Usman Nurmagomedov is considered the consensus best fighter in the world, not signed to the UFC.
Khabib Nurmagomedov‘s younger cousin, Usman, is widely regarded as the most well-rounded, world-caliber fighter outside of the sport’s premier promotion. Unlike the traditional grappling-heavy style that fighters of a similar background have, the 28-year-old is a dynamic fighter who mixes elite Muay Thai with exhausting wrestling. Undefeated in 22 fights, Usman has a higher knockout rate than any other method on his record, which played a key role in capturing and retaining both the Bellator and PFL lightweight titles.
Rumors about the UFC’s latest blockbuster signing are strong, but Usman Nurmagomedov has still not been announced. Concerns have been raised after the noise around his acquisition became silent in recent weeks, but Usman has explained why.
“The stars will align by the end of October,” Usman declared. “Look, there’s that 90-day rule. I can’t even negotiate with anyone except the PFL. I can’t even start talking to anyone. As soon as the negotiations with PFL are over and that 90-day period expires, then we can start talking to other promotions.”
“But as for now, the negotiating process is going on, and I’m not legally allowed ot get in touch with other promotions. So, there’s nothing extraordinary here; we are waiting. I keep working.”
Success is ingrained in the Team Khabib Nurmagomedov camp. Despite not doing it at the highest level against the best fighters in the world, Usman Nurmagomedov has been head and shoulders above the competition in PFL and Bellator.
Hoping to hit the ground running once his UFC move is finalized, Usman has been hard at work as he waits for confirmation.
“I was in Dubai,” Usman added. “It’s already been two weeks since I started training, wrestling, and improving my skills. So, that’s the case.”