Dan Hooker isn’t shying away from admitting precisely what’s driving him into the octagon towards “new youngsters” like Salahdine Parnasse, and it has little to do with rankings or status.
The veteran lightweight will take on Parnasse in the primary occasion of UFC Paris 2026 on the Accor Enviornment this weekend.
Forward of the battle, Hooker spoke in regards to the upcoming bout set to be the “greatest payday” of his profession, and mentioned that he would even battle Francis Ngannou if supplied the identical cash. In an interview with RMC Sport Combat, ‘Hangman’ mentioned:
In the event that they pay me this a lot cash to battle the brand new youngsters then I’ll be preventing the brand new youngsters till the day I die…I’d battle Francis Ngannou for the sum of money they’re paying. Greatest payday of my profession for positive.
Take a look at Dan Hooker’s feedback beneath:
Regardless of preventing among the greatest names within the division, together with Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, and even Michael Chandler, it’s Parnasse who is ready at hand Hooker the most important purse of his profession.
Dan Hooker Brings Up Michael Chandler and Salahdine Parnasse to clarify why he might be Usman Nurmagomedov’s First Battle
Usman Nurmagomedov may be one of many greatest names subsequent in line to affix the UFC. The undefeated (22-0) fighter has not renewed his contract with the PFL (MVP MMA), making him certainly one of MMA’s hottest free brokers.
And Dan Hooker believes he would be the one to welcome Nurmagomedov to the promotion. Citing examples of already having fought a debutant, Michael Chandler, and his upcoming battle towards one other debutant, Salahdine Parnasse, Hooker acknowledged in an interview with Submission Radio:
It’s the identical factor as after I fought Chandler; it’s the identical factor with this Parnasse man. It’ll be the identical factor with Usman. Nobody else will take the battle… None of those different guys within the division wanna threat it. So that they name up Dan Hooker, provide him a little bit of hazard cash, and he welcomes these boys to the large leagues. [via Championship Rounds]
Take a look at Dan Hooker’s feedback beneath:
