The UFC heads to Paris, France this weekend and a fan favourite returns to the octagon in the main event.
Kiwi Dan Hooker will take on local hope Salahdine Parnasse in the main event, but there are plenty of fun fights to be excited about across the whole card.
Set your alarms for early Sunday morning!
My thoughts and betting plays below.
Dan Hooker’s overall record isn’t great reading at this stage of his career but at 36 years of age, he has continually fought the best that the lightweight division has to offer for a long period of time.
Injuries have disrupted his progress in the last few years and although he is on a two fight losing streak, he has wins over Mateusz Gamrot, Paul Fedler and Gilbert Burns on his resume.
There is no hiding his style and we know exactly what we are going to get when Dan Hooker enters the octagon.
A war.
Former KSW featherweight and lightweight champion, Parnasse has chosen to go to battle in front of his home fans.
He was last seen winning via first round TKO on the MVP card Rousey vs Carano in May and has an overall MMA record of 23-2.
Both men are dangerous on the feet and are more than capable of ending this fight with one strike however the market suggests this will not last long at all!
This is the lightweight division and I’m predicting there will be a feeling out process in the early stages.
At close to even money, I’m hoping the fight should see a third round.
Prediction: 4 Units Fight To Start Round 3 @ $1.92
Two Frenchmen will face off in the co main event in the lightweight division.
Fares Ziam made his UFC debut in 2019 and has gone 8-3 since then.
He put together six consecutive wins including two KO/TKO victories before losing his last fight against Aussie Tom Nolan three months ago.
Axel Sola made it 10 wins from as many fights when making his UFC debut in 2025.
He suffered the first defeat of his career with a unanimous decision loss to Mason Jones next but bounced back with a submission win only five weeks ago.
Both of these men are in the prime of their careers but five of Ziam’s last seven fights have required the judges and I think he can get the nod over three rounds.
Prediction: 2 Units Fares Ziam By Decision @ $2.60
MVP made the move from Bellator to the UFC in 2024 and has lost just once in five fights in the biggest promotion in the sport.
Yet he is rarely talked about when it comes to title shots.
16 of his 25 career wins have been by KO/TKO or submission but all five of his fights in the UFC have gone the distance.
That may be the reason he’s not in the title picture.
Ruziboev is an Uzbekistani fighter with a record of 37:9 with two draws and two no contests.
His only loss in six fights in the UFC was a decision against Joaquin Buckley in 2024 and he’s on the hunt for his fourth win in a row.
Don’t miss this one as there will be fireworks from the word go!
Prediction: 2 Units Fight To End In KO/TKO @ $3.15