By Field Level Media
Sep 05 (Field Level Media) - Lightweight Salahdine Parnasse won his UFC debut in emphatic fashion with a first-round liver kick TKO against New Zealand's Dan Hooker in the main event of UFC Fight Night in Paris, France, Saturday at Accor Arena. Parnasse only needed 2:35 of the frame to finish the fight.
"I'm the best fighter in the world," Parnasse said. "I knew I was going to finish the fight. I finish all my fights by KO."
Parnasse (24-2 MMA) said he's interested in fighting former
UFC featherweight and "BMF" champion Max Holloway or a top-five opponent for his second Octagon outing.
"Thank you, Dana (White) for the opportunity," Parnasse said.
Parnasse previously competed for other MMA promotions all over the world, including MVP MMA and Poland's KSW.
Hooker (24-15 MMA) has dropped three straight fights and entered the fight No. 10 in the division.
In the co-headliner, lightweight Axel Sola of France beat fellow native Fares Ziam with one left hook 1:40 into the opening round. Sola (13-1-1 MMA) has won back-to-back fights, while Ziam is on the direct inverse path despite having won six of his last eight fights. The KO saw Ziam (18-6 MMA) go unconscious, leaving the crowd in stunned silence.
The next fight saw middleweight Michael Page of England win a unanimous decision over Uzbekistan's Nursulton Ruziboev in a lackluster all-around performance to the tune of immense boos from the Accor Arena audience. Page (26-3 MMA) swept the judges' scorecards 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 in what was the final fight of his UFC contract, improving to 5-1 in the promotion. Ruziboev (37-10-2 MMA) had his three-fight winning streak snapped.
Welterweight Daniil Donchenko of Ukraine won a unanimous decision over Hawaii's Punahele Soriano with a mix of dominant wrestling and unorthodox striking across the 15-minute contest. Donchenko (16-2 MMA) took the cards 30-27, 30-27, 29-28 as he continues his momentum following his Ultimate Fighter Season 33 finale last fall. Soriano (13-5 MMA) had a four-fight winning streak snapped.
Featherweight Kurtis Campbell turned in an effortless performance over Trevor Peek, finding a third-round rear-naked choke at 3:07 in the third round. Campbell (9-1 MMA) of England became the first fighter to finish Peek, as Campbell set a UFC featherweight record with 13 takedowns throughout the fight. Peek (9-4 MMA) has lost three straight, last seeing the win column in Oct. 2023.
Featherweight Losene Keita of Guinea began the UFC Paris main card with a devastating overhand right to finish Muhammad Naimov at 2:54 of the opening round. Keita (17-2 MMA) improved to 1-1 under the UFC banner with his 11th KO/TKO in MMA overall, while Tajikistan's Naimov (13-5 MMA) has lost three of his last five.
(--Field Level Media)
