Salahdine Parnasse wants to lure Dustin Poirier out of retirement

Salahdine Parnasse is thinking big following his dominant performance at Most Valuable Promotions' "Rousey vs. Carano" event last weekend in Los Angeles. The Moroccan-French lightweight delivered an impressive showing against Kenneth Cross, systematically breaking down his opponent before securing a knockout in the final minute of the first round.

With this victory, Parnasse has expressed genuine interest in joining the UFC, widely considered MMA's premier global promotion. However, the 28-year-old appears to be keeping his options strategically open while exploring various opportunities. His management team recently posted a photograph of Parnasse alongside Dustin Poirier on an MVP fight poster, paired with a respectful but pointed caption: "Open season. He's the one we want. Respectfully. The hunt is on."

Parnasse (23-2) is currently riding a five-fight winning streak and brings impressive credentials from his time with Polish promotion KSW, where he captured titles in two different weight divisions. Such pedigree makes him a legitimate prospect on the international MMA stage. While a direct matchup with Poirier—a former interim lightweight champion and perennial contender—remains aspirational given the experience gap, Parnasse's callout reflects the ambition of a rising fighter hungry for high-profile opportunities. Whether in the UFC or elsewhere, securing fights against established names represents the next logical step in his career progression toward legitimate contender status.