Dan Hooker responds to death threats he received ahead of UFC Paris: ‘Nothing they can do but shut the f*ck up’

Dan Hooker has embraced the hostile reception awaiting him at UFC Paris, where he faces French prospect Salahdine Parnasse in the main event on Saturday. The New Zealand lightweight received death threats from French fans after accepting a matchup against the local favorite on short notice, but Hooker views the toxicity as motivation rather than intimidation.

Parnasse, a former multi-division titlist in KSW, commands a passionate French fanbase that mobilized on social media following the fight announcement. However, Hooker dismissed the threats with characteristic confidence, telling MMA Fighting that he welcomes the opportunity to silence critics in enemy territory. "I like that. Get your bits in before the fight," Hooker said, confident that post-fight vindication would speak louder than pre-fight noise.

Since publicly discussing the threats, Hooker received an outpouring of support from French fans apologizing for the vitriol and expressing genuine excitement for his visit. He acknowledged that while some hostility exists, the overall energy doesn't feel like walking into a purely hostile environment—instead, he views it as another chapter in a UFC career defined by fighting anywhere, anytime.

Hooker emphasized that fan sentiment, whether hostile or welcoming, cannot influence the outcome inside the octagon. Parnasse may benefit from 10,000 screaming supporters, but ultimately they are powerless to affect the fight itself. For a veteran who has experienced MMA's peaks and valleys, facing an unproven UFC debutant carries minimal concern. Hooker framed the matchup straightforwardly: he must neutralize "this no-name kid," while Parnasse carries the enormous pressure of performing in his biggest career opportunity under the brightest lights.