Home of Fight Expert Picks: UFC Paris
UFC returns to the Accor Arena on Saturday for a lightweight-heavy card built around a marquee homecoming, with the main card kicking off at 3 p.m. ET on Paramount+.
The headliner pits veteran gatekeeper Dan Hooker against French sensation Salahdine Parnasse, who makes his long-awaited Octagon debut in front of a hometown crowd. Hooker, a top-10 lightweight looking to avoid a third straight loss, brings championship-level cardio, brutal leg kicks and a proven chin against elite competition. Parnasse enters unbeaten at 23-2 and undefeated as a pro since 2016, carrying real finishing instincts and well-rounded scrambling. The pressure of a promotional debut on French soil against a durable veteran makes this a genuine measuring-stick fight.
The co-main event features another all-French lightweight clash, as Fares Ziam looks to bounce back from a June loss against fellow countryman Axel Sola in a bout with real stakes for both men’s climb up the rankings.
Elsewhere on the card, British striker Michael “Venom” Page chases a fourth straight win against durable Uzbek grappler Nursulton Ruziboev in his final fight before free agency, while welterweights Daniil Donchenko and Punahele Soriano round out a stacked slate. Featherweight bouts pairing Losene Keita against Muhammad Naimov and Kurtis Campbell against Trevor Peek add finishing potential throughout.
Who do our experts like to get their hands raised in these matchups?
Dan Hooker vs. Salahdine Parnasse
HayJive – Salahdine Parnasse
“I’ll take Salahdine Parnasse in the main event. I don’t love where Dan Hooker is at this point in his career, although I do think he can present some problems for Parnasse on the feet. Parnasse hasn’t faced many strikers like Hooker, but he’s younger, faster, and has the ability to take the fight to the ground if needed. At this stage of their careers, I have to side with Parnasse.”
Nolan – Salahdine Parnasse
- “Parnasse is going to be much faster. He hits hard as well and Hooker hasn’t shown great durability and willingness to take damage lately.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Dan Hooker
- “Dan Hooker has the experience edge, is able to deal with adversity, pressure and brawls. I can see Parnasse feeding into the crowd and giving into a fight that Dan Hooker loves.”
The Fight Analyst – Salahdine Parnasse
- “While I am not keen on the betting line, Parnasse is just the better overall fighter at this stage of these two’s careers. If Parnasse can get Hooker down that is where he can dominate, eventually finishing him and make a statement in his UFC debut.”
Austin Swaim – Salahdine Parnasse
- “I understand the appeal of Dan Hooker at a huge moneyline, but Parnasse is lightning fast, times his takedown entries well, and has legitimate submission skills from the back. He’s fought great regional competition in KSW. Especially if he’s able to secure ground control, I think the Frenchman dominates this fight over a Kiwi that’s motivation is a bit questionable at this point.”
Fares Ziam vs. Axel Sola
HayJive – Fares Ziam
“I’ll take Fares Ziam in the co-main event. I don’t love the short turnaround for Sola, and I don’t think he’ll be able to consistently out-grapple Ziam. On the other hand, I think Ziam can have success grappling himself while also holding the advantage on the feet. With his more proven UFC résumé, I trust Ziam to get the win.”
Nolan – Axel Sola
- “Sola throws almost double the volume, he’s got some grappling, and is much more physical. Close fight, but I’ll take the dog.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Fares Ziam
- “I think this is a very competitive fight, hard to chose though I think the versatility and higher level experience from Ziam will make a difference.”
The Fight Analyst – Fares Ziam
- “Everyone is quick to write off Fares Ziam after his loss to the dangerous Tom Nolan but they are quick to forget the six-fight winning streak he had prior to that. He should go out there and utilize his size and reach advantage to outstrike the hittable Axel Sola at range to a decision victory in front of his home crowd.”
Austin Swaim – Axel Sola
- “Fares Ziam came crashing back to Earth, and his win streak is aging like milk. The guy’s career high for significant strikes in a fight is 61, and his knockdown rate (0.54%) is unassuming. I prefer a dart at the larger Sola, who continues to show an aggression for the finish and a significantly more intentional offensive strategy.”
Michael Page vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
HayJive – Michael Page
“I’ll take Michael Page. Ruziboev likely needs to find wrestling success, but that’s easier said than done against such an unusual style. Ruziboev has legitimate power and Page is getting older, but I don’t think he has the tools to consistently counter Page on the feet or turn those exchanges into takedowns. I expect Page to control the striking and win the fight.”
Nolan – Nursulton Ruziboev
- “MVP throws very little volume, and obviously he’s hard to hit. But we’ve seen him taken down before and Nursulton holds that ability. Nursulton is also massive and matches the size of MVP.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Nursulton Ruziboev
- “Size and strength will be a major factor in this fight, and I believe the UFC knows what they are doing by giving this fight to Ruziboev.”
The Fight Analyst – Nursulton Ruziboev
- “Nursulton Ruziboev imposes a difficult task for Michael Page. Page is used to fighting smaller welterweights but now he is fighting a bigger middleweight in Ruziboev. MVP had a tough time staying at distance against the rangier Ian Machado Garry and Kevin Holland, and that will stay true here. Ruziboev will utilize his size to get in on the inside and use his grappling to dominate MVP and potentially finishing him.”
Austin Swaim – Nursulton Ruziboev
- “The UFC isn’t protecting Venom Page anymore. Ian Garry and Jared Cannonier aren’t even takedown threats and were able to dominate Page on the ground at point. Training with Marquez MMA, Ruziboev’s evolving grappling features an 80% takedown accuracy, and he just scored his first UFC submission. I think a low-volume decision is Page’s one path to victory; “Black” has several.”
Punahele Soriano vs. Daniil Donchenko
HayJive – Daniil Donchenko
“I’ll take Daniil Donchenko. I think he’s the much better striker, attacking with punches, kicks, knees, and elbows to every level. He puts a lot of offense on his opponents, breaks them down, and has the ability to find the finish. Soriano likely needs to wrestle, but Donchenko is a good athlete who is urgent about getting back to his feet. If he keeps this standing, I expect him to outstrike the more predictable Soriano.”
Nolan – Punahele Soriano
- “Daniil is still getting his feet wet in the UFC while Puna is an established veteran. Puna has big power, wrestling, and is still improving between fight camps.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Daniil Donchenko
- “Too much forward pressure, ability to be in brawls as well as versatility will work for Donchenko’s favor here.”
The Fight Analyst – Punahele Soriano
- “Punahele Soriano has really found his footing in the welterweight division where he is now 4-0 in his new weight class. While Daniil Donchenko has the power to put Soriano away, I am more inclined that Soriano can weather the early storm and pour it on late as he takes it to Donchenko extending his winning streak to five in a row, putting him on the cusp for a top-15 matchup.”
Austin Swaim – Punahele Soriano
- “I came around to this idea. Training with the best coach in the sport, Puna Soriano is 4-0 at welterweight. I don’t love his gas tank and think his striking is subpar, but he’s been able to bully guys in the clinch, and we saw Donchenko taken down on TUF. These are two guys that aren’t as good as their record, so I may as well take the plus money.”
Kurtis Campbell vs. Trevor Peek
HayJive – Kurtis Campbell
“I’ll take Kurtis Campbell. Peek is always live to land something big, but I don’t trust him to consistently find that knockout. His power shots can be predictable, and I think Campbell will be able to use his wrestling to keep Peek on the defensive. I like Campbell to win minutes with his grappling and earn a decision.”
Nolan – Kurtis Campbell
- “People are down on Kurtis for loving to a slick cover in Silva. Peek has power, but not great technique. I think this is a better matchup for Kurtis and he can implement that grappling game easier here.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Kurtis Campbell
- “Hopefully the pressure is off Campbell now, and he’s able to pick his entries and mix his game against an opponent that does leave openings.”
The Fight Analyst – Kurtis Campbell
- “While I am not sold on Kurtis Campbell as a prospect, I think his grappling upside should be enough to overcome the power that will be coming this way from Trevor Peek. With Peek coming off a long layoff due to injuries and dropping down to 145 for the first time, I expect Campbell to utilize his grappling to take Peek down and finish him there.”
Austin Swaim – Kurtis Campbell
- “”The Pink Panther” was chinned by Danny Silva, one of the division’s most unheralded, in his debut, but he’s simply just got to avoid a clubbing right hand against brawler Trevor Peek. Peek’s 52% takedown defense is awful, and I’m not sure he’s fought a submission threat as potent as Kurtis Campbell on the back yet.”
Losene Keita vs. Muhammad Naimov
HayJive – Losene Keita
“I’ll take Losene Keita. I think this is a difficult stylistic matchup for Naimov, who likes to stay on the outside and win minutes through cage or top control rather than consistently exchanging. I don’t think he’ll be able to impose that game here. Keita is faster, hits hard, and should force Naimov into exchanges where he’ll struggle to keep up. I like Keita to eventually hurt him and find the finish.”
Nolan – Losene Keita
- “Huge bounce back spot for Keita after a tough fight with Nathaniel Wood. Naimov is hittable, can get hurt, and Keita will hold a massive speed advantage here.”
JJ (The Octagon King) – Muhammad Naimov
- “A lot of hype on Keita, who’s an aggressive striker, but I do believe we can see him getting controlled here.”
The Fight Analyst – Losene Keits
- “Losene Keita had the task of going up against the prospect killer Nathaniel Wood, who has the knack of beating these highly-touted prospects. He came on well toward the latter portion of the fight but it wasn’t enough, but I expect it to be different this time around. Keita should come out strong against Muhammad Naimov, and once he starts to land, he’s going to hurt Naimov, put him away, and get his first win inside the Octagon.”
Austin Swaim – Losene Keita
- “Speed is a huge factor in this featherweight opener. As a show of that, both of these guys fought Nathaniel Wood. He landed 38% of his significant strikes on Keita. It was 61% against Naimov. “Hillman” just lost a similar matchup to this against a fast kickboxer, and choosing to wrestle only seems to deplete his gas tank. Give me the former OKTAGON champ by Round 2 or 3 knockout.”
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