Petr Yan reveals Usman Nurmagomedov bought his one-of-250 BMW as UFC move looms

UFC bantamweight champion Petr Yan has revealed that Usman Nurmagomedov, the unbeaten PFL lightweight titleholder and brother of Khabib Nurmagomedov, once bought his limited-edition BMW X5 — a vehicle so rare that only 250 existed worldwide in that specific colour, with just 12 of those in Russia.

“Khabib Nurmagomedov’s brother, Usman, bought that car from me later,” Yan said in an interview with Kickdown. “There were only 12 of these cars in Russia, and only 250 in the world. There were 12 in Russia in this specific color.”

The anecdote underlines the mutual respect between two fighters who, on paper, occupy rival corners of the MMA landscape. Yan rules the UFC’s bantamweight division, while Usman’s brother Umar is an active contender in that same weight class. Despite the competitive overlap, the two men have maintained a cordial relationship.

Yan himself has pressing business ahead: he is scheduled to defend his bantamweight title against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi in October.

The car story arrives at a moment when Usman Nurmagomedov’s professional future is the most talked-about subject in free-agent MMA. The PFL holds a 90-day exclusive negotiating window following his last fight, but Nurmagomedov has already confirmed he turned down an offer worth $2 million per fight. A recent Instagram post has fuelled widespread speculation that a move to the UFC is imminent, with the promotion reported to be actively pursuing the undefeated Dagestani.

Whether the BMW transaction signals a deeper friendship between the two camps or is simply a coincidental transaction between two high-profile fighters, it offers a rare glimpse into the personal connections that exist beneath the competitive surface of elite MMA.