UFC chief Dana White signals interest in free-agent Usman Nurmagomedov
UFC president Dana White indicated the organization is considering signing lightweight Usman Nurmagomedov, who became a free agent after his PFL contract ended.
Usman Nurmagomedov entered free agency after defeating Archie Colgan on Friday, concluding his contract with the Professional Fighters League. The undefeated lightweight, known for his striking and grappling, is now evaluating options for his next contract as he approaches the prime of his career.
PFL and MVP executives, including CEO John Martin and influencer Jake Paul, have expressed a desire to retain Nurmagomedov, but the prospect of joining the UFC remains a strong possibility. During the UFC post-fight press conference in Belgrade, UFC chief Dana White responded to questions about the fighter’s availability, saying, "> Sure," and smiling.
Nurmagomedov’s connections to the UFC are extensive: his training partner Islam Makhachev is the promotion’s top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter, his younger brother Umar competes as a ranked bantamweight, and Khabib Nurmagomedov, a UFC Hall of Famer, serves as his cousin’s head coach. Khabib posted on Instagram praising Usman’s abilities and noted that negotiations are expected to begin next month, with a decision anticipated soon.
The situation mirrors previous high-profile free-agency moves in combat sports, such as Olympic champion Kayla Harrison’s transition to the UFC, where she later captured the bantamweight title.