PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov hasn’t entered the UFC yet, but he’s already talking trash about the quality of opposition he may face when he gets there.
Nurmagomedov fought the last fight on his PFL contract last month, and recently revealed he turned down a $2 million per fight offer from the organization in order to wait out the 90 day exclusive negotiation period and see what other promotions might offer him. Promotions like the UFC, where he could finally get his due as one of the best lightweights in the world.
In an interview with Sport24, Usman pushed back on the idea that the top fighters are all in the UFC.
🚨 Usman Nurmagomedov says the stereotype that fighters outside the UFC are weak is wrong, pointing to Topuria, who he says praised himself before quitting on the stool. 🥶🤯
🗣️ “Pimblett lost to a 37-year-old veteran fighter. Well, he’s top one or two now.
🗣“Topuria, who was… pic.twitter.com/iw9Xy59SmF
“They say if you don’t fight in the UFC, it’s not the same level. I disagree with this,” he said. “Just look at the guys in the UFC who sit in the top 10 and they just fight amongst themselves and keep the top ten closed. For example, Benoit Saint Denis. Won 4, lost to Dustin Poirier, lost to ‘Money’ Moicano, lost 3 more. Lost in 30 seconds. [Michael] Chandler. Top 15. He’s there. Lost to [Paddy] Pimblett.”
“[Ilia] Topuria, who praised himself endlessly, lost. Quit on the stool. Said ‘I don’t wanna continue.’ Arman [Tsarukyan] lost to [Mateusz] Gamrot, and he lost to Islam [Makhachev]. He sits, waits a year, fights once, and says that he is the best wrestler in the world. While he had two fights, I made four title defenses.”
In Nurmagomedov’s mind, the only reason these fighters are so highly regarded is the UFC’s more visible platform.
“You know how they can talk? The UFC PR machine is very strong,” Nurmagomedov said. “The fights I do, not everyone knows the names.”
Nurmagomedov is certainly talking a big game, as are his teammates who have already dubbed him the next UFC lightweight champion. We’ve seen a number of high profile imports into the UFC lately, and some of them have collapsed spectacularly. If Usman comes in and struggles after talking trash like this, he’ll never hear the end of it.
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