Dan
Hooker is eager to “ruin” Salahdine
Parnasse’s
Ultimate Fighting Championship debut.
The longtime UFC lightweight will square off against the former
two-division
KSW champion in the
UFC Paris main event on Sept. 5 at Accor Arena. While the
French standout looks to announce himself on the sport’s biggest
stage, Hooker plans to silence the home crowd.
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Dan Hooker targets Salahdine Parnasse’s UFC arrival in UFC
Paris main event
Hooker has revealed that the bout announcement was quickly followed
by a barrage of hostile messages from Parnasse’s supporters,
including death threats.
“The death threats have been outrageous,” Hooker told Submission
Radio. “I didn’t get it when I fought [Benoit St.
Denis]. French people have been speaking French and telling me
I’m going to die and telling me they’re going to kill me… Whoever
this c*nt’s fans are, they’re outrageous. It’s going to feel pretty
sweet to shut this kid’s lights out and making these guys eat their
words.”
The Kiwi added that he’s excited at the opportunity to upset the
French crowd by derailing Parnasse’s hype train.
“I’m here to ruin hopes and dreams,” Hooker said. “This kid wants
to come in, make a name for himself, crack the Top 10; he wants to
be a superstar. Well, I’m going to fly to France, and I’m going to
f*ck everyone’s night up. That is my plan.”
Parnasse (23-2) previously turned down the UFC and fought on the
first-ever MMA event on Netflix under the
Most Valuable Promotions banner. The UFC then returned with a
far better offer, hence the main event slot and ranked opponent in
Hooker (24-14).