Undefeated mixed martial artist Usman Nurmagomedov officially became a free agent on October 29 after reaching the end of the matching rights period in his contract. The 28-year-old fighter, who holds an unblemished 22-0 record and serves as both the PFL lightweight champion and former Bellator titleholder, reportedly declined a new contract offer from the PFL earlier during his 90-day window.
The Path to the UFC
Industry analysts consider a move to the UFC to be virtually guaranteed for the Russian competitor. Nurmagomedov shares deep ties to the organization through his family and training camp. His cousin is retired UFC legend and coach Khabib Nurmagomedov, his brother Umar competes in the UFC bantamweight division, and his close teammate Islam Makhachev holds the UFC welterweight championship and formerly reigned at lightweight. Furthermore, his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, maintains extensive connections within the promotion.
UFC CEO Dana White stated recently that promotion executives planned to pursue negotiations the moment Nurmagomedov became legally permitted to do so. While an official announcement regarding his signing and debut matchup may not happen immediately, industry observers view the transition as a certainty.
Championship Resume
Nurmagomedov debuted in Bellator during 2021, securing three victories within a seven-month span. He earned a title opportunity by submitting Chris Gonzalez and subsequently captured the lightweight championship by defeating Patricky Freire at Bellator 288 in late 2022.
His championship reign included successful defenses against Benson Henderson, Alexander Shabliy, and Paul Hughes under the Bellator and PFL banners, alongside a victory over Brent Primus that was later overturned due to a failed drug test. Following the PFL acquisition, Nurmagomedov defeated Hughes in a rematch to claim the inaugural 155-pound championship. He then broke a four-fight streak of 25-minute decision victories by submitting Alfie Davis in February and knocking out Archie Colgan in July, which marks his final appearance for the PFL.
