It's time for the UFC to sign Usman Nurmagomedov
Usman Nurmagomedov's recent win over Archie Corgan was the last fight on his PFL contract. Instead of renewing it, he should look to jump ship to MMA's major leagues in the UFC.
Last Friday, Usman Nurmagomedov headlined PFL New York: Nurmagomedov vs. Colgan. The event proved to be a flawless start to his weekend, as he defended his PFL lightweight title by knocking out Archie Colgan in round one. It was also the last fight on Nurmagomedov's contract, and the only logical next step is signing with the UFC to truly test himself against the world's best.
Usman Nurmagomedov has nowhere else to go but the UFC
Outside of regional fights in Russia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates in his early days, Usman Nurmagomedov has spent most of his career fighting in Bellator and then later in the PFL. In doing so, he built a 22-0 (1) record, with reigns as the Bellator and PFL lightweight champion, and he has been dominant in most of his fights, with the exception of the Paul Hughes bouts, which proved to be the most challenging of his career. However, outside of a potential trilogy with Hughes, there's nothing left for him in the PFL. Even A.J. McKee, who once promised to be an interesting matchup for Nurmagomedov, is now back at featherweight after a split-decision loss to Hughes at PFL Champions Series 3.
USMAN NURMAGOMEDOV WITH THE FIRST ROUND KO 😱#PFLNY | Main Card Live NOW on ESPN pic.twitter.com/mikFN1ZLFx
To further his career and cement his legacy, a move to the UFC is imperative. Unfortunately, due to the UFC's controversial pay structure, even Islam Makhachev, who trains with him, believes it'll be difficult to persuade Nurmagomedov to make the move. The PFL, after all, pays him significantly more. The potential, though, is there. UFC CEO Dana White expressed interest in signing Nurmagomedov, and while the recent MVP-PFL merger could lead to even better pay for Nurmagomedov, he'll continue to suffer from a shortage of compelling opponents. The UFC is the only promotion that can provide him with true competition and a chance for his legacy to reach heights that are impossible elsewhere.
Other former Bellator champions have already made the jump. Michael Chandler signed with the UFC back in 2020 and hasn't looked back since. Meanwhile, Patricio 'Pitbull' Freire signed with the UFC in 2025, and though both men have struggled to find wins, Nurmagomedov could seek to prove himself as better than the rest. As a member of AKA, he could be presented as Makahchev's spiritual successor at lightweight and attempt to capture the belt he once held. It's not an impossible endeavor, as the champion is Justin Gaethje, who, while exceptional, has a well-known grappling vulnerability once the fight hits the mat. If he can recreate Khabib Nurmagomedov's magic from UFC 254, when he submitted Gaethje in round two, the world would be his oyster.
However, if he would rather have a tune up fight before pursuing the title, a matchup with the recently dethroned Ilia Topuria could serve as a high stakes co-main event.
