Salahdine Parnasse maintained champ-champ status via soccer kick KO years before Netflix MVP debut

Salahdine Parnasse is set to try and capitalize on an opportunity that his career has long deserved.

Ronda Rousey credits Nate Diaz with bringing three top stars together for the first MMA event that will air on Netflix.

With Rousey and Carano both returning from long periods of inactivity, a lot of the conversation surrounding May 16 has revolved around the main event.

While the big names are no stranger to the bright lights, this card also features several fighters who are just hours away from getting their moment in the spotlight, including Parnasse.

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Soccer Salahdine Parnasse cemented his status as a two-division champion by stopping Robert Ruchala in 2023

Salahdine Parnasse will compete later today having turned down a UFC contract years ago due to the pay cut he would’ve had to take.

The Frenchman made his name in Polish promotion KSW, where in 2023, he became a two-division champion after winning belts at featherweight and lightweight.

His first fight after receiving champ-champ status saw him stop current UFC fighter Robert Ruchala with a sickening soccer kick to the body in the fourth round.

In their featherweight title unification clash, the Frenchman took a step back from the grappling control he was achieving to kick his downed opponent, immediately causing Ruchala to curl up into a ball.

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Parnasse followed this up by trying to do the unthinkable by becoming a simultaneous three-division champion.

The challenger bit off more than he could chew and suffered his second career loss to defending welterweight champion Adrian Bartosinski later in 2023.

Since then, he’s won four consecutive fights by finish, leading to his matchup with Kenneth Cross at the Intuit Dome on May 16.

Fans keeping an eye on exciting rising stars in Europe will have been hearing about Parnasse and his potential for a long time.

For a lot of people, this will be their first time watching him compete, which gives the 28-year-old a huge opportunity to make a lasting impression.