TLDR
- Usman Nurmagomedov became a free agent after knocking out Archie Colgan to complete his PFL contract
- UFC President Dana White confirmed the promotion’s interest in signing the undefeated lightweight champion
- Khabib Nurmagomedov said negotiations will happen next month and a decision will come ‘very soon’
- The 28-year-old fighter holds a perfect 22-0 record with 16 finishes in his career
- Both the PFL and UFC are expected to make serious offers for one of MMA’s top free agents
- Khabib compared Usman’s skills and compared him to Islam Makhachev,
Sources: mmafighting.com | bbc.com | sports.yahoo.com
Usman Nurmagomedov has become the biggest free agent in mixed martial arts after finishing his contract with the Professional Fighters League last week. The undefeated lightweight champion knocked out Archie Colgan in the first round at PFL New York on Friday.
UFC President Dana White confirmed the promotion’s interest in signing the 28-year-old Russian fighter. When asked about Nurmagomedov at the UFC Belgrade post-fight press conference on Saturday, White responded with a simple “sure” while showing a big smile.
White later posted a smiling emoji on social media when his comments started getting attention. The UFC has strong ties to Nurmagomedov’s family, with his cousin Islam Makhachev currently ranked as the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the promotion.
Nurmagomedov’s younger brother Umar is also a top-ranked bantamweight in the UFC. His cousin and head coach, UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, retired undefeated in 2020 with a perfect 29-0 record.
Dana White had the biggest smile on his face when asked about signing Usman Nurmagomedov ðŸ˜
"Sure." pic.twitter.com/5hTcA4lvf8
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) August 1, 2026
Khabib Announces Timeline for Decision
Khabib posted on Instagram about his cousin’s future in the sport. He praised Usman’s skills and compared him to Islam Makhachev, who he called the best fighter in the world back in 2020 when many people disagreed.
“Usman has shown and proven over the last couple of years that he is the best lightweight outside the UFC,” Khabib wrote. “Not with words, but with his performances.”
Khabib revealed that negotiations will take place over the next month. He added that fans will find out “very soon” which promotion his cousin will fight for next.
The timing is important for the PFL, which just completed a merger with Most Valuable Promotions last week. MVP co-owner Jake Paul has been vocal about wanting to keep Nurmagomedov in the organization.
After his knockout win over Colgan, Nurmagomedov asked Paul for a bonus. Paul responded by promising to buy him a car if he gets another knockout in his next fight.
Nurmagomedov raised questions about his future by saying, “brother let’s talk about today – we don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow.” He also referenced Paul’s past criticism of UFC fighter pay in his post-fight interview.
Perfect Record and Fighting Style
Nurmagomedov holds a perfect 22-0 record with 16 finishes. He has won six straight title fights, including two after the Bellator title was rebranded as the PFL championship in 2025.
The Russian fighter’s style differs from his famous cousin Khabib. While Khabib was known for wrestling and relentless pressure, Usman controls fights with kicks and striking along with strong grappling skills.
His only close fights in the PFL came in two difficult bouts against Paul Hughes in 2025. Otherwise, he has dominated his opponents throughout his career.
PFL CEO John Martin and Jake Paul have both stated publicly that they want to keep Nurmagomedov. The UFC signing him would give fans dream matchups against top lightweight fighters in the world’s biggest MMA promotion.
The last major free agent to sign with the UFC was two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison. She joined the promotion and is now the bantamweight champion.
Nurmagomedov told reporters after his win over Colgan that he values money over legacy. His next contract could depend on which promotion offers him the most money, with negotiations expected to begin within the next month.
