The UFC returns to Paris on Saturday night, packing a Fight Night card headlined by a lightweight scrap between fan-favorite Dan Hooker and debuting French star Salahdine Parnasse.
Parnasse enters as a heavy -575 favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Hooker is a +425 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 3.5 Rounds.
Along with traditional sports betting and daily fantasy, you can now have more action than ever for UFC Fight Night: Hooker vs. Parnasse. Check out DraftKings UFC Pick6 for my favorite picks for Saturday’s UFC event.
Dan Hooker | More Than 31.5 Significant Strikes
Seasoned veteran Dan Hooker (24–14, 14–10 UFC) is getting heavily overlooked heading into Saturday night’s main event. “The Hangman” is as battle-tested as they come and famously tough to put away, and he’s now tasked with welcoming French star Salahdine Parnasse (23–2) to the UFC.
To teach the newcomer how things are done inside the Octagon, Hooker will likely initiate a good old-fashioned slugfest. Backed by superior experience and strong kickboxing, the New Zealander should smash his significant-strikes total against his promising, yet largely unproven opponent.
Fares Ziam | Less Than 36.5 Significant Strikes
Rising lightweight Fares Ziam (18–5, 8–3 UFC) is a defensive wizard. He boasts a 63 percent striking defense and absorbs only 1.58 significant strikes per minute — T-10th fewest on the active roster. However, his defensive mindset has muted his striking output. “Smile Killer” averages just 2.68 significant strikes per minute and has fallen below 36.5 significant strikes in four of his last five bouts, including three straight heading into Saturday.
It seems unlikely for Ziam to buck the trend against Axel Sola (12–1–1, 2–1 UFC). The fellow French prospect flashed an improved ground game in his last bout, a first-round submission win over Ismael Bonfim on July 25. Sola’s threat of the takedown should further lower the ceiling on Ziam’s significant-strikes tally.
Michael Page | More Than 14:55 Fight Time
Middleweight veteran Michael “Venom” Page (25–3, 4–1 UFC) can be frustrating for opponents and viewers alike. The longtime Bellator contender is known for his unorthodox striking style, defined by awkward movement, excellent defense, and low output. It’s a formula that has yielded five straight decisions since Page joined the UFC in March 2024.
Even against Uzbekistani stoppage specialist Nursulton Ruziboev (37–9–2, 5–1 UFC), it seems incredibly unlikely that we get a different result with the point-fighting Page in the mix. He has only been stopped once in his career — not since 2019 — and has gone the distance with the likes of Kevin Holland (79 percent finish rate) and, most recently, Sam Patterson (93 percent).
Kurtis Campbell | More Than 3:30 Control Time
Hotly touted English prospect Kurtis Campbell (8–1, 0–1 UFC) aims to rebound from a second-round stoppage loss to Danny Silva in his Octagon debut earlier this year. Even so, the rising featherweight flashed his impressive grappling chops; he landed a pair of takedowns in the first round for nearly two minutes of control time.
Campbell’s dynamic skill set gives him an edge in his sophomore bout against the returning Trevor Peek (9–3, 2–3 UFC). The American veteran has been shelved for almost two years due to injury, though his propensity for chaos on the feet makes him a formidable threat for anyone who dares to stand and trade with him. Rather than attempt to beat his opponent at his own game, Campbell can exploit Peek’s porous defensive grappling (52 percent takedown defense) and pile up control time on the ground.
Mario Pinto | More Than 89.5 Fantasy Points
Undefeated heavyweight Mario Pinto (12–0, 3–0 UFC) has a chance to farm fantasy points on Saturday night. The Portuguese prospect has secured eight of his wins inside the distance, including a pair of second-round knockouts to kickstart his UFC career.
Pinto now faces division linchpin Ryan Spann (24–11, 10–6 UFC), against whom he is a massive -345 favorite with -135 odds to win by knockout or TKO. “Superman” has gotten stopped eight times in his pro career, including five of his six Octagon defeats. All signs point to Pinto preserving his spotless resume, extending his highlight reel, and piling up fantasy points in the process.
Oumar Sy | More Than 35.5 Significant Strikes
Striking volume has been an ongoing struggle for French light heavyweight Oumar Sy (12–2, 3–2 UFC), who has landed fewer than 35.5 significant strikes in four of his first five trips to the Octagon. However, it seems that he’ll have to amplify his output on Saturday against Lithuanian veteran Modestas Bukauskas (20–7, 8–5 UFC)
Sy likely won’t be able to impose his strong ground game on “The Baltic Gladiator,” who arrives in Paris with an exceptional 82 percent takedown defense. The rising prospect may also utilize his grappling more sparingly after getting caught in a guillotine and quickly submitted in his last bout against Ion Cutelaba earlier this year.
Sy has shown that he can pile up significant strikes when necessary, landing 90 against Da Woon Jung after getting stuffed on five of his seven entries in September 2024. Against Bukauskas, he should clear 35.5 with relative ease.
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Create a Pick Set
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