The UFC returns to Paris on Saturday, September 5, with UFC Fight Night 287 headlined by a fascinating lightweight matchup between veteran Dan Hooker and French star Salahdine Parnasse at Accor Arena.
Main Event: Dan Hooker vs. Salahdine Parnasse
Hooker enters his 25th UFC appearance with a 24–14 record and the experience advantage. Parnasse, a former two-division KSW champion, makes his UFC debut and gets an immediate opportunity to prove he belongs among the lightweight contenders.
Key matchup: Hooker’s veteran striking and toughness vs. Parnasse’s speed, creativity and championship experience outside the UFC.
Pick: Salahdine Parnasse by decision
Michael Page vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
This middleweight matchup could be one of the night’s most entertaining fights. Page enters on a three-fight winning streak, while Ruziboev represents a dangerous opponent with the ability to turn the fight into a grappling battle.
Pick: Michael Page by decision.
French fighters to watch
Fares Ziam vs. Axel Sola is another important lightweight matchup for the home crowd.
Morgan Charrière vs. Felipe Lima gives French fans another opportunity to see one of their country’s established UFC fighters compete in Paris.
Other notable fights
Losene Keita vs. Muhammad Naimov
Punahele Soriano vs. Daniil Donchenko
Nathaniel Wood vs. Aboubakar Younousov
Morgan Charrière vs. Felipe Lima
Fares Ziam vs. Axel Sola
Predictions
Hooker vs. Parnasse
Parnasse
Page vs. Ruziboev
Page
Charrière vs. Lima
Charrière
Ziam vs. Sola
Ziam
Keita vs. Naimov
Keita
Bottom line: The Paris card is built around a major opportunity for Parnasse. If he can defeat a seasoned UFC veteran like Hooker in his promotional debut, he could immediately establish himself as one of the lightweight division’s most interesting new contenders.
