Demetrious Johnson Wants Dana White to Poach Usman Nurmagomedov from PFL

At just 28 years old, beyond an unblemished record, Usman Nurmagomedov has the MMA world chasing his signature. The Dagestani phenom improved to 22-0 with a first-round knockout of Archie Colgan to retain his PFL lightweight title, then entered free agency as arguably the most sought-after fighter outside the UFC. 

With Dana White openly interested and the newly merged PFL-MVP promotion eager to keep its champion, the race for Nurmagomedov's signature is underway. Watching it all unfold, former UFC champion Demetrious Johnson believes there's only one move the UFC should make: pay whatever it takes to sign him. 

Demetrious Johnson Believes Usman Nurmagomedo Worth Whatever it Takes

Speaking on his YouTube channel, DJ made it clear that if he were in White's shoes, he'd move aggressively to bring Nurmagomedov to the UFC, 

"If I were Dana, I would pay Usman Nurmagomedov whatever the f**k he wants to take him away from that PFL merger because you're stealing a star from their organization."

Simply put, Johnson's reasoning extends well beyond the lightweight’s undefeated record or his reputation as one of the world's best lightweights outside the UFC. Rather, he believes signing the PFL champion would strengthen the UFC's ties to one of the most influential families in mixed martial arts.

"And there's a whole family right there. There's Khabib Nurmagomedov, there's Abubakar Nurmagomedov, there's Islam Makhachev, and there's Umar Nurmagomedov."

To make things more interesting, the former UFC Flyweight champion believes that the young Nurmagomedov’s arrival would instantly add another elite contender to a lightweight division already stacked with names such as Justin Gaethje and Ilia Topuria. More importantly, it would finally answer one of the biggest "what ifs" in MMA by allowing fans to see how the Dagestani standout fares against the UFC's talent pool.

"Might Mouse" added, "I like the position that Usman is in… And if he, as an athlete, wants to test himself against the best in the lightweight division, I think it'd be sick to have him fight in the UFC lightweight division."

Interesting Timing of Usman Nurmagomedov's Free Agency

The timing makes Johnson's comments even more relevant. Nurmagomedov became a free agent after knocking out Archie Colgan to retain his PFL lightweight title, and his cousin and coach, Khabib Nurmagomedov, has since revealed that negotiations over the next step in his career will begin soon.

While the newly merged PFL-MVP promotion has every reason to keep its biggest star, White has already acknowledged the UFC's interest, making a bidding battle a real possibility.

Ali Abdelaziz Already Sees Usman Nurmagomedov Finishing Ilia Topuria

As speculation surrounding Nurmagomedov's future continues, his longtime manager, Ali Abdelaziz, has wasted little time imagining what life in the UFC could look like.

Following Topuria's first professional loss to Gaethje at UFC Freedom 250, Abdelaziz boldly predicted that another one of his clients would hand the former champion a similarly decisive defeat.

"I told everyone before that Justin Gaethje would beat Ilia Topuria," Abdelaziz wrote on social media. "And I'm telling you today: Usman Nurmagomedov will stop Ilia Topuria within four rounds."

It's a matchup that remains purely hypothetical for now, but one that has already captivated the MMA community. For one, “El Matador” remains one of the UFC's biggest stars despite losing his unbeaten record, while Nurmagomedov is widely regarded as the best lightweight competing outside the promotion.

Whether that fight ever materializes depends entirely on the 28-year-old's next move. Re-signing with the PFL would allow him to remain the face of the organization's lightweight division as it enters a new era under the MVP banner. 

A move to the UFC, however, would open the door to blockbuster matchups against Topuria, Gaethje, Arman Tsarukyan, Charles Oliveira, and maybe, just maybe, a potential bout against teammate and Pound for Pound king Makhachev further down the line. Who knows? 

For now, Nurmagomedov holds all the leverage. As “The Eagle” confirmed, negotiations are set to begin soon, and whichever promotion lands his signature won't just be adding an undefeated champion; it will be securing one of the most sought-after free agents in the sport.