**Salahdine Parnasse’s strong UFC debut TKO of Dan Hooker in September 2026 elevated the former KSW double champion to the No. 9 lightweight spot and left multiple credible next opponents in play.** Rumors linking him to Ilia Topuria were quickly dismissed by his camp as unofficial, while Parnasse himself called out Max Holloway. Plausible alternatives such as Quillan Salkilld, Rafael Fiziev, and Renato Moicano each bring distinct stylistic and ranking appeal—Salkilld as a surging prospect, Fiziev for striking exchanges, and Moicano for veteran experience—without any confirmed booking or dominant signal from the UFC. This spread of viable, unconfirmed options has kept trader probabilities tightly clustered across the field.