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UFC put a fresh fight-week spotlight on Salahdine Parnasse before his Paris main event debut, laying out the numbers behind the French lightweight who meets Dan Hooker on September 5 at Accor Arena. Hooker has already explained why he accepted the risk, but UFC’s new dossier frames Parnasse as more than a local attraction. Hooker said the Paris payday made the matchup worthwhile. The official UFC profile lists Parnasse at 28 years old, 5-foot-10, and 23-2. It also notes that he is undefeated at lightweight, with both professional losses coming in KSW title fights at other weights. “Previously regarded as one of the top talents outside of the UFC, France’s Salahdine Parnasse gets the rare main event assignment in his debut when he takes on veteran all-action man Dan Hooker in Paris.” “Accor Arena will certainly get behind their countryman, and Parnasse, whose reputation as a finisher is well-warranted, is keen to deliver a proper introduction.” The related UFC France post also pushed the arrival of Parnasse during fight week. Parnasse Arrives With A Finishing Record UFC’s notes list eight knockout wins and seven submission wins for Parnasse, including five rear-naked chokes. The same profile says he has finishes in his last nine wins and seven straight knockout or TKO victories. UFC Paris also has an all-French co-main between Fares Ziam and Axel Sola and a heavyweight test for Mario Pinto against Ryan Spann. Parnasse also arrives with a long title-fight record from KSW. “Has had 14 Title Fights in his 25-fight Pro Career” “Former 2-Division KSW Champion (Featherweight & Lightweight), won Interim Featherweight title in 2019, won Featherweight title in 2021, won Interim Lightweight Title in 2022, won Lightweight Title in 2024 and defended it 4 times” “Has wins over UFC-vets Marcin Held, Robert Ruchala, Filip Pejic, Marcin Wrzosek, Morgan Charriere, & William Gomis” In UFC’s Q&A, Parnasse traced his path back to childhood and explained what the UFC jump means to him. “I started MMA when I was 11 years old, when I saw the fights on TV, I knew I was made for it ; that’s why I wanted to fight and I had my first fight early on.” “Fighting in the UFC means being among the best fighters in the world.” Parnasse called his rematch with Torres the key fight of his career because he had already lost to him once and could not afford the second defeat. “The key fight of my career was my rematch against Torres. I had already lost to him because of a lucky shot, and I knew I couldn’t afford to lose to him a second time. Another loss would have had a major impact on the rest of my career.” He also described the deeper reason he stayed with MMA. “I have a strong need to release all my energy, and MMA allows me to do that in so many different ways, whether it’s on the ground, in the clinch, or through striking. It completely sets me free.” “That’s why I chose to train twice a day. Today, the results are showing, and I’ve reached a level that gives me the opportunity to aim for the very top.”