Martial Arts News

Salahdine Parnasse made a statement in his Ultimate Fighting Championship debut.

The former two-division KSW champion stopped Dan Hooker with a body kick and follow-up strikes in the first round of the UFC Paris main event. Parnasse subsequently reiterated his claim that he’s already one of the best in the world.

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Salahdine Parnasse targets Max Holloway after stopping Dan Hooker at UFC Paris Parnasse carried a five-fight win streak into his Octagon debut and is high in confidence after a near-perfect introduction to UFC fans. He was in good spirits after the fight, claiming that his performance reflects just how dangerous he is to other UFC lightweights.

“I threw the kick and then I threw a punch and to be honest with you, I got to rewatch the fight, but I don’t remember exactly everything,” Parnasse said in a post-fight interview. “I showed that I’m one of the best in the world, I showed that I’m dangerous and I’m here.”

The Frenchman also ca…

Oumar Sy wanted to give French fans a stoppage win to celebrate, resulting in his loss.

Sy was a -210 favorite going into his Ultimate Fighting Championship clash against Modestas Bukauskas in front of a home crowd at UFC Paris. He now admits that chasing the finish led to his defeat.

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Oumar Sy says pursuing a stoppage against Modestas Bukauskas contributed to his UFC Paris defeat Sy dominated Bukauskas in the first round, landing brutal elbows towards the end of the round with referee Jason Herzog watching very closely. Bukauskas was barely saved by the bell, with Herzog warning him to defend himself. While Sy started the second round with the same dominance, Bukauskas was able to return to his feet and defend a desperate takedown attempt. Bukauskas then dropped Sy with a knee and rained vicious follow-up shots to earn a shocking upset win.

Sy apologized to his fans, whom he wanted to give a stoppage win. However, he assures that the loss won’t de…

Islam Makhachev accepted Jordan Burroughs’ recent callout, but with a condition.

Burroughs took on Magomed Kurbanaliev in a wrestling match at RAF Moscow. Burroughs took less than 90 seconds to defeat Kurbanaliev via a 10-0 tech fall and subsequently called for a wrestling matchup against Makhachev in Russia.

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Jordan Burroughs challenged Islam Makhachev after dominant win in Russia The Olympic gold medalist called out the reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight champ in his post-fight interview.

“Islam, where are you? Hey, I came to your country, to your capital city, and tech-fall’d one of your champions. I will be back to Russia very soon and the only person I want to share the stage with is Islam.”

Makhachev congratulated Burroughs on the win while calling him a legend. The Dagestani accepted a matchup against Burroughs, but inside the cage, probably referring to an MMA bout.

“Congrats on your win legend,” Makhachev wrote…

Michael Page once again left the Octagon feeling he had more to offer.

Page beat Nursulton Ruziboev via unanimous decision in the final bout of his current Ultimate Fighting Championship contract. Having built a reputation as one of the most feared knockout artists in mixed martial arts prior to joining the UFC, the Englishman is frustrated with yet another decision win.

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Michael Page wants to take more risks after beating Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC Paris Page admitted during a post-fight interview at UFC Paris that feeling comfortable during a fight can sometimes be a bad sign because it means he hasn’t pushed himself enough. He believes he needs to take more chances rather than constantly searching for the perfect moment to land flashy strikes.

“The frustrating thing is I feel great, which sometimes means I haven't done enough and the results show that I haven't done enough,” Page said. “Probably need to push myself a little bit more, take a few m…

Paddy Pimblett claims he hasn’t been offered a fight against Ilia Topuria amidst rumors the two could square off next.

Sean O'Malley’s coach, Tim Welch, recently claimed to have heard rumors of a potential matchup between Pimblett (24-4) and Topuria (17-1) being in the works for December. However, while “The Baddy” admittedly wants to return in December, he says he hasn’t been offered Topuria and is open to fighting any of the top lightweights in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

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Paddy Pimblett says UFC hasn't approached him about Ilia Topuria fight Pimblett claims he hasn’t been approached by the UFC about a potential Topuria fight, but is open to taking on the former two-division champ next, in addition to Arman Tsarukyan, Mauricio Ruffy, Charles Oliveira and current champ Justin Gaethje.

“I’d love to smash [Ilia’s] head in, lad, but we need to wait and see. No one spoke to me about it,” Pimblett told Eze Obasi. “[I could fight] Arman, Gaethje,…

Khamzat Chimaev’s hit list for his next fight has been cut in half.

“Borz” had recently shortlisted Sean Strickland, Nassourdine Imavov, Dricus Du Plessis and Caio Borralho for his next fight. Borralho had accepted Chimaev’s callout, proposing a matchup in November at Madison Square Garden. Chimaev’s stance has now changed.

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Chimaev says UFC told him Caio Borralho and Dricus Du Plessis are injured Chimaev claims the UFC recently informed him that Borralho and du Plessis are currently injured. Meanwhile, Imavov is expected to challenge Strickland for the UFC middleweight title next. While Chimaev acknowledged Imavov as a deserving contender, he will be ready to face either “The Sniper” or Strickland if their title fight doesn’t come to fruition.

“I call out everyone,” Chimaev told Red Corner MMA. “I want to come back as soon as possible. Earlier, I said that I want to return in October, and I called Hunter. They told me that Caio and du Plessis are in…

For the UNDISPUTED belt 🏆

Natalia Silva takes on Wang Cong in the #UFC332 main event!

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[ OCT 3 | Main Card LIVE on @CBSSports & @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/1ISclcB8ik — UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) September 5, 2026 A new Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s flyweight queen will be crowned at the forthcoming UFC 332 event.

During the broadcast of this year’s UFC Paris event, the Nevada-based promotion announced that Valentina Shevchenko would vacate her women’s 125-pound title due to injury. Natalia Silva and Cong Wang will collide in the UFC 332 headliner with the undisputed championship on the line. Shevchenko last fought in November, when she defended the title and denied former 115-pound champ Weili Zhang’s attempt to become a two-division titleholder. “Bullet” was supposed to make her Octagon return against Silva at UFC 332 before an undisclosed injury forced her out of the fight.

Silva ea…

LIGHTNING QUICK ⚡️@SalahdineP earns the knockout FAST to end #UFCParis!

[ @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/QpxrkEtPb8

— UFC (@ufc) September 5, 2026 Four fighters pocketed an extra $100,000 after earning UFC Paris performance bonuses.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship made sure that four knockout artists were rewarded handsomely for their violent finishes. To the surprise of no one, UFC Paris headliner Salahdine Parnasse took home an extra $100k for his quick dismantling of Dan Hooker. A liver kick from Parnasse (24-2) proved to be too much for his opponent to take, as he secured a finish in under three minutes. After the victory, the UFC newcomer called out Max Holloway.

Co-main event winner Axel Sola also earned a performance bonus for his brutal knockout of Fares Ziam. A perfectly-placed left hook destroyed Ziam, who sat unconscious for an uncomfortably long time. Sola is now 13-1-1 as a pro and has won back-to-back fights insi…

One person in mind 🗣️@SalahdineP calls out @BlessedMMA after his win at #UFCParis!

[ @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/xnDhC3ipcX

— UFC (@ufc) September 5, 2026 The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s fifth return to Paris, France, featured 14 fights on display and the much-anticipated promotional debut of a highly-touted contender. In the UFC Paris main event, UFC veteran Dan Hooker welcomed French mixed martial arts star Salahdine Parnasse into the Octagon in a lightweight clash. Parnasse studied his opponent’s reflexes with some feints before taking the floor and attacking with quick shots. The Frenchman reached Hooker with a kick to the liver, drawing a grimace from Hooker. The former two-division Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki champion followed up with a head kick and a left hook as Hooker retreated to the fence. With cold calculation, Parnasse blasted Hooker away with some more punches. Referee Marc Goddard stepped in at the 2:35 mark of Roun…

Sherdog's live UFC Paris coverage will begin Saturday at 3 a.m. ET/12 a.m. PT. The event is also known as UFC Fight Night 287. Round 1 Women’s strawweights kick off festivities at UFC Paris, where Benouaich (7-2, 0-0 UFC) awaits Montenegro (6-2, 0-0 UFC) at 115 pounds. Mourad Benseghir adjudicates matters. No glove touch needed here. Montenegro opens with a low kick and a one-two. Benouaich answers with left hooks to the body and head. They trade in the pocket before Montenegro snatches a collar tie and unleashes a few knees. Benouaich snaps the Argentinian’s head back with an uppercut, sets off another exchange and closes with combination punching to the body and head. Fast start for both women. Another short uppercut from Benouaich. Montenegro looks to keep the Frenchwoman at bay with a series of front kicks. Benouaich keeps her foot on the accelerator and lands in three-, four- and five-punch volleys. Midway through the round. Benouaich stays aggressive with punches. Mon…

First to the scale 😤@SalahdineP makes weight at 155 lbs

[ #UFCParis | SEP 5 | 3pmET LIVE on @paramountplus ] pic.twitter.com/5LTtQ49w2H

— UFC (@ufc) September 4, 2026 Salahdine Parnasse's heavily anticipated Ultimate Fighting Championship debut is finally set following the UFC Paris weigh-ins.

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The former KSW champion will take on lightweight mainstay Dan Hooker in his first fight in the world's marquee promotion. Both men had no issue making weight for their five-round fight. All other mixed martial artists on the card also made weight, as all 14 fights are now official.

Parnasse (23-2) joins a rare class of UFC debutants who headlined their first event. The 28-year-old is one of the promotion's biggest free agent entrances in recent years. The French fighter is riding a five-fight win streak that includes knockouts over Kenneth Cross, Marcin Held and Marian Ziolkowski. The Atch Academy product weighed 155 pounds on …

Cris Cyborg has offered the Ultimate Fighting Championship a solution to its UFC 332 main event problem.

Cyborg took to social media to call for a rematch with former two-division champion Amanda Nunes, suggesting the fight could headline the Oct. 3 numbered event in Salt Lake City, which still doesn’t have an announced headliner. The pair faced off back in 2018, when Nunes won via first-round KO.

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Cris Cyborg calls for Amanda Nunes rematch after UFC 332 headliner uncertainty A women’s flyweight title fight between Valentina Shevchenko and Natalia Silva was rumored for UFC 332, but recent reports indicate Shevchenko has been forced to withdraw. With other UFC champions having recently fought or already booked for later events, the promotion appears to be scrambling to find a viable headliner.

Cyborg has offered a solution. The former UFC champ took to X to call for a rematch with her former foe, Nunes. The latter was expected to take on Kayla Harris…