Khabib credits PFL for shaping Usman Nurmagomedov into MMA's most wanted free agent

Khabib Nurmagomedov has credited the Professional Fighters League for transforming his cousin Usman Nurmagomedov into the most sought-after free agent in MMA, arguing the 21-0 lightweight champion would never have earned a UFC contract straight out of the gate.

Speaking on the Smol Talk podcast, the UFC Hall of Famer was direct about what the PFL provided. “Without the PFL, who would have known Usman? At 21, he wouldn’t have made it to the UFC,” Khabib said. “They gave him a base, the roots, the opportunity to grow. The PFL made him a star. Of course, being my [cousin] helped, but first and foremost, Usman himself is an elite world-class fighter.”

Khabib went further, placing Usman at the very top of the non-UFC rankings. “Among the Top 10 fighters outside the UFC, Usman is No. 1 — the ‘most wanted’ free agent, as people say. The PFL platform gave him that position, and I’m deeply grateful to them.”

Usman joined Bellator — later acquired by the PFL — in 2021 with an 11-0 record and has since extended his unbeaten run to 21-0 (1 NC), capturing the PFL lightweight title along the way. His current contract expires after his next title defence against Archie Colgan on July 31 at UBS Arena in Long Island, New York, a bout that has fuelled widespread speculation about a subsequent move to the UFC.

Despite the rumours, Khabib declined to shed any light on what comes next. “What happens next with Usman? Honestly, I can’t discuss it now, and out of respect for the PFL, I don’t want to,” he said.

Usman is not the only Nurmagomedov already on the UFC’s radar. His brother Umar Nurmagomedov is an established presence on the UFC roster and is currently ranked among the top bantamweights in the world, adding further weight to the family name inside the Octagon.