Parnasse Stops Hooker With Brutal Liver Kick In UFC Debut

Salahdine Parnasse needed less than three minutes to dismantle Dan Hooker with a vicious liver kick at UFC Paris on Saturday.

The former KSW two-division champion closed as a massive favourite despite never setting foot in the Octagon, and made oddsmakers look smart by dropping Hooker with a body kick midway through the opening round. Parnasse rushed in for a head kick followed by punches that forced the stoppage at 2:35, per MMA Fighting's live results. Hooker covered up after the liver shot but grimaced in pain — the finish was academic from there.

Parnasse's Speed Overwhelms Hooker Early

Hooker opened sharp, attacking the lead leg with low kicks and trading feints. Parnasse mixed his kicks to all levels and landed a clean left hand after checking one of Hooker's attempts. The body kick came out of nowhere, according to MMA Mania's Andrew Richardson, who noted Hooker "crumbled in half a round" despite looking competitive in the opening exchanges. Parnasse's hand speed and power proved too much once he landed his first clean shot.

The 25-year-old entered on a five-fight knockout streak and showed no signs of octagon jitters in his hometown debut at Accor Arena. Hooker was trying to avoid the first three-fight skid of his career but ran into a buzzsaw. The New Zealander has nearly 40 pro bouts on his record and is approaching the end of a decorated run.

Parnasse now looks ready to test the lightweight top five. He called out ranked opposition in his post-fight interview and figures to jump the queue after such a dominant debut. The UFC returns to Paris next year, giving the Frenchman a potential homecoming date if he can secure another finish before then.

Original reporting:

• mmafighting.com — UFC Paris Results: Hooker vs. Parnasse | MMA Fighting
• mmafighting.com — UFC Paris predictions | MMA Fighting
• mmafighting.com — UFC Paris Preview Show: Can Dan Hooker spoil Salahdine Parnasse’s UFC debut? | MMA Fighting
• mmamania.com — UFC Paris Highlights! Parnasse Crushes Hooker With Wicked Liver Kick TKO | MMA Mania
• mmamania.com — UFC Paris: Salahdine Parnasse smashes Dan Hooker’s liver in electric debut knockout | MMA Mania