The Salahdine Parnasse next fight options are already shaping up after his stellar UFC debut. The main event of UFC Paris saw Parnasse knock out the tenth-ranked lightweight, Dan Hooker, at 2:35 into the first round.
By defeating Hooker, a ranked opponent, in his first bout, Parnasse has put the UFC’s lightweight division on notice. With this win putting him among the best in the division, here are two fights the UFC should consider booking next.
Following the win against Hooker, Parnasse (24-2) used his post-fight interview as an opportunity to call out a top lightweight. He decided to ask for a fight with Max Holloway, calling him his “dream fight”.
Holloway (27-9) recently defeated Conor McGregor (22-7) in an underwhelming bout at UFC 329 in July. Holloway is the fourth-ranked lightweight in the UFC and is 3-2 in his last five fights. Two of his last three victories have come via KO/TKO.
Parnasse/Holloway makes sense for both parties. Parnasse called out Holloway because he wants a fight within the top five of the division, and Holloway doesn’t have a fight booked. Meanwhile, Holloway’s last fight left a bad taste in the mouths of UFC fans, and he needs a big win to get back into title contention at 155 lbs.
A bout between Parnasse and Holloway would pair two entertaining lightweights that could make for an intriguing fight. Both of them are strikers who look to finish fights when an opportunity arises. Parnasse has nine victories by KO (knockout)/TKO (technical knockout), while Holloway has 13.
Parnasse is the more explosive striker, who utilizes his kicking ability to attack the body and pressure his opponent. Holloway, however, relies more on volume, using his striking combinations to break his opponent down over time.
Holloway, in particular, is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished strikers in UFC history. He currently holds the records for the most significant strikes landed (3,693) and the most total strikes landed (3,994).
Beyond the interesting stylistic matchup, a Parnasse/Holloway bout would also have big implications for the lightweight division. At 28 years old, Parnasse could establish himself within the lightweight rankings with a win over Holloway.
Additionally, there is no clear-cut next title challenger at lightweight. The top-ranked lightweight, Ilia Topuria, hasn’t had a fight scheduled since he lost the championship at UFC Freedom 250. Arman Tsarukyan, who is ranked second in the division, is scheduled to fight Mauricio Ruffy at UFC 331. Also, neither Charles Oliveira nor Paddy Pimblett has a fight planned.
With the division filled with uncertainty, the winner of Parnasse/Holloway could position themselves as the next challenger. For Parnasse, defeating the fourth-ranked lightweight would prove that his UFC debut wasn’t a fluke and plant him firmly in the lightweight title picture.
If Parnasse cannot secure a fight with Holloway, the next best match for him would be against his fellow Frenchman. The sixth-ranked lightweight, Benoit Saint Denis, would make a good match for Parnasse. Though Saint Denis isn’t a top-five lightweight, he’s one of the toughest fighters in the division.
Saint Denis (17-4) lost his last fight to Pimblett at UFC 329 but held a four-fight winning streak before. Throughout those four fights, he won all of them by finish, with two KO/TKOs and two submissions. He’s a difficult fighter to finish because he can withstand many big strikes and continue pushing pace.
Throughout his career, Saint Denis has absorbed 4.09 significant strikes a minute and has only been finished three times. His experience fighting in the UFC will also make him a difficult fight for Parnasse. He has fought the likes of Dustin Poirier and Beneil Dariush, which would give him an edge as he has battled with elite veterans.
A fight against Saint Denis would be an intriguing test for Parnasse. Both of these fighters look to control the octagon by occupying the middle of the canvas to pressure their opponents back against the cage. Saint Denis takes this fighting style to extreme levels, as his heart and grit sometimes lead him to force himself into bad situations. For example, his submitted loss to Pimblett was heavily influenced by his aggressive approach.
With Saint Denis comfortable fighting within chaotic exchanges, Parnasse will have to show he can handle this. In his short fight against Hooker, Parnasse pushed the pace and backed him towards the cage. Though this is impressive to achieve, it would be interesting to see how he fares against someone who is coming right at him.
Parnasse/Saint Denis would be interesting for both fighters. Parnasse could not only enter title contention with a win, but also establish himself as France’s premier lightweight. For Saint Denis, a win over Parnasse would be a great way to get back into the win column and gain climbing momentum in the rankings.
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Parnasse has shown that he belongs in the UFC, but now it is time to determine if he can hang with the elite lightweights. To accomplish this, a win over Holloway would be the best option for his career. If that fight cannot be made, then Saint Denis would make a great option.
The top of the lightweight division hasn’t seen much movement in recent weeks, but with Tsarukyan vs. Ruffy taking place soon, the weight class should start to shift. If the UFC can schedule Parnasse’s next fight later this year or early next year, they could determine the next title contender at 155.
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