*Dan Hooker cracks Mateuz Gamrot with a heavy right hook. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

The UFC heads to the Accor Arena in Paris, France, for an outstanding Fight Night card. There are plenty of standout matchups, rising stars, and established contenders looking to put on a show this Saturday. In the co-main event, two quickly rising Lightweights collide when Farés Ziam takes on Axel Sola. In the main event, we finally get the highly anticipated debut of Salahdine Parnasse as he squares off with the always-dangerous Dan Hooker. Let’s take a look at the fights on the main card.

Losene Keita vs. Muhammad Naimov

*Losene Keita lands a stiff left hand on Nathaniel Wood. Credit: Zuffa LLC.*

Featherweight Bout

Losene Keita: 16-2-0, 10 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Muhammad Naimov: 13-4-0, 6 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Keita has won four of his last five fights and is seeking his first UFC win. He’s an excellent technical striker with serious power in his hands. He’s in perpetual motion, always moving and feinting with a karate-style bounce in his step. Keita favors power over volume and throws everything with knockout intent, maintaining his power throughout the fight and remaining dangerous at all times. He’s highly explosive and won’t telegraph his strikes, regularly unloading heavy, looping punches and particularly vicious body shots. Training at Lamiro Fight Club, he heats up as the fight continues, typically increasing his pace and output, but he always stays technical, never getting sloppy or telegraphing his strikes. Keita can produce a knockout at any time, and he has an even split of five first-round KOs and 5 knockouts in rounds 2 to 4.

*Muhammad Naimov fires a kick to the head of Bogdan Grad. MMA Mania.*

Naimov has won three of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over #8-ranked Featherweight Nathaniel Wood (23-6-0), Kaan Ofli (15-4-1), and Bogdan Grad (16-4-0). He’s a versatile scrapper with flashy striking and solid grappling. He has a background in Taekwondo and is a patient striker who doesn’t throw often but always throws heavy and in combination, often headhunting. Naimov will regularly attempt spinning attacks, especially kicks, and does a great job of not telegraphing them, often catching his opponent as they enter his range. He’s averaging over one takedown per fifteen minutes, using his striking to set up his grappling and regularly punching his way into takedowns. Training with Elevation Fight Team, he has solid top control and will land devastating ground and pound if he secures a dominant position. Naimov has solid cardio and will maintain a consistent pace across three rounds.

Kurtis Campbell vs. Trevor Peek

*Kurtis Campbell secures a takedown on Danny Silva. Credit: MMA Junkie.*

Featherweight Bout

Kurtis Campbell: 8-1-0, 5 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Trevor Peek: 9-3-0, 8 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Campbell has won four of his last five outings and is looking for his first UFC win. He’s a well-rounded fighter with excellent striking and dangerous grappling. He pursues a finish from the opening bell, immediately pressuring his opponent and backing them up before unloading heavy kicks. Campbell varies his attacks well, with particularly effective leg kicks, and has deceptive power, having produced three finish victories in a minute and a half or less. Training at the MMA Academy Liverpool, he often looks to grapple early and has excellent timing and entries on his takedowns, often chaining them together before securing a dominant position on the mat. He’s always working in top position, constantly advancing, landing ground-and-pound, and attempting submissions while maintaining smothering control of his opponent. Campbell is constantly pushing the action but has five-round experience and can maintain a heavy pace across three rounds.

*Trevor Peek unloads punches onto Mohammad Yahya. Credit: MMA Junkie.*

Peek has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Erick Gonzalez (14-8-0) and Mohammed Yahya (12-7-0). He’s a wild striker who’s always coming forward, looking for a knockout. He’ll regularly throw caution to the wind, unloading standing hammer fists and throwing every punch with maximum power. Peek usually does most of his damage with his hands, but he also has heavy kicks, especially to the head and legs. He won’t spend much time at range and constantly blitzes forward to unload extended combinations, usually consisting of wide hooks and overhands. Training at Agoge Combatives, he’s averaging over one takedown per 15 minutes in his promotional tenure and has great wrestling despite his brawling tendencies. Six of Peek’s eight knockouts have come in round one, and he always comes out guns blazing.

Daniil Donchenko vs. Punahele Soriano

*Daniil Donchenko lands a powerful kick to the head of Theodor Berggren. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Welterweight Bout

Daniil Donchenko: 15-2-0, 10 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Punahele Soriano: 13-4-0, 7 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Donchenko is on an eight-fight win streak and has UFC wins over Alex Morono (24-13-0) and Theodor Berggren (8-4-0). He’s a vicious, powerful kickboxer who can produce a finish at any time. He throws every shot with big power but is impressively accurate and won’t miss often. Donchenko is dangerous in the pocket and at range, constantly battering his opponents with brutal kicks to the legs and body before crashing into the pocket to let his hands go. Training at Tiger Muay Thai, he won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges but has great takedown defense and clinch striking. He’s willing to exchange inside the pocket but is extremely elusive, landing, on average, nearly four times as many significant strikes as he absorbs per minute in the UFC. Donchenko’s pace tends to slow as the fight continues, but he’s always dangerous and has earned 7 of his 12 finishes after the first round.

*Punahele Soriano blasts Uroš Medić with a vicious left hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Soriano has won four of his last five bouts and holds UFC victories over #10-ranked Welterweight Uroš Medić (14-3-0), Ramiz Brahimaj (13-7-0), and Nikolay Veretennikov (14-8-0). He’s a well-rounded fighter with devastating punching power and excellent wrestling. He won’t rush, instead walking his opponents down and picking his shots before stepping into the pocket to do damage. Soriano will constantly look to set up his left hand but will occasionally mix in sneakily powerful kicks, particularly to the head. He’s a former collegiate wrestler and Judo brown belt, averaging nearly two takedowns per fifteen minutes in the UFC. Training at Xtreme Couture, he has great trips in the clinch, powerful ground-and-pound, and excellent reversals, often finding himself in top position even when taken down. Soriano started his career as a Heavyweight, spent his first 7 UFC fights at Middleweight, and continues to carry Heavyweight power as a Welterweight.

#8 Michael Page vs. #15 Nursulton Ruziboev

*Michael Page exchanges blows in the pocket with Shara Magomedov. Credit: MMA Junkie.*

Middleweight Bout

Michael Page: 25-3-0, 13 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Nursulton Ruziboev: 37-9-2, 13 KO/TKO, 21 Sub.

Page has won four of his last five outings and holds UFC wins over #14-ranked Welterweight Kevin Holland (29-15-0), Jared Cannonier (18-10-0), and Shara Magomedov (17-1-0). One of the sport’s most technical kickboxers, he has a fantastic arsenal of flashy kicks and even flashier celebrations. He has outstanding counterstriking, typically floating along the outside of the cage and looking to draw his opponent into his range so he can counter with big shots. Training at London Shootfighters, Page is in perpetual motion, keeping his hands down and his stance wide, looking for openings to land devastating kicks or combinations. He never telegraphs his attacks, constantly changes his target, and has fantastic distance management, remaining elusive at all times. He typically won’t pursue grappling exchanges, but he has solid takedown defense and submission skills. With 13 first-round finishes, Page is particularly dangerous early on, but he remains dangerous throughout and can produce a highlight-reel finish at any time.

*Nursulton Ruziboev cracks Sedriques Dumas with a brutal uppercut. Credit: MMA Junkie.*

Ruziboev has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over Brunno Ferreira (15-4-0), Dustin Stoltzfus (17-8-0), and Sedriques Dumas (10-5-0). He’s a wild scrapper who’s always willing to throw caution to the wind in his pursuit of a knockout. He’s very tall and long for a Middleweight and uses it well, constantly throwing long, lunging punches and kicks. Ruziboev closes distance very quickly and tends to headhunt, regularly punching his way into the pocket and throwing with maximum power. He’s most comfortable on his feet but has solid takedown defense and will relentlessly posture up and throw ground-and-pound from top position. Training at Shahrixon MMA, he favors power over volume and regularly throws single punches and naked kicks, occasionally mixing in spinning kicks. Ruziboev has 34 wins via finish and has rarely seen the judges’ scorecards in his professional career.

Farés Ziam vs. Axel Sola

*Farés Ziam rips a left hook to the body of Mike Davis. Credit: MMA Junkie.*

Lightweight Bout

Farés Ziam: 18-5-0, 7 KO/TKO, 4 Sub.

Axel Sola: 12-1-1, 6 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Ziam has won four of his last five bouts and holds UFC wins over Mike Davis (12-3-0), Nazim Sadykhov (11-3-1), and Jai Herbert (14-6-1). He’s a versatile fighter with powerful, technical striking and dangerous grappling. Standing at 6’1, he uses his length well, regularly firing long, heavy straight punches on his way into the pocket. Ziam remains patient and composed throughout, picking his shots, constantly varying his targets, and rarely absorbing significant damage. Training at Kill Cliff FC, he’s averaging nearly two takedowns per fifteen minutes and is willing to string together attempts to bring the fight to the mat. He has excellent top control and is aggressive on the ground, constantly threatening with submission attempts while landing ground-and-pound. Ziam has outstanding cardio and tends to heat up as the fight continues, steadily increasing his pace and output.

*Axel Sola lands a vicious kick to the chin of Rhys McKee. Credit: MMA Junkie.*

Sola has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over Ismael Bonfim (20-7-0) and Rhys McKee (15-7-1). He’s an efficient, highly technical striker who’s comfortable anywhere the fight goes. Although he’s only been a professional since 2021, he had an extensive amateur MMA career with a 19-4 record. Sola always fights behind his jab and will look to wear down his opponent with footwork and straight punches before turning up the heat and going for a finish. Training with the Boxing Squad, he’s a solid grappler with great scrambles and reversals, and he will constantly look to posture up and land ground-and-pound from top position. He has outstanding striking in the clinch, especially with his elbows and knees, and will regularly keep his opponent against the cage and batter them with strikes. Sola has excellent cardio and gets increasingly dangerous as the fight continues, with six of his eight finishes coming after the first round.

#12 Dan Hooker vs. Salahdine Parnasse

*Dan Hooker stuns Jalin Turner with a stiff jab. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Lightweight Bout

Dan Hooker: 24-14-0, 11 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Salahdine Parnasse: 23-2-0, 8 KO/TKO, 7 Sub.

Hooker has won three of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #9-ranked Lightweight Mateusz Gamrot (25-4-0), Jalin Turner (16-9-0), and Gilbert Burns (22-10-0). He’s a vicious striker who’s always coming forward, looking to turn things into a dogfight. He has solid head movement and counterstriking, but he’s always willing to eat a shot to land one, regularly marching through his opponent’s offense to do damage of his own. Hooker is a devastating clinch striker, with some of the most brutal knees in the UFC and great dirty boxing. Training at City Kickboxing, he does a great job of mixing up his attacks and regularly lands brutal body shots. He has solid takedown defense and outstanding submissions, often defending takedowns with his guillotine choke. Hooker pushes a heavy pace and will never back down, always leaving everything inside the cage.

*Salahdine Parnasse unloads heavy ground-and-pound shots onto Kenneth Cross. Credit: The Independent.*

Parnasse is on a five-fight win streak and making his UFC debut. He’s a former KSW Lightweight and Featherweight champion with big-time punching power and outstanding grappling. He’s always in motion, doing everything with impressive speed, never telegraphing his attacks, and tending to headhunt. Parnasse has excellent counterstriking and favors power over volume, often catching his opponent with vicious power shots just as they enter his range. He’s very explosive and accurate, rarely wasting energy and always doing serious damage when he lands. He has solid takedowns and is very aggressive on top, relentlessly raining down ground-and-pound and hunting for chokes. Parnasse tends to improve as the fight goes on and has secured eleven of his fifteen finish wins between rounds 2 and 4.

Best Bets

Donchenko vs. Soriano Over 1.5 Rounds: This is an excellent matchup of two exciting Welterweights. Although I expect this fight to be highly entertaining, I don’t anticipate an early finish. Both fighters have proven to be impressively durable and possess serious punching power, which will likely lead them to fight a bit more cautiously than usual. I also expect Soriano to look to slow the pace throughout with his wrestling, and for a decent amount of this fight to play out on the mat. I believe there will be a brief feeling-out process to start the fight, with each fighter testing each other’s power and finding their range. As the fight continues, I expect Soriano to repeatedly pursue takedowns and clinch up, not allowing Donchenko to push his usual frenetic pace early on and significantly lowering the threat of a knockout from either side. I expect this fight to have plenty of wild moments, but I’m confident that it will last at least a round and a half.

Axel Sola Moneyline: This is a fascinating matchup of two excellent French talents. Both have well-rounded skill sets and are dangerous anywhere, but I believe Sola’s aggression and durability will be the difference maker. Ziam is exceptionally technically skilled on both his feet and on the mat, but he doesn’t always push a strong pace, often clinching up and controlling his opponent while avoiding risk. Sola is practically the opposite in terms of style: still very well-rounded, but constantly pushing the action and throwing caution to the wind in search of a finish. I expect Sola to come out guns blazing, immediately pressuring Ziam and not allowing him to get comfortable or establish a rhythm. As the fight continues, I believe Sola will stay right in Ziam’s face, doing damage, wearing down his cardio, and forcing him to exchange in the pocket. Ultimately, I expect plenty of heavily contested exchanges on their feet and on the mat, but I think Sola will be able to outgun and outlast Ziam en route to an impressive victory on home soil.

Hooker vs. Parnasse Under 3.5 Rounds: This is a fascinating matchup between an established veteran and a dangerous debutante that I’ve been looking forward to. Both fighters have finished the majority of their professional wins, and neither sees the scorecards often. Hooker always pushes a heavy pace and never backs down from a scrap, and Parnasse is making his UFC debut in his home country, so I’d imagine he’s pursuing a big-time finish to put his name on the map. I expect this fight to get off to a very quick start, with both fighters meeting in the middle and letting their hands go. I anticipate plenty of wild striking exchanges early on, with both swinging for the fences and taking damage. As the fight continues, I expect some grappling exchanges, likely initiated by Parnasse, but I don’t believe the pace will slow much, and things will be just as entertaining on the ground. Regardless of who secures the finish, I expect both men to go all-out throughout this fight, and for it to end within three and a half rounds.

UFC Fight Night: Hooker vs. Parnasse Preview