Salahdine Parnasse is ready to make waves in the UFC.
Parnasse (23-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) is finally octagon bound and will face perennial lightweight contender Dan Hooker (24-14 MMA, 14-10 UFC) in the UFC Fight Night 287 headliner on Sept. 5 in Paris (Paramount+).
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Parnasse commented on the news of his signing in a post on X.
“Today, I’m going through the biggest step of my career: I’ll be fighting in the UFC, and my first fight will be a main event in Paris on Sept. 5. I don’t forget where I come from, I don’t forget the path I’ve traveled. None of this happened by chance, it’s the result of work, sacrifices, and especially your support. I am proud to carry the colors of France, Morocco, and Guadeloupe on the biggest stage of this sport. I didn’t get here alone. Thank you to everyone who’s followed me from the start. I am going to give it my all. We’re in this together. LET’S GO.”
Parnasse, 28, has been on the UFC’s radar for years. The former two-division KSW champion is coming off a first-round knockout of Kenneth Cross at MVP MMA on Netflix in May.
UFC commentator and former dual-champion Daniel Cormier reacted to Parnasse joining the roster during Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 282 broadcast, where the news was announced.
“Parnasse is a sick fighter,” Cormier said. “And honestly, I’ve been hearing stories about this guy in his training situations with guys that are already in the UFC, and the success that he’s having with super high-level talent. We saw in his last fight the dominance that he displayed in that fight, but to get Dan Hooker in a main event speaks to who Parnasse is, because you don’t get main events in your debut unless you’re truly special. Let’s see how he handles not just the big stage, but the biggest stage in all of mixed martial arts because the lights are going to be on him now, especially against a guy in Dan Hooker who has main evented many, many times.”
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This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Salahdine Parnasse reacts to UFC signing: ‘None of this happened by chance’
