MMA: Salahdine Parnasse makes explosive UFC debut at Bercy

Salahdine Parnasse needed less than three minutes to announce himself in the UFC. The French-Moroccan fighter stopped New Zealand's Dan Hooker at Bercy on Saturday night, winning the main event at Paris's Accor Arena in 2 minutes 35 seconds.

The 28-year-old Aubervilliers native entered to a crowd that included Victor Wembanyama, Rudy Gobert and Ciryl Gane. Until now, Parnasse had been regarded as one of the best fighters outside the UFC, and his first appearance gave him the chance to prove that reputation on the organisation's biggest stage.

Hooker, ranked 12th in the world among lightweights, had said he intended to spoil the celebration. He had lost his previous two fights, including a February defeat by another Frenchman, Benoit Saint-Denis. Parnasse instead took control with a kick to the liver, followed with a strike to the head and finished the fight on the ground.

The UFC had chosen Parnasse to headline its Paris event after featuring Ciryl Gane twice, Benoit Saint-Denis in 2024 and Nassourdine Imavov last year. That billing was unusual for a newcomer to Dana White's organisation, but Parnasse arrived with a strong record from Poland's KSW, where he won titles in two weight classes. After a spell in the MVP league, he made the impact expected of one of his generation's most highly regarded prospects. “I am the best fighter in the world, I finish all my fights by knockout. I worked hard for this,” he said in the octagon. His record now stands at 24 wins and two losses. In another French showcase, Axel Sola stopped Farès Ziam in 1 minute 40 seconds with a left hook to the chin.

“

I am the best fighter in the world, I finish all my fights by knockout. I worked hard for this.