UFC Fight Night 287 takes place tomorrow in Paris, France and we’ve got our predictions for all the fights below.
Main Card
Dan Hooker vs. Salahdine Parnasse
Dan Hooker looks to break free from back-to-back defeats when he fights the debuting Salahdine Parnasse, who earned a 1st round TKO victory on the MVP: Rousey vs. Carano main card on Netflix a few months ago.
Hooker’s long run in the UFC has been on a rollercoaster over the past few years. Between 2020–2022 he hit a major downturn, losing four out of five fights, before then rallying with three wins in a row, including gritty split‑decision wins over Jalin Turner and Mateusz Gamrot that led to a spike in his popularity. However, at 36-years-old he’s on the slide again after being submitted by Arman Tsarukyan and TKO’d by Benoit Saint Denis. Hooker still brings his trademark action‑heavy muay thai style, using his tall 6ft frame to distribute aggressive punches, kicks, elbows and knees, and always appears to be down to eat strikes to land his own. He’s a threat in the clinch too and can mix in some offensive wrestling when needed. However, he’s not the most athletic striker, has a habit of taking damage whether he wins or loses that’s worn on his durability, and in addition to his four losses via strikes he’s also been submitted four times too.
The 28-year-old Parnasse may just be making his UFC debut, but he’s already a notable figure in the MMA world as a former two‑division KSW title-holder with six total defenses of his belt during his 23‑2 career so far. Parnasse is an athletic, well‑rounded fighter with assured boxing, varied kicks, good footwork and effective clinch-work. He’s become a more dangerous finishing threat on the feet in recent years, with all six of his latest victories coming via strikes. He’s also a strong offensive grappler with solid top control and seven submission wins, though he’s less effective off his back.
Hooker is still tough but starting to fade, while Parnasse is in his prime, has the athletic advantage and possesses a well-rounded skill-set to gain the upper-hand here and claim a 2nd round TKO victory.
Pick: Salahdine Parnasse wins by TKO in Rd2.
Farès Ziam vs. Axel Sola
Fares Ziam’s six‑fight winning streak was snapped by a decision loss in June, while Axel Sola, has gone 2-1 in the Octagon so far.
The 29-year-old Ziam is a tall lightweight at 6ft and sticks to a patient technical kickboxing game from the outside. He’s not the most active striker, but he delivers accurate straight punches, fast kicks, and uses his range management to help stay safe defensively. That being said, he can also threaten with dangerous knees and elbows at closer range that have actually been the source of his only two UFC TKO finishes so far. Fares can mix in takedowns too when opportunities appear, but he can also be grounded himself, and three of his losses have come by submission.
Sola has a solid 12‑1‑1 career record and adopts a busier, more aggressive approach than Ziam. He’s an active kickboxer who bursts into range with flurries of strikes, works well from the clinch, and can wrestle offensively. His brabo choke of Ismael Bonfim last time out demonstrated his submission threat, but though he’s never been finished he is a bit too hittable and his own takedown defense isn’t airtight.
Sola is the more active fighter here which could play in his favor, but Ziam is the cleaner technician and absorbs less damage, so I’m taking him to edge this one by decision.
Pick: Fares Ziam wins by decision.
Michael Page vs. Nursulton Ruziboev
Michael ‘Venom’ Page and Nursulton Ruziboev have each racked up three-fight winning streaks ahead of this match-up.
This is the final fight on Page’s current UFC deal, and although he’s been vocal about his frustration with matchmaking, he’s still hoping to impress here to earn a new deal. To his credit, at 39, Page is defying the aging process by remaining fast and explosive, using his long 6ft 3″, 79″ reach frame to burst into range with sudden, unpredictable bursts of dynamic offense. There’s long lulls in-between though, making for a low‑volume, patient style that can be frustrating at times, but helps him conserve energy and draw opponents into a false sense of security. He generally looks to avoid grappling, but when fights do hit the mat, he’s shown he can survive without being overwhelmed.
The 32-year-old Ruziboev has a huge amount of experience, having racked up 50 fights in total, including a 5-1 run in the UFC so far. At 6’5″, he’ll be two inches taller than Page, though he’ll give up three inches of reach. He’s a durable, well‑rounded fighter with good timing and accuracy on the feet, solid wrestling, and a dangerous submission game that’s garned 21 career subs, including one in his last fight. Only three of his 37 wins have gone to decision, but when he’s been unable to find a finish he’s lost seven times on the scorecards.
Despite Ruziboev’s vast amount of fights he’ll still never have come across someone quite like Page, who has a unique striking style and rhythm. Ruziboev’s size and ground game does make this very interesting though, but I’ll take ‘Venom’ to lure him into the kind of slow-paced striking battle from range that he tends to get the better of to win by decision.
Pick: Michael Page wins by decision.
Daniil Donchenko vs. Punahele Soriano
Daniil Donchenko has won his first three fights in the UFC and now goes up against Punahale Soriano, who is on a four-fight winning streak.
The 25-year-old Donchenko is an action‑driven muay thai striker who excels in close‑range exchanges. He mixes sharp boxing to the head and body with hard knees, elbows, and the occasional head kick, all supported by good head movement. Nine of his 14 wins have come via strikes, including two UFC TKOs, and he’s never been finished. His takedown defense is solid and he’s competent enough on the mat, but his energetic, physical style can tax his cardio, making him less effective as fights progress.
The 33-year-old Soriano has revived his career since dropping to welterweight, going unbeaten in his last four after a rough 1‑4 stretch from 2021–2023. He’s a boxing‑focused fighter who, like Donchenko, prefers to trade in the pocket. He carries respectable power with seven T(KO) wins, but he’s more hittable than his opponent and often has to rely on his sturdy chin to get him out of trouble. Soriano can also wrestle and looks for ground‑and‑pound when he gets top position.
I lean toward Donchenko as he has more varied tools in close-quarter exchanges and uses better head movement and footwork to avoid damage. A decision is possible, but given the likelihood of heavy in-the-pocket skirmishes I’ll take Donchenko by second‑round TKO.
Pick: Daniil Donchenko wins by TKO In Rd2.
Morgan Charrière vs. Felipe Lima
Morgan Charriere has been switching between wins and losses since arriving in the UFC, and now meets Felipe Lima, who opened his UFC account with two victories before picking up a loss last time out.
The 30-year-old Charriere has always had a stop‑start career, reflected in his 21‑12‑1 record. Still, he’s a good athlete with fast, technical striking and real power, with all three of his UFC wins are by KO, and 13 of his career victories in total coming via strikes. His issue is output as he often waits too long to land the killer blow, and so when that doesn’t happen it makes it challenging to win on the scorecards, resulting in 10 of his 12 losses coming by decision. He’s also coming off his first ever KO defeat, after suffering a 74‑second head‑kick loss to Melquizael Costa in December last year. Charrière isn’t just a striker though as he does have a judo black belt and competent grappling, but it’s not something he utilizes much and it’s been years since he last secured a submission.
The 28-year-old Lima lost his pro debut, then went nearly a decade undefeated, winning 14 fights, including two UFC bouts. His momentum stalled against the highly regarded prospect Payton Talbott last time out though, who beat him by unanimous decision. Lima is a well‑rounded pressure fighter with good speed, mobility, and clean technique. He doesn’t carry major power, but he maintains a high pace and has never been stopped by strikes. He’ll also look for takedowns and has solid grappling to complement his pressure-based style.
As a sniper, Charriere always has a chance to land a killer blow, but Lima’s pace, pressure, and far higher work‑rate over three rounds makes him the more reliable pick here to earn a decision win.
Pick: Felipe Lima wins by decision.
Losene Keita vs. Muhammad Naimov
Losene Keita made his way to the UFC with a 16‑1 record, but dropped a split decision in his debut. He now faces Muhammad Naimov, whose TKO loss late last year means he’s now 5‑2 in the promotion.
Keita wasn’t able to implement his usual pressure game against Nathaniel Wood, resulting in his opponent managing to be more technical and consistent over three rounds to earn a narrow win. Even so, the 28‑year‑old Keita holds strong credentials as a former two‑division Oktagon champion. At his best, Keita is an athletic, explosive striker who will look to push forward, string together fast combinations nicely, and targets the body well. His aggression and power have produced 10 knockout wins so far, but his ground game is less developed.
The 32-year-old Naimov comes from a taekwondo background and has a versatile kicking game, while he’s also a capable counter‑puncher and has decent power. His low output and tendency to absorb shots have been recurring issues though, culminating in his first ever TKO loss last time out. He’ll look to work from the clinch at times too and can mix in strategic takedowns to secure rounds.
I think Keita will learn the lesson from his last fight and be sure to get on the front foot from the opening bell here, and his natural athleticism and higher volume striking should be enough to best Naimov, resulting in a 2nd round finish by TKO.
If Keita gets on the front foot here early then I think his more active, impactful offense and natural athleticism can get the better of Naimov, leading to a 2nd round TKO finish.
Pick: Losene Keita wins by TKO in Rd2.
Prelims (Predicted winners in bold)
Mário Pinto vs. Ryan Spann
Kurtis Campbell vs. Trevor Peek
Oumar Sy vs. Modestas Bukauskas
Michael Aljarouj vs. Fabià Sintes
Nora Cornolle vs. Klaudia Syguła
Matthieu Letho Duclos vs. Luis Felipe Dias
Delphine Benouaich vs. Sofia Montenegro
