Among them were the famous French striker Djibril Cissé, the award-winning actor Vincent Cassel and one of the most prominent free agents in mixed martial arts, Salahdine Parnasse.
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At 19, Parnasse was already described as “The Kylian Mbappé of French MMA” by European sports institution L’Equipe. In the years that followed, the promising talent would go on to claim double champion status with KSW as he secured the promotion’s featherweight and lightweight titles.
Now 28, he courted all the usual suspects in free agency. While the Accor Arena sighting sent rumor mills into overdrive with claims that his signing with the PFL was imminent, sources insisted that the UFC was also interested in securing his signature. In the end, perhaps with the help of another KSW star, Roberto Soldic, who signed with ONE Championship and had his European expansion plans halted by the COVID pandemic, Polish powerhouse KSW secured the services of the French star for another term.
“KSW showed me a lot of respect during the negotiations,” Parnasse told Uncrowned through a translator ahead of his KSW 114 showdown with UFC and PFL veteran Marcin Held on Saturday in Radom, Poland.
(ANNA KURTH via Getty Images)
“I’ve been with KSW since 2017. They’ve really shown the world who I am and what I’m capable of. We’ve had a great adventure together so far.”
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When he put pen to paper, Parnasse’s acclaimed trainer Stéphane “Atch” Chaufourier revealed that KSW’s offer was 20 to 30 times that of the UFC, with some online reports suggesting the French star was earning up to €600,000 per fight.
As evidenced by his last competitive outing, a second-round knockout in his professional boxing debut under Chaufourier’s 100% Fight banner, KSW also granted its crown jewel the freedom to compete in different combat sports with other promotional entities.
“Not many mixed martial artists get the opportunity to compete in boxing and MMA, so I have a lot of respect for KSW for agreeing to this type of contract. It’s a unique situation, but boxing was always one of my dreams, so I’m very grateful that they allowed that to happen,” he said.
Although the price tag seems steep compared even to the UFC’s revealed earnings, Parnasse spearheaded KSW’s expansion into France, reigniting its continental expansion with three mammoth shows that underlined the champion’s growing status as a household name in his homeland.
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“I remember competing in France before the sport was legal, so it’s a very different experience competing on these shows with so many people there,” Parnasse said.
“We have worked hard to be able to headline those types of shows. In addition to the performances I have done with KSW, my team has worked very hard on my social media presence and my image in general, which has helped me become one of the most famous wrestlers in France.”
There is an interesting contrast between Parnasse and Held. While the Frenchman remained in the Polish promotion, the Pole ventured outside his homeland to compete with teams such as PFL and UFC. Although Polish fans are known for proudly supporting their athletes, Parnasse is treated as one of their own, an honor that has previously been bestowed upon KSW legends such as Mamed Khalidov, Soldic and heavyweight king Phil De Fries.
While he praised Held’s skills and described him as the best fighter he has faced, Parnasse believes he will be a fan favorite when he competes on Polish soil for the first time since 2023.
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“It all started for me here in Poland. I have a big fan base here, they show me a lot of love. I think I might be more popular than him here. I’ve been fighting here since 2017. I’m the youngest champion in the organization and also the youngest double champion. A lot of Held’s career took place outside of Poland, so I don’t think the Polish fans know him as well as I do. And honestly, I love Poland. I respect the country and the people a lot. They know how I feel about him. them and I think they respect me for that,” he said.
Parnasse still has unfinished business with KSW. Aside from the bizarre forearm knockout he suffered from Daniel Torres in 2021, his only other loss came when he attempted to secure a title in a third weight class in his welterweight debut, a decision loss to current 170-pound champion Adrian Bartosiński. While he is adamant that he has no other goals in mind outside of Held, it would not surprise many to see him attempt this historic achievement a second time in the future.
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When he re-signed with KSW, there was an expected inquisition from the international fan base, who desperately wanted to see him compete against the UFC’s top talent at 155 pounds. Previously, KSW champion Mateusz Gamrot revealed that he took a significant pay cut to prove himself under the UFC banner. On the other hand, promotion stalwarts like Khalidov and De Fries rejected the UFC’s lower offers and opted to continue building their legacy with KSW.
Largely out of respect for the promotion, or perhaps due to the abundance of questions he receives from fans about a future move to the UFC, following Gamrot’s lead does not seem to be his favorite topic.
“It’s hard for me to talk about it,” Parnasse said. “I’m under contract with KSW and we have a lot of mutual respect. I don’t think it’s in good taste to talk about the future in those terms and I don’t want to disrespect KSW by talking that way. All I can say is that I’m happy with this contract, I’m happy with KSW and as for the future, we’ll have to wait and see.”
And honestly, if the paydays are even half as good as those online reports suggest, who could honestly blame you?
Interview conducted through a translator. All quotes have been edited for clarity and concision.