UFC Sets 14-Fight Paris Card for Sept. 5, Headlined by Hooker vs. Parnasse

Q: Is Michael “Venom” Page fighting for a new UFC deal or his way out when he meets Nursulton Ruziboev in Paris?

Michael “Venom” Page is fighting more for a new UFC deal than for a clean break, but Paris looks like a make-or-break negotiation point. Page has said repeatedly that his preference is to re-sign with the UFC after this bout, which is widely reported as the last fight on his current contract. He has made clear he does not want to leave simply for the sake of it. What he wants is a better roadmap: bigger-name opponents, clearer matchmaking and a credible path toward a title shot. That is why the fight with Nursulton Ruziboev carries unusual weight. A win alone may not settle Page’s future, because his frustration is not just about results. He is 4-1 in the UFC and on a strong run, yet he has complained that requests for top-10 opponents have led nowhere and that he keeps being matched with lower-profile names. Ruziboev is dangerous and respected, but he is not the marquee test Page has been asking for. The leverage point is performance. Page has openly said he wants to remind the UFC why it signed him, ideally with a finish. That matters because some of his recent wins, including over Sam Patterson, were criticized as uneventful. If he beats Ruziboev decisively and entertainingly, it strengthens his case for an extension on improved terms. If he wins but still gets no clearer title path, the possibility of Page walking grows. So in Paris, he is fighting to stay — but on terms he believes match his value.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Aug 31

Sept. 5’s UFC Paris event at Accor Arena will stream on Paramount+, with prelims starting at 12 p.m. ET and the main card at 3 p.m. ET.
Dan Hooker faces Salahdine Parnasse in the 155-pound main event, topping a 14-fight lineup for the promotion’s return to Paris.
The main card also features Fares Ziam vs. Axel Sola, Michael Page vs. Nursulton Ruziboev, Losene Keita vs. Muhammad Naimov, Morgan Charriere vs. Felipe Lima, and Punahele Soriano vs. Daniil Donchenko.
Seven prelim bouts round out the card, including Nora Cornolle vs. Klaudia Syguła, Mario Pinto vs. Ryan Spann, and Oumar Sy vs. Modestas Bukauskas.
Parnasse enters as a French star and former two-division KSW champion, while Hooker has said he wants to spoil the debut after accepting the bout for a reported pay increase.