Dan Hooker says he’d fight Francis Ngannou for the right price

Dan Hooker is preparing for his upcoming showdown against promotional debutant Salahdine Parnasse at UFC Paris on September 5, and the New Zealand veteran has made clear he views the matchup as his biggest payday to date. The veteran lightweight (24–14) is traveling to France to welcome Parnasse (23–2), a highly regarded French prospect, into the promotion.

Hooker has built a reputation as a fighter willing to accept difficult matchups that others avoid—short-notice fights, welcoming new talent into the UFC, and high-risk bouts against dangerous opponents. His willingness to take on challengers like Michael Chandler earned him this lucrative opportunity against Parnasse.

In an interview with RMC Sport Combat, Hooker joked that his compensation for the Parnasse fight was generous enough that he would even accept a bout against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, provided the money was right and they met at similar weights. Hooker has also indicated previous openness to welcoming Usman Nurmagomedov, widely regarded as mixed martial arts' most sought-after free agent, should the UFC offer the proper financial terms. For "The Hangman," career-defining moments often come with career-defining paydays.