Dan Hooker Receives Death Threats Ahead of UFC Paris Main Event vs Salahdine Parnasse

Dan Hooker Salahdine Parnasse death threats UFC Paris Accor Arena

The UFC announced that the September 5, 2026 main event in Paris will be headlined by veteran New Zealand lightweight Dan Hooker against French newcomer Salahdine Parnasse at the Accor Arena. Parnasse, a former double champion in KSW’s featherweight and lightweight divisions, signed a contract with the UFC and will debut in his hometown.

Hooker told Submission Radio that, since the fight was announced, he has been bombarded with “outrageous” death threats written in French, saying he will be killed. He said the threats are far worse than those he received when fighting Benoit Saint‑Denis at UFC 325 in Sydney and that he will use the hostility as motivation to defeat Parnasse. The French fans’ messages have shocked Hooker, but he plans to “spoil” the newcomer’s promotional debut.

KSW posted a farewell message on social media after Parnasse’s move to the UFC, wishing him success. The Paris bout will be the promotion’s third event in France since 2022.

Entities: Accor Arena · Dan Hooker · KSW · Salahdine Parnasse · UFC

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 4 SOURCES] Hooker said he will use the death threats as motivation to defeat Parnasse. (Hooker statements)
[● 3 SOURCES] KSW posted a farewell message on social media for Parnasse after his UFC signing. (KSW social media)
[● 5 SOURCES] Salahdine Parnasse signed a contract with the UFC, leaving the Polish promotion KSW. (UFC announcement)
[● 5 SOURCES] Salahdine Parnasse is a former double champion in KSW’s featherweight and lightweight divisions. (KSW records)
[● 5 SOURCES] Dan Hooker reported receiving death threats from French fans after the UFC Paris fight was announced. (Hooker statements)
[● 6 SOURCES] The UFC announced a main‑event fight in Paris on 5 September 2026 between Dan Hooker and Salahdine Parnasse. (UFC announcement)
[● 3 SOURCES] The fight will take place at the Accor Arena in Paris. (Event details)
[● 3 SOURCES] Hooker said the threats were more severe than those he received when fighting Benoit Saint‑Denis. (supported by articles 900e6f84‑..., 3f730b77‑..., b4f3b972‑...)
[● 5 SOURCES] Hooker said the death threats were “outrageous”. (Hooker statements)