Salahdine Parnasse signs with UFC, headlines Paris bout vs Dan Hooker

French lightweight Salahdine Parnasse has signed a contract with the UFC and will make his debut as the headliner of UFC Paris on 5 September 2026. The five‑round lightweight fight against New Zealand veteran Dan Hooker will take place in Paris, with the venue expected to be the Accor Arena. Parnasse, a former KSW champion in both featherweight and lightweight, arrives with a 23‑2 record and ten victories in his last eleven bouts. After turning down a lower‑paid offer in 2024, he secured a deal that meets his asking price, prompting the promotion to place him directly in a main‑event slot.

Hooker, currently ranked ninth in the UFC lightweight division, enters the match on a two‑fight losing streak after TKO defeats to Benoît Saint‑Denis and Arman Tsarukyan. The bout was announced during the UFC Fight Night broadcast from Abu Dhabi and marks Parnasse’s first appearance in the organization’s octagon. In his social‑media statement, Parnasse expressed pride in representing France, Morocco and Guadeloupe, promising to “give everything” on the biggest stage of his career.