UFC Paris: Hooker vs. Parnasse Preview and Predictions

Overseas we head this week as the UFC touches down in the land once ruled by Napoleon, with a plethora of fighters from the host country appearing throughout the event. Most notably, a Frenchman will make his UFC debut as accomplished boxer and mixed martial artist Salahdine Parnasse walks to the world-famous Octagon for the first time. Trying to spoil the debut is longtime UFC veteran Dan Hooker, who has spent time at featherweight but now seems to have found a permanent home in the lightweight division. Hooker has been in the cage against some of the best in the world, so a showdown against a fan favorite in enemy territory won’t rattle the cage of the New Zealander.

In the co-main event, it will be two fighters from the host country squaring off against one another as Fares Ziam faces Axel Sola. Ziam had a six-fight winning streak snapped in his last bout as he dropped a unanimous decision to Tom Nolan. He will try and regain some momentum against Sola, who won his last fight after having a similar winning streak snapped two fights ago.

The event airs live on Paramount+ starting at 12 p.m. ET. Combat Press writers Matt Petela and Andrew Sumian preview the action this week.

Salahdine Parnasse makes his UFC debut in a main event after a long and successful career outside the promotion; does he shine on the big stage and topple Dan Hooker?

Sumian: This has got to be one of the most intriguing debuts in a while. Parnasse has been near perfect throughout his combat career outside of the UFC, and he is entering the world’s largest MMA promotion at a prime age of 28 with 25 professional fights under his belt. For so long, the lightweight division of the UFC has been dominated by staples such as Charles Oliveira, Justin Gaethje and Islam Makhachev. It is great to see the new blood coming in, and Parnasse should be a fantastic addition to the best division in MMA today.

Dan Hooker finds himself in a tough spot. He has not won a UFC fight in over two years and was defeated handily in both of his last two losses against top-10 competition. That being said, Hooker is still a tough out for any newcomer, given his experience inside the Octagon against elite competition for so many years. At 36 years old, it is unimaginable that he has a run left in him, but he will always be the guy that the UFC calls to take the fights that nobody else wants to. In this particular case, why would any top-15 lightweight take on Parnasse? A loss almost guarantees an exit out of the rankings and will likely set them back years. Leave it to Hooker to walk the path that nobody else dares!

I know that Hooker is tough, but I am picking Parnasse to walk away with a memorable victory and finish. Yes, he has not fought the level of competition his opponent has, but he has undoubtedly proven he is ready for the big leagues. Parnasse by second- or third-round finish.

Petela: Poor Dan Hooker, the UFC sends him out to welcome the best debutants in the lightweight division. First, Michael Chandler and now Salahdine Parnasse. He made the mistake of thinking there would be a feeling-out period in his fight with Chandler, which anyone who had seen a Chandler fight knew was a mistake. That same strategy might actually work better this time around, as Parnasse is a much more deliberate opponent who won’t absolutely dive-bomb himself into Hooker looking for a quick win.

This one will be highly technical. I’m expecting a slow start as Parnasse gets used to the bright lights and Hooker adjusts to the intense crowd rooting for his demise. I think the action will heat up in the second and third rounds, and it will be closely contested for a while, with each man getting his licks in and taking some decent shots as well. The hands will be the difference-maker as the fight extends into the main-event rounds. Hooker will eventually fail to be able to defend against the jab of a former professional boxer like Parnasse, who can throw that lead hand from so many angles it doesn’t even make sense. It won’t be the punishment from the jab but rather the puzzling it creates that leads Hooker to end up out of position and eating an extended combination of punches that sends him to the floor and then forces him to cover up and the referee to halt the contest as the crowd erupts.

A pair of Frenchmen square off at lightweight in the co-main event; which man gets the nod in front of a hometown crowd?

Petela: Let’s be honest, if this fight was happening anywhere outside of France, it would be lucky to be on the main card. Neither one of these two are legitimate contenders right now, nor have they shown all that much in recent fights against upper-echelon competition to seem like contendership is in the near future. That being said, I think they will both bring the heat, and this one will deliver in a high-profile spot.

It probably goes the full three rounds, as neither one of these two are the world’s most prolific finishers. That’s not to say they don’t have the ability to finish fights. Matt Frevola would be the first to tell you that Ziam is able to finish fights, and Ismael Bonfim would say that Sola is certainly dangerous on the canvas. I see Ziam being able to keep this fight upright throughout and remain off his back, where Sola would have an advantage. Ziam will use his length and reach in order to do more damage over 15 minutes and get his hand raised in a back-and-forth affair.

Sumian: This fight has little to no stakes for a co-main event, but it should be fun. Ziam and Sola combine for an 8-2 record in their last five appearances. I am sure the betting line favors Ziam, given his experience, but I am going to pick Sola to get the job done. I think he will be more aggressive and ultimately take a risk that pays off and leads to a finish.

What one fighter’s UFC career is on the ropes at this event?

Sumian: There is only one right answer, and it is Michael Page. The fact that we are saying that about a fighter that is 4-1 since making his UFC debut is absolutely insane. I firmly believe that Michael Page was responsible for the second-worst fight in MMA history back in March 2026 against Sam Patterson. It was truly unbearable to watch, and the exciting aura that the Brit became famous for in Bellator is undeniably gone. He has become a boring, lackluster and risk-free fighter who has no interest in entertaining the crowd. Chances are he does the same and is sent on his merry way.

Petela: While I don’t disagree that this is a make-or-break fight for MVP, it could also be the end of the road for Nora Cornolle if she doesn’t get a win. She has lost two in a row and three of her last four fights. Dropping three straight isn’t the same automatic pink slip it once was, but four of five in the loss column might spell the end for her run inside the UFC.

Which fight is the sleeper match-up on this card?

Petela: Oumar Sy vs. Modestas Bukauskas. Nine of Sy’s wins have come before the final bell, and Bukauskas has 14 finishes on his record. Neither one of these two guys have been able to build up much momentum recently, so a win is much needed for both of these fighters. This one shouldn’t disappoint.

Sumian: Nathaniel Wood versus Pavel Andrusca. The disrespect that Nathaniel Wood is getting is bewildering. He is ranked No. 8 in the UFC featherweight rankings and continues to fight backward! To be fair, he has not finished a fight since March 2019, so the excitement factor must really be hurting his chances for a big opportunity. Andrusca is a knockout machine, and he is going to bring the fight to Wood. This one is my pick for fight of the night.

Who takes home the “Performance of the Night” honors?

Sumian: Ryan Spann. He makes it three finishes in a row and earns a second consecutive Performance of the Night bonus. Keep on going, Ryan!

Petela: Nursulton Ruziboev. He is fighting Michael Page at a perfect time. MVP has been a disappointment since signing with the UFC, mostly because his fights have completely lacked any excitement. He isn’t quite elite, and if he can’t at least be exciting, there is no reason to keep him around. Therefore, Page will get a little reckless looking for a highlight-reel moment and instead will be countered by a well-timed right hand from Ruziboev that closes the show in emphatic fashion.

Pair this card with…

Petela: I took three years of high school French, and Ms. Zavandro would be so disappointed that the only thing I remember about France or the French language revolves around Les Misérables, so I’ll say start the day with a viewing of the great French Revolution musical before watching the current age of French fighters.

Sumian: Beignets. There is a really good French bakery near my house, and they make as close as you can get to authentic beignets. Some coffee and French donuts to accompany an afternoon of French fights.