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Dan Hooker isn’t shying away from admitting exactly what’s driving him into the octagon against “new kids” like Salahdine Parnasse, and it has little to do with rankings or reputation.

The veteran lightweight will take on Parnasse in the main event of UFC Paris 2026 at the Accor Arena this weekend.

Ahead of the fight, Hooker spoke about the upcoming bout set to be the “biggest payday” of his career, and said that he would even fight Francis Ngannou if offered the same money. In an interview with RMC Sport Combat, ‘Hangman’ said:

If they pay me this much money to fight the new kids then I’ll be fighting the new kids until the day I die…I’d fight Francis Ngannou for the amount of money they’re paying. Biggest payday of my career for sure.

Check out Dan Hooker’s comments below:

Despite fighting some of the biggest names in the division, including Islam Makhachev, Dustin Poirier, and even Michael Chandler, it’s Parnasse who is set to hand Hooker the biggest purse of his career.

Dan Hooker Brings Up Michael Chandler and Salahdine Parnasse to explain why he will be Usman Nurmagomedov’s First Fight

Usman Nurmagomedov might be one of the biggest names next in line to join the UFC. The undefeated (22-0) fighter has not renewed his contract with the PFL (MVP MMA), making him one of MMA’s hottest free agents.

And Dan Hooker believes he will be the one to welcome Nurmagomedov to the promotion. Citing examples of already having fought a debutant, Michael Chandler, and his upcoming fight against another debutant, Salahdine Parnasse, Hooker stated in an interview with Submission Radio:

It’s the same thing as when I fought Chandler; it’s the same thing with this Parnasse guy. It’ll be the same thing with Usman. No one else will take the fight… None of these other guys in the division wanna risk it. So they call up Dan Hooker, offer him a bit of danger money, and he welcomes these boys to the big leagues. [via Championship Rounds]

Check out Dan Hooker’s comments below:

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The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Los Angeles on Sept. 19 for UFC 331 and the early odds have been unveiled.
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Tonight, the UFC returns to the Meta Apex once more for Season 10, Week 4 of Dana White’s Contender Series. This week’s card features 5 bouts as usual.

In the first three weeks, 15 fighters have already impressed the UFC head honcho and grabbed UFC contracts. Some of those newcomers have already made short-notice UFC debuts and secured impressive finishes.

Tonight, more combatants will be adding their names to the list to be part of the big show.

In the main event/featured bout of DWCS season 10, Week 4, welterweight Patrick Rivera (13-4) will lock horns with Adam Darby (7-1).

Before the welterweight contest between Rivera and Darby, there is an 185-pound bout featuring Brandon Holmes (6-1) and Modestino Rodrigues (7-1).

Stay tuned with LowKick MMA for updates on all the fights and to find out which fighters earn UFC contracts tonight on Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10, Week 4!

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10, Week 4 Results & Highlights

Adam Darby defeated Patrick Rivera by TKO in Round 3 (2:42) – Doctor’s stoppage

Adam Darby showed all his weapons against Patrick Rivera earlier tonight on DWCS while dismantling his American foe tactically.

It was majorly one-way traffic from the Irishman, and Rivera’s face turned into a horror movie scene after 12 minutes, after which the ref decided to call the doctor. After the assessment, the bout was stopped as Rivera’s upper eyelid looked extremely swollen.

Modestino Rodrigues defeated Brandon Holmes in Round 1 by TKO (0:15)

Modestino Rodrigues was on the gas from the opening bell. He started piecing up Brandon Holmes right away and did not let Holmes throw a punch.

Rodrigues dropped Holmes with a right hook under 12 seconds, and before the latter could attempt to survive, the ref stepped in to stop the fight.

The 32-year-old Brazilian had predicted a quick finish on DWCS and delivered, scoring the fastest finish of his MMA career. Rodrigues extended his winning streak to five tonight, and all five victories have come by way of knockout.

Silvestre Sanchez defeated Liam McCraken by TKO in Round 3 (2:44)

Earlier tonight on Dana White’s Contender Series, Silvestre Sanchez dominated for the first 2 rounds, both on the ground and on the feet. He scored 3 takedowns and landed vicious ground-and-pound, bloodying Liam McCraken up.

In the final frame, “Gorilla” dropped McCraken with a left hook and then went for the final kill with a couple of follow-up shots before the ref stepped in to stop the bout.

McCraken looked like the faster puncher, but Sanchez’s power, precision, and well-roundedness proved to be too much for the Brit to handle.

Gabriel Lorenco defeated Charlie Cleveland in Round 1 (2:02) by KO

Gabriel Lorenco dropped Charlie Cleveland in the first frame with a solid right hook. The Brazilian fighter then went for the final kill with a series of hammerfists and elbows until the ref stepped in to save Cleveland from further punishment.

Adam Livingston defeated Hunter Smith by split decision (29-28 x 2, 28-29)

Adam Livingston landed a variety of spinning attacks and stunned Hunter Smith numerous times in Round 1. Despite being stunned a couple of times, Smith survived and eventually found his rhythm, after which both fighters delivered constant action throughout the first frame.

In Round 2, Livingston slowed down but kept on head hunting. Smith, on the other hand, started dictating the pace, pressuring, and landing heavy leg and body kicks to punish Livingston.

In Round 3 of this firefight, Smith once more had a higher output. Meanwhile, Livingston also had his moments but failed to dictate the pace or control the center of the octagon.

After 15 mins of nonstop back and forth, Adam Livingston secured the win by split decison. Post-fight, “Bomb” promised to deliver highlight reel finishes if he earns a UFC contract tonight. He also wants to open the UFC 334 card at Madison Square Garden on November 14.

Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10, Week 4 Contract Winners

• Adam Livingston
• Gabriel Lorenco
• Silvestre Sanchez
• Modestino Rodrigues
• Adam Darby

LowKickMMA.com

Dana White was quick to check on Bella Mir after she failed to secure an Ultimate Fighting Championship contract.
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Two lightweights remained undefeated as professional MMA fighters on Saturday: Magomed Zaynukov and Nurullo Aliev.

Magomed Zaynukov:

Zaynukov carried plenty of hype into the UFC following his contract-winning performance on Dana White’s Contender Series in 2025. He quickly became arguably the most talked-about fighter from Season 9. His UFC debut went even better as he dominated Damian Rzepecki across three rounds.

Before transitioning to MMA, Zaynukov built an extensive muay thai career, compiling an 18-3 record while becoming a four-time Russian and European champion. In 2021, he made the move to MMA full time.

Zaynukov also comes from the renowned camp founded by Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. The father of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Abdulmanap was widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in the sport before his tragic passing due to COVID-19 in 2020. His gym has continued to thrive under Khabib’s leadership.

Of course, Abdulmanap’s camp—and Dagestani fighters as a whole—are primarily known for their elite sambo-based wrestling. That’s what makes Zaynukov particularly intriguing. He has already proven himself to be a dangerous striker, yet he has also spent years training alongside some of the greatest wrestlers in MMA history, including Khabib Nurmagomedov and welterweight champion Islam Makhachev. Zaynukov showcased flashes of his grappling pedigree on both Dana White’s Contender Series and in his UFC debut, but he has largely continued to rely on his striking.

Nurullo Aliev:

Unlike Zaynukov, Nurullo Aliev has largely flown under the radar during his UFC career. A native of Tajikistan, Aliev earned a UFC contract in 2022 and has since gone 4-0 inside the Octagon, improving his professional record to 12-0 with a victory over Mike Davis on Saturday.

There are several reasons why Aliev hasn’t generated the same level of buzz as Zaynukov. For one, he simply hasn’t had the most memorable or exciting fights. The 25-year-old owns a modest 17% finish rate across his 12 professional victories and was heavily criticized for his performance on Saturday. Although he accumulated 12:25 of control time, Aliev rarely took risks and showed little urgency to pursue a finish. He is an outstanding wrestler, but the rest of his game remains less developed.

Another factor is his marketability. Aliev does not speak English, which naturally makes it more difficult to connect with the UFC’s primarily American audience. While Zaynukov also isn’t fluent in English, his personality has been amplified through his association with high-profile figures like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev. Aliev is beloved in his native Tajikistan but has yet to receive much attention elsewhere.

Perhaps more than anything, Aliev’s biggest obstacle has been inactivity. Since joining the UFC in 2022, “The Tajik Eagle” has fought just four times as injuries have repeatedly stalled his momentum. In fact, 2025 was the first year he competed more than once in a calendar year since signing with the promotion.

Despite the criticism, Aliev is undeniably talented, and at just 25 years old, he has an incredibly bright future.

A potential Matchup between Zaynukov and Aliev:

That brings us to Magomed Zaynukov’s callout. “Wild Chanko” is clearly not interested in easing into UFC competition. He has already shown a willingness to take on difficult opponents as he looks to stay active and work his way toward the rankings. Aliev may have his critics, but defeating an undefeated prospect like him would instantly boost Zaynukov’s résumé and likely earn him even more fans, while potentially putting him in line for a ranked opponent.

Will this fight ever come together? Who knows. It’s entirely possible the UFC will keep two of its undefeated lightweight prospects apart for the time being. It’s also important to note that Aliev does hold a win over Magomed’s brother, Makkasharip, from 2018. Zaynukov has made it clear he’s willing to accept the challenge, and look for some family revenge. If this matchup does happen, it would present one of the most fascinating stylistic clashes amongst undefeated fighters in the division.

LowKickMMA.com