UFC Paris delivered several performances that immediately changed the conversation around the fighters involved. Salahdine Parnasse announced himself with a first-round stoppage of Dan Hooker, Axel Sola knocked out Farès Ziam in the co-main event, while Michael Page extended his winning run with a decision over Nursulton Ruziboev. With the event now in the books, the biggest question is who each winner should face next.
Rather than rushing every fighter into a title eliminator, the best UFC Paris matchmaking would balance momentum, rankings and the level of competition each fighter is ready for. Here are the fights that make the most sense after the September 5 event at Accor Arena.
Salahdine Parnasse vs Max Holloway
Parnasse 24-2-0 is the obvious headline act when discussing the next UFC Paris matchups. The French star needed only 2:35 to stop Dan Hooker in his UFC debut, using a body kick and follow-up strikes to produce a statement victory in front of his home crowd. He then called for Max Holloway, describing the former UFC featherweight champion as his “dream fight.”
The matchup makes sense beyond the callout. Holloway is currently ranked No. 4 at lightweight and has already fought the best names in the division, while Parnasse is a former two-division KSW champion looking to establish himself against elite UFC competition. Holloway’s current UFC profile lists a 27-9 professional record and shows that he has won five of his last seven fights.
Parnasse does not necessarily need an immediate title eliminator. A fight with Holloway would give him a massive test while allowing the UFC to measure how quickly its new French star belongs among the lightweight elite.The matchup would also be easy to sell. Holloway’s volume and experience against elite opposition would test Parnasse’s ability to maintain his composure over 25 minutes, while Parnasse’s speed, kicking game and finishing ability would give Holloway a completely different challenge.The UFC could eventually place Parnasse into the title picture, but Parnasse vs Holloway feels like the most compelling next step.
Axel Sola vs Benoît Saint Denis
Axel Sola 13-1-1 deserves a major step up after his UFC Paris performance. The French lightweight stopped Farès Ziam with a first-round knockout at 1:40, giving Sola his third UFC victory and putting another finish on his growing record.
A matchup with Benoît Saint Denis would make sense from both a competitive and geographical perspective. Saint Denis is another highly regarded French lightweight who has already shared the Octagon with established contenders. His UFC profile lists a 17-4 record, six knockout wins, 11 submission victories and eight first-round finishes.There is also an important contrast in styles. Sola just demonstrated that his striking can produce a fight-ending moment at any time, while Saint Denis brings a relentless combination of pressure, wrestling and submission threats.
This would be a genuine test of whether Sola is ready to move beyond regional success and into the UFC’s deeper lightweight contender pool. A win over Saint Denis would give him a much stronger argument for a ranked opponent afterward.For Sola, there is little reason to repeat the same level of opposition immediately. His performance against Ziam earned him a bigger challenge.
Michael Page vs a Ranked Middleweight Contender
Michael Page’s 25-3-0 situation is more complicated than those of Parnasse and Sola. Page defeated Nursulton Ruziboev by unanimous decision at UFC Paris, but the performance did not produce.the kind of excitement many expected from one of MMA’s most recognizable strikers. UFC’s current profile lists Page at 25-3 and No. 15 in the middleweight division.
The bigger issue is that Page’s UFC contract situation has also become part of the story. His Paris fight was reported as the final bout of his existing deal, and Page himself acknowledged that he needs an honest conversation with the promotion about what comes next.That makes it difficult to name a specific opponent before his UFC future is settled. If he re-signs, however, the promotion should consider giving him a ranked middleweight who is willing to engage with his striking.
Page has already moved back to 185 pounds after struggling to find willing opponents at welterweight, and UFC noted before Paris that he wanted to return to the kind of exciting performances that built his reputation.A ranked opponent would give Page something meaningful to chase. Another matchup against an unranked fighter could produce another decision without answering whether he belongs near the middleweight top 10.
Daniil Donchenko vs a Ranked Welterweight
Daniil Donchenko 16-2-0 quietly produced one of the strongest performances on the UFC Paris main card. He defeated Punahele Soriano by unanimous decision, winning 30-27 on two scorecards and 29-28 on the third.
The Ukrainian welterweight is now riding an eight-fight winning streak, according to his UFC profile, and has built a particularly dangerous finishing record with 10 knockout wins and two submissions. He also averages more than eight significant strikes landed per minute in his UFC statistics.That combination suggests he is ready for a significant step forward.
A ranked welterweight would be preferable to another developmental matchup. Donchenko has already shown that he can win decisively, and the UFC should now find out how his pressure and striking hold up against a fighter closer to the division’s elite.A ranking opportunity would also give Donchenko a clear path toward becoming one of the division’s next contenders rather than allowing his momentum to stall.
Kurtis Campbell vs Another Rising Featherweight
Kurtis Campbell 9-1-0 may not need a ranked opponent yet, but he deserves another meaningful step up after UFC Paris. The 24-year-old rebounded from his first professional defeat by submitting Trevor Peek with a rear-naked choke in Round 3. He also became the first fighter to finish Peek.
Campbell’s UFC profile now lists a 9-1 record, five knockout wins, one submission victory and four first-round finishes. His ability to respond to his first career loss was particularly impressive because he did not simply survive his return; he delivered a comprehensive performance and finished a durable opponent.
The UFC should therefore keep him active against another aggressive featherweight with a similar level of experience. One more victory would put Campbell in a much stronger position to call for a ranked opponent.He does not need to be rushed. At 24, Campbell has time to build his UFC résumé properly.
Losene Keita vs a Tough Featherweight Test
Losene Keita 17-2-0 also used UFC Paris to reset the trajectory of his UFC career. After losing a decision to Nathaniel Wood in his promotional debut, Keita responded by stopping Muhammad Naimov in the first round at 2:54.
The victory was important because it showed the explosive style that made Keita such an intriguing addition to the UFC roster. The promotion itself noted that his Paris performance corrected some of the issues from his debut, while the knockout gave him his first UFC victory.
A good next step would be another experienced featherweight who can test Keita’s ability to maintain that aggression over three rounds. Throwing him straight into the rankings may be premature, but giving him another established opponent would allow the UFC to determine how quickly he is developing.If Keita wins again, his case for a ranked matchup becomes much stronger.
What About Dan Hooker?
Dan Hooker’s 24-15-0 situation is arguably the hardest to solve after UFC Paris. The veteran suffered a first-round stoppage against Parnasse, marking his third consecutive defeat. Reuters reported that Hooker’s record moved to 24-15 following the loss.The UFC now has to decide whether Hooker should continue against another veteran, take a step down the rankings or consider his future in the sport. A fourth straight high-level matchup would carry significant risk, particularly after three consecutive stoppage losses.
A comeback fight against another experienced lightweight outside the immediate title picture would make more sense if Hooker wants to continue. It would give him an opportunity to rebuild confidence without immediately putting him against another contender.Retirement should also be part of the broader conversation, although that is ultimately Hooker’s decision. His career résumé is already established, and the UFC should not rush him into another fight simply because he remains a recognizable name.
Why UFC Paris Could Change the Lightweight Division
The biggest consequence of UFC Paris may be the arrival of Parnasse rather than any individual result. The former KSW champion did not need a long adjustment period to the UFC. He walked into the biggest promotion in MMA, fought a respected lightweight veteran and finished him inside the opening round.That immediately creates a matchmaking problem for the UFC. Parnasse has already called for Holloway, but the promotion must decide whether to accelerate him toward the top five or give him another fight first.
The answer could depend on timing elsewhere in the division.Holloway is currently ranked No. 4, making him a logical opponent, while other contenders are also waiting for opportunities. Parnasse’s performance was strong enough, however, that keeping him in the unranked portion of the division for too long would waste the momentum created by UFC Paris.That is why the Salahdine Parnasse vs Max Holloway storyline is already one of the most important stories to come out of the event.
UFC Paris Winners Have Different Paths
Not every UFC Paris winner needs the same type of matchmaking. Parnasse has earned a major name, Sola deserves a significant step up, Donchenko is ready for a stronger welterweight test, while Campbell and Keita can continue developing against dangerous opponents.Page’s future is the biggest question mark because his contract situation needs to be resolved before the UFC can realistically build his next matchup. The organization also needs to decide whether his move to middleweight will continue after the Ruziboev fight.
The event produced enough strong performances that the UFC does not have to force a single formula onto every winner.For a closer look at the event itself, the UFC Paris results recap covers the complete card and provides the broader context behind these matchmaking possibilities.
Final Thoughts
UFC Paris was more than a successful homecoming event for French MMA. It introduced Parnasse to the UFC audience in spectacular fashion, gave Sola another statement victory and provided important momentum for Donchenko, Campbell and Keita.The clearest next fight is Parnasse against Holloway. Parnasse has already asked for it, Holloway remains one of the lightweight division’s biggest names and the matchup would immediately reveal whether the former KSW champion is ready for the UFC’s elite.
Sola should receive another major lightweight test, while Donchenko deserves a ranked welterweight opportunity after extending his winning streak. Campbell and Keita can afford to take a more measured route, and Hooker’s future requires a much more serious discussion after his third straight loss.The UFC now has several interesting pieces to move after Paris. The quality of those decisions will determine whether the momentum created at Accor Arena continues long after the event itself.
