Who should welcome Usman Nurmagomedov to the UFC? Exploring the options

Usman Nurmagomedov has always been front and center in conversations about the best lightweights outside the UFC. He spent the better part of his career competing in Bellator, then later in the PFL, but that chapter of his career seems to be coming to a close. So, with many eager to see him finally test himself against the best fighters in the world, who should the UFC book to face him if he signs with them?

Usman Nurmagomedov vs. the UFC lightweight division

At PFL New York, Usman Nurmagomedov completed his PFL contract, successfully defending his PFL lightweight title with a first-round knockout of Archie Colgan. It was a good win, but the kind of fight that fans have grown tired of seeing Nurmagomedov in. Most of his opponents have been either journeymen or over-the-hill ex-UFC legends like Benson Henderson. It is time for him to make good on all the talk about him possibly being the world's best 155-pounder by jumping ship to the UFC. There are several matchups awaiting him, and while some, including his own manager, Ali Abdelaziz, have floated around Ilia Topuria's name, that is not only unlikely, but it's a matchup the UFC shouldn't consider.

Topuria is coming off a brutal fourth-round TKO loss, having lost his UFC lightweight title at UFC Freedom 250 to Justin Gaethje. He needs an easier fight, not that he'd lose, for his comeback to regain his confidence. Furthermore, he is a big star and near the top of the division. An unproven PFL import who is unlikely to stick around for too long in the UFC shouldn't be given such a high-profile first fight. This also disqualifies fighters like Paddy Pimblett and Max Holloway, who are closer to fighting for the lightweight title than welcoming a fighter making his promotional debut. Even a fighter like Quillan Salkilld, who is potentially a future UFC lightweight champion, should not be matched up with Nurmagomedov, at least not yet. It's a risky fight and he gains nothing from it, as he is currently working his way toward a title fight.

Instead, the selection of possible Nurmagomedov opponents, should he sign with the UFC, should include the likes of Renato Moicano, Rafael Fiziev, Benoît Saint Denis, Dan Hooker, and Michael Chandler. With the exception of Chandler, who is unranked, all of the aforementioned fighters are in the top 10 and 15, and they are all in no position to demand a higher profile opponent than Nurmagomedov. Moicano is 1-2 in his last three fights, Fiziev is 2-4 in his last six, Saint Denis is coming off a first-round submission loss, Hooker is on a two-fight losing streak, though he is scheduled to face Salahdine Parnasse at UFC Fight Night 287, and Chandler is on a four-fight losing streak.

They're all recognizable names on rough patches, and relatively winnable fights for Nurmagomedov. Hooker himself has already expressed his willingness to face Nurmagomedov, and Moicano is interested in big names that bring big checks, while the rest of the fighters can be persuaded. So, if the UFC intends to sign Nurmagomedov, they should look to the top 10 and 15 at lightweight for the right man to welcome him. And the right man is Hooker. He is well-known, presents no threat to Nurmagomedov, and is a very winnable fight.