5 Fights the UFC Should Make After UFC Paris

UFC Paris delivered exactly what the UFC wanted from its return to France: knockouts, new contenders and a potential lightweight star.

Salahdine Parnasse announced himself in spectacular fashion, while Axel Sola scored a massive knockout of his own. Losene Keita bounced back with a statement win, Daniil Donchenko continued his unbeaten UFC run and Michael Page picked up another victory.

So, where do they go from here?
Here are five fights to make after UFC Paris.

1. Salahdine Parnasse vs. Max Holloway

There really isn’t another option at the top.

Parnasse’s UFC debut could hardly have gone better. The former KSW two-division champion stopped Dan Hooker in the first round with a liver kick and follow-up punches, extending his winning streak to six straight — all by stoppage.

And Parnasse already has a name in mind: Max Holloway.

The former UFC featherweight champion and current No. 4 lightweight is exactly the type of opponent Parnasse needs next. Holloway is still one of the biggest names in the division, while Parnasse gets the opportunity to prove that his incredible run outside the UFC translates against an established elite contender.

Parnasse came to the UFC looking for the best fighters in the world.

Give him one.

2. Axel Sola vs. Joaquim Silva

Sola just delivered one of the best performances of his UFC career.

The French lightweight knocked out fellow countryman Farès Ziam with a left hook just 1:40 into the opening round, improving to 3-1 inside the Octagon and earning a $100,000 Performance of the Night bonus.

Now it’s time to see what he can do against a veteran.

Joaquim Silva is a perfect next step. The 37-year-old Brazilian has been in the UFC since 2016 and most recently picked up a split-decision win over Claudio Puelles.

Sola is starting to look like a legitimate lightweight prospect. Silva would give him experience, durability and a dangerous submission game without immediately throwing him into the rankings.

If Sola wins, it’s time to start talking about him as a ranked fighter.

3. Losene Keita vs. Lerone Murphy

Keita already asked for this one.

After knocking out Muhammad Naimov in just 2:54, the former Oktagon double champion called out Lerone Murphy during his post-fight interview.

It’s a matchup the UFC should seriously consider.

Keita bounced back from a split-decision loss in his UFC debut with one of the most impressive performances of the night. Murphy, meanwhile, has established himself as one of the featherweight division’s top contenders.

This would be a great test for Keita.

He’s already shown he can bring the violence. Now he needs an opponent who can tell us just how good he really is.

Murphy fits the bill.

4. Daniil Donchenko vs. Neil Magny

Donchenko doesn’t need another prospect fight.

The Ukrainian welterweight dominated Punahele Soriano over three rounds, winning by unanimous decision and improving to 16-2 overall. More importantly, he’s now riding an eight-fight winning streak.

It’s time to give him a veteran.

Neil Magny makes sense.

Magny has spent years serving as one of the UFC’s most reliable tests at welterweight. He’s the type of opponent who can expose holes in an up-and-comer’s game without completely derailing his momentum.

Donchenko is ready for a bigger challenge.

Magny is the perfect measuring stick.

5. Michael “Venom” Page vs. Stephen Thompson*

Two of the most unorthodox strikers in MMA going head-to-head just makes sense.

Page closed out his UFC contract with a decision win over Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC Paris, giving him another victory and keeping his momentum going. But his UFC future is now uncertain.

If Page returns to the UFC, Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson is the fight.

Both men have built their careers around distance, timing, movement and striking from unconventional angles. It would be a matchup where the threat of what each fighter can do might be just as interesting as the action itself.

But there is an asterisk.

*If Page does not re-sign with the UFC, give us Michael Page vs. Uriah Hall in Karate Combat.

Hall is already competing in Karate Combat, making that a natural alternative outside the Octagon. Page and Hall are two of the most recognizable flashy strikers in MMA, and putting them in a combat-sports setting built around striking could be exactly what both men need.

UFC or Karate Combat, MVP needs another striker.

The Bottom Line

UFC Paris may have been headlined by Parnasse’s arrival, but the event created several new storylines for the UFC to play with.

Parnasse looks like a future contender. Sola is becoming a legitimate lightweight prospect. Keita has already picked his next target, and Donchenko continues to quietly rack up wins.

Then there’s MVP, whose UFC future could determine whether our fifth fight happens inside the Octagon or somewhere completely different.

The Paris card gave us the winners.

Now it’s time to give them their next opponents.