With the UFC out of town this week, the attention of the entire MMA world will be firmly fixed on the PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series event in the UAE.
Undefeated lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov headlines the card against Irish superstar Paul Hughes in what’s been aptly titled ‘Dagestan vs Ireland 2’.
Should Nurmagomedov extend his professional record to 19-0, there’ll undoubtedly be calls for the Russian to ditch the PFL in favor of the UFC – a move that could come to fruition much sooner than fans realize.
Usman Nurmagomedov reveals plan to join UFC within next two years
18-0 Usman Nurmagomedov is the reigning Bellator lightweight champion, with eight big wins coming via KO/TKO, six arriving by way of submission, and four via the judges’ scorecards.
Following his most recent title victory in September, Nurmagomedov revealed that he plans on signing to the UFC roster by the year 2027; when current lightweight king and teammate Islam Makhachev either hangs up his gloves or moves on from the 155lb division.
“I’m waiting for Islam to finish his career and then I will [sign with the UFC],” he told Gorilla Fighting back in October.
“I think if we get it right, we’ll be fighting in the UFC at 28, I’m 26 years old right now, in two years I’ll get stronger and that’s it. Go into the UFC at 28 and compete until I’m 32.”
UFC CEO Dana White has already expressed interest in signing the undefeated Russian, stating that the best PFL/Bellator fighters already “want to be over here anyway, so I would imagine that eventually, yes, they will be here.”
The younger Nurmagomedov is widely considered to be one of the best 155lb fighters in the world, with his older cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov acknowledging that his potential is simply unrivaled.
| Fighter | Record | KO/TKO | Submission | Decision |
| Islam Makhachev | 27-1 | Five | 13 | Nine |
| Khabib Nurmagomedov | 29-0 | Eight | 11 | 10 |
| Usman Nurmagomedov | 18-0 | Eight | Six | Four |
“I think Usman is right now one of the best lightweights in the world,” stated the former UFC champion: “I was before, now it’s our brother Islam and Usman is next – this is dynasty.
“And he’s still growing, he just turned 26 years old, and I really believe that he’s going to have a great, great future – he’s already made history by winning and defending his title three times, but can you imagine [how good he could be] after five or six years?”
UFC champion Islam Makhachev agrees that it’ll only be a matter of time before Usman Nurmagomedov makes the switch to the UFC.
“Honestly, Usman has good potential, because he grew up with us [and] he did a lot of rounds with Khabib, now he’s my sparring partner… He can fight with anybody, and I think when he finishes all his job in Bellator-PFL, he can come to the UFC, and this guy can be UFC champion.”
Usman Nurmagomedov backed to surpass Khabib Nurmagomedov
Khabib and Islam aren’t the only ones smitten over Usman Nurmagomedov’s skills, with former double champion Daniel Cormier having previously stated that the 26-year-old could be the best of the Dagestani-bunch.
“Isn’t it crazy to watch the success that these guys have had? Not only just Khabib but to have Umar and Usman…. Usman might be the best out of all of them. This dude is amazing in terms of fighting. He fights in Bellator, now the PFL.”
That sentiment has been echoed by veteran coach Javier Mendez, who labeled Usman as potentially being “the pound for pound the greatest fighter” of all time.
“He’s got all the attributes, he’s the most talented I’ve ever trained… Whether he goes to the UFC or not, I don’t know if it’s gonna matter as long as he keeps showing people how great he is.
“He will be regarded as one of the great ones because what he does in that cage is like nobody [else]… I’ve never seen anybody do the transitions, the movement that he does, he’s unbelievable – and he’s only 26, he’s only getting better.”
Can the undefeated Russian move one step closer to a big-money signing with the UFC? Find out on Saturday, January 25 at PFL Road to Dubai Champions Series: Nurmagomedov vs Hughes.