TLDR
- Arman Tsarukyan believes free agent Usman Nurmagomedov could beat most UFC lightweights, including champion Justin Gaethje
- Nurmagomedov became a free agent after knocking out Archie Colgan in the first round at PFL New York last month
- Tsarukyan named only Quillan Salkilld and Charles Oliveira as potential challenges for the undefeated fighter
- Daniel Cormier confronted Nurmagomedov after UFC 330, urging him to focus on legacy over money
- Islam Makhachev wants Nurmagomedov to fight a non-title bout first if he joins the UFC
Sources: mmajunkie.usatoday.com | mmasucka.com | sports.yahoo.com
UFC lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan believes undefeated free agent Usman Nurmagomedov would beat almost every fighter in the division, including current champion Justin Gaethje.
Nurmagomedov became a free agent after knocking out Archie Colgan in the first round at PFL New York last month. The 28-year-old Dagestani fighter holds a perfect 22-0 record and has never been defeated in his professional career.
“He can beat a lot of guys in our division because stylistically he’s so good,” Tsarukyan said during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show. “He can wrestle, he can strike, but there are tough guys too, so let’s see.”
Tsarukyan went further with his assessment, saying Nurmagomedov would defeat Gaethje and most other fighters in the lightweight division. The Armenian-Russian fighter currently holds a 23-3 record in MMA with a 10-2 record inside the UFC.
Only Two Fighters Pose Real Threats
Tsarukyan identified only two fighters who might give Nurmagomedov problems in the UFC. He named Quillan Salkilld, who recently choked out Mateusz Gamrot, as a dangerous matchup.
Arman Tsarukyan reacts to the UFC potentially signing Usman Nurmagomedov and the possibility of a future matchup:
“He can beat a lot of guys in our division because, stylistically, he’s so good… I think he beats Gaethje. I think he beats almost everyone in the division.
There… pic.twitter.com/AFhexlzHsJ
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) August 17, 2026
He also mentioned Charles Oliveira as an interesting fight because of his submission skills. “Charles can do some submissions, take his back, choke him out, but he’s good everywhere, so he’s dangerous for everyone,” Tsarukyan said.
Tsarukyan praised Nurmagomedov’s overall skills, saying the undefeated fighter is legitimate and dangerous for the entire division. However, he noted that competition in the PFL does not compare to what Nurmagomedov would face in the UFC.
Nurmagomedov’s teammates are pushing him to sign with the UFC to test himself against top competition. The fighter remains within the PFL’s limited exclusive negotiation window following its merger with Most Valuable Promotions.
Cormier and Makhachev Weigh In
Daniel Cormier publicly challenged Nurmagomedov after UFC 330 in Philadelphia. The former two-division UFC champion met the Dagestani fighter at Xfinity Mobile Arena and urged him to test himself against the UFC’s best lightweights.
Nurmagomedov reportedly called top UFC lightweights “bums” during the conversation with Cormier. Cormier responded by saying the focus should shift from money to building a legacy.
The exchange between the two fighters ended with a handshake. Cormier’s challenge represents a turning point as Nurmagomedov considers his next career move.
Islam Makhachev, the UFC lightweight champion and Nurmagomedov’s fellow Dagestani fighter, has a different opinion about how his teammate should enter the promotion. Makhachev believes Nurmagomedov should not receive an immediate title shot despite his undefeated record.
“He has to feel this atmosphere. He has to fight one time,” Makhachev said. “Because this is like one of the big divisions in UFC, you know, and come from another division and fight for the title, I think he has to come, feel this atmosphere, feel this all, media, everything, and fight for the title next.”
Makhachev wants Nurmagomedov to experience the pressure and atmosphere of the UFC before jumping into a championship fight. He emphasized that the lightweight division is one of the biggest in the promotion.
As for Tsarukyan, he has other plans before potentially facing Nurmagomedov. He meets Mauricio Ruffy in the UFC 331 co-main event on September 19 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
“I’ve got to work on it, become a champion, and then we can talk,” Tsarukyan said about a potential fight with Nurmagomedov. Ruffy holds a 14-2 MMA record with a 5-1 record in the UFC.
