Parnasse calls out retired Poirier after first-round KO of Cross at MVP

Salahdine Parnasse finished Kenneth Cross with a first-round knockout at Most Valuable Promotions’ ‘Rousey vs. Carano’ card in Los Angeles last Saturday, then immediately trained his sights on one of MMA’s most recognisable retired names: Dustin Poirier.

Parnasse dominated Cross throughout their lightweight bout before landing the finishing blow in the final minute of the opening round. Shortly after the victory, his team posted a photo of Parnasse alongside Poirier on an MVP fight poster, accompanied by a pointed message: “Open season. He’s the one we want. Respectfully. The hunt is on.”

The 28-year-old Moroccan-French fighter carries a record of 23-2 and is currently on a five-fight winning streak. He built much of his reputation at Polish promotion KSW, where he became a two-division champion before stepping onto the MVP stage. Following Saturday’s performance, Parnasse also expressed interest in signing with the UFC, suggesting he is keeping his options open as he looks to raise his profile at the highest level.

Poirier, however, has shown little appetite for a comeback on those terms. The 30-10 veteran retired after a loss to Max Holloway last July and has since stated publicly that only a fight with Nate Diaz would be enough to draw him back to competition. There is no indication Poirier has responded to Parnasse’s callout.

Whether the challenge amounts to anything beyond a social media moment remains to be seen, but Parnasse’s willingness to aim at a marquee name immediately after a strong showing underlines his ambition as he navigates what could be a pivotal stretch of his career.