Salahdine Parnasse explains why it took years — and a UFC Paris main event — Yahoo Sports

RESOLVING THE LEDGER

Salahdine Parnasse explains why it took years — and a UFC Paris main event — Yahoo Sports | AIPROPX

At long last, Salahdine Parnasse is ready to take the UFC’s lightweight division by storm.

The 28-year-old Frenchman has long been considered one of the most talented fighters outside of the UFC. Parnasse left a destructive first impression on American audiences in May with his quick knockout of Kenneth Cross on Netflix’s Ronda Rousey-led MVP MMA card, but prior to that he was already one of the kings of European MMA . During a nine-year run with Polish giant KSW, Parnasse captured belts at both featherweight and lightweight, and even fought five rounds for the welterweight title as well.

Through it all, Parnasse spurned multiple opportunities to jump ship to the UFC, with Parnasse’s coach Stéphane Chaufourier stating in 2024 that KSW’s offer to secure the Frenchmen’s services was 20 to 30 times greater , and some online reports suggesting Parnasse was earning as much as €600,000 per fight . But now, the time has finally come.

UFC announced Saturday that Parnasse has signed a deal and is set to face longtime contender Dan Hooker in a rare debut main event on Sept. 5 at UFC Paris.

"After my fight with MVP, the UFC contacted me, and it was an opportunity, it was really simple — it was to be part of this main event in my hometown in Paris. So it was a really good opportunity for me and I accepted,” Parnasse told Uncrowned on Monday through a translator.

“This time, they offered me a really good opportunity. First of all, the deal was better [than last time], and they offered me the [chance] to be part of the rankings by taking a fight against Dan Hooker. So it is a really good opportunity for me to accept this challenge."

Parnasse (23-2) said “several organizations” contacted him during his latest free agency period, including MVP MMA for a potential follow-up bout, but he ultimately decided to accept the UFC’s offer “because it was the most challenging and bigger for me.”

Parnasse is known as a vicious offensive fighter in the cage, with his past eight victories since 2022 coming by way of stoppage. All seven of those prior to his Netflix win over Cross came in KSW title bouts in either the featherweight or lightweight division.

“It’s a really good contract,” Parnasse said of the offer that finally pushed him to join UFC. “Fortunately, I have to prove that I deserve this and I am at the top level for my fans.”

“Of course it’s an incredible feeling [to debut in a Paris main event],” he added. “For me, it represents years of hard work finally paying off. I dominated the European scene and also I fought on the first MMA event on Netflix, and now I’m ready for the next stage.”

It’s rare to see UFC newcomers debut not only in a headlining spot, but also against an opponent the caliber of Hooker. The 36-year-old New Zealander has been a ranked contender for the better part of a decade, earning UFC wins over the likes of Mateusz Gamrot, Gilbert Burns, Jalin Turner and Paul Felder, while also testing himself against divisional stars like Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier and Arman Tsarukyan.

Following Saturday’s announcement, Hooker told Submission Radio that Parnasse’s French fans have already begun barraging him with “outrageous” death threats:

“The death threats have been outrageous. I didn’t get it when I fought [Benoit Saint Denis]. Like just the French people and speaking French telling me I’m going to die and telling me they’re going to kill me and s***. The death threats have been outrageous.”

Parnasse, though, isn’t concerned.

"Everything with the fans, my fans or Dan Hooker's fans, doesn't concern me,” he said in response. “I have only one goal, and it's to fight Dan Hooker on September 5.

“I respect Dan Hooker, but the fans do what they want. It doesn't concern me. Dan Hooker's fans can say nasty things to me, but I'm only focused on the fight."