Daniel Cormier hits back at Ali Abdelaziz's claims that Usman Nurmagomedov would dominate top UFC lightweights

Usman Nurmagomedov has earned praise from Daniel Cormier, who's now addressed Nurmagomedov's manager Ali Abdelaziz's recent polarizing remarks. 

Abdelaziz recently appeared on his clients and former UFC champions Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo's Pound 4 Pound podcast, where he waxed lyrical about another client of his, Usman Nurmagomedov. 

Additionally, Abdelaziz also put forth an X post a few days ago, sparking controversy. The Dominance MMA management founder predicted that Nurmagomedov would defeat Ilia Topuria (via third-round head kick knockout), Charles Oliveira (by second-round submission), Max Holloway (by way of fourth-round knockout), and Paddy "The Baddy" Pimblett (with a second-round TKO by ground and pound). 

A number of fans and experts scoffed at Abdelaziz's take, as has former UFC light heavyweight and heavyweight champion Daniel "DC" Cormier. It's noteworthy that Abdelaziz did name Arman Tsarukyan as the only current UFC lightweight who'd be a challenging matchup for Nurmagomedov. 

Daniel Cormier disagrees with Ali Abdelaziz's prediction for Usman Nurmagomedov's potential domination in the UFC

Usman Nurmagomedov is fresh off a PFL lightweight title defense at PFL New York on July 31. The final Bellator MMA lightweight champion finished the previously undefeated Archie Colgan via first-round KO. It marked the last fight of his PFL deal. Many feel he'll follow in his Dagestani brothers and teammates' footsteps and sign with the UFC. 

Incidentally, America's Daniel Cormier has extensively trained with Nurmagomedov and other Dagestani combatants at the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) gym in San Jose, California, over the years. 

Taking to his official YouTube channel, Cormier explained why he disagrees with Ali Abdelaziz's opinion about Nurmagomedov possibly running through the UFC lightweight elites. 

Cormier stated, "I've known Ali Abdelaziz for a very long time, and I get it. That's your guy, and you're a promoter. But you are speaking about the absolute best guys in the world. Now, to have faith and think that Usman Nurmagomedov can fight these guys; absolutely." 

Moreover, "DC" cited Kamaru Usman and Henry Cejudo's smiling reactions to Abdelaziz's claims on the podcast. Cormier implied that they, too, felt Abdelaziz's take was a tad hyperbolic. 

Cormier added, "And this dude (Ali Abdelaziz) might be a little bit out there, in terms of that idea." 

🥇 Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Ilia Topuria — Usman Nurmagomedov by third-round head kick knockout.

🥈 Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Charles Oliveira — Usman Nurmagomedov by second-round submission.

🥉 Usman Nurmagomedov vs. Max Holloway — Usman Nurmagomedov by fourth-round knockout.

🏆…

— Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00) August 6, 2026

Nevertheless, he asserted that Usman Nurmagomedov is "special" and is capable of coming over to the UFC and immediately establishing himself as a top contender.

Having trained with the Nurmagomedov family (Khabib Nurmagomedov, Umar Nurmagomedov, Usman Nurmagomedov) and other Dagestani fighters at AKA, Cormier highlighted that he knows how good the young fighter is, adding that his PFL title fights have also given him championship experience. 

The UFC Hall of Famer alluded to Nurmagomedov's rivalry against Paul Hughes, referring to the latter as the "Irish kid," and opined that his pair of hard-fought wins over Hughes were challenging and helped the Dagestani evolve. 

However, Cormier underscored that better opposition awaits Nurmagomedov in the UFC. He speculated that Abdelaziz has probably looked at the success Khabib Nurmagomedov, Islam Makhachev, and Umar Nurmagomedov have had in the UFC, which has encouraged him to predict similar success for Usman Nurmagomedov inside the Octagon. 

Daniel Cormier slams "crazy" take on Usman Nurmagomedov vs. UFC lightweight elites

The fighter-turned-commentator reiterated his stance that Illa Topuria, Charles Oliveira, Max Holloway, and Paddy Pimblett are top-notch fighters, who wouldn't be easy matchups for Usman Nurmagomedov. Taking aim at Abdelaziz, he said: 

"I know who they are. To think that they'll just be completely dominated and outclassed is absolutely crazy." Cormier affirmed that he'd tell Abdelaziz the same to his face. 

Furthermore, Abdelaziz recently confirmed that the PFL has a 90-day exclusive negotiating window with Usman Nurmagomedov, but he added that he'd surely negotiate with the UFC and elsewhere thereafter. 

A number of fans have called upon Nurmagomedov to join the UFC, whereas a few others have advised him to re-join the PFL, which would complete its merger with Jake Paul's MVP MMA in 2027 and be rebranded under the MVP MMA name. 

Watch Daniel Cormier disagree with Ali Abdelaziz's take below (*comments at the 6:00-minute mark of the video):