Parnasse is going to have a field day. Purely from a technical perspective, Parnasse may already be the best in the UFC’s 155-pound ranks. The oddsmakers agree, putting Parnasse at -600 against Hooker’s +425.
French Talent Steals The Show
The UFC really stacked this event with European talent, even giving us a rare France versus France co-main event, which is awesome. Beyond the main attraction, we’ve got Farès Ziam (-150) squaring off against Axel Sola (+125) in another 155-pound clash. Axel Sola has shown so much promise so far in his career. Aside from his single setback against Mason Jones, this former Ares champion has been perfection in the lightweight ranks, even rebounding with a sick first-round D’arce choke of Ismael Bonfim back in July. Farès Ziam was on a six-fight win streak in the UFC that flew totally under the radar until his latest outing against Tom Nolan, where he showed he still has some gaps to close. Both Frenchmen usually prefer to stand and bang, but they can both handle themselves on the ground. If we are leaning towards a stronger finisher, Sola has been slightly more impressive in his career. Don’t get it twisted, Ziam has done solid work, but Sola just feels like the one to watch here.
This Saturday is all about that atmosphere and witnessing the arrival of Parnasse. Can Hooker pull off the impossible upset, or will Parnasse prove exactly why he is already considered the division’s best? You do not want to miss this.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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