Daniel Cormier calls on Usman Nurmagomedov to join UFC after PFL title run

The UFC analyst and former champion says it is “time for legacy,” pointing to the moment Nurmagomedov spent around UFC 330 business leadership as his PFL contract concluded.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

Daniel Cormier believes the next chapter for Usman Nurmagomedov belongs in the UFC, urging the PFL lightweight champion to sign and take on the sport’s biggest stage. In comments highlighted by Yahoo Sports on Monday, Cormier framed Nurmagomedov’s decision as a chance to cement a broader legacy, saying, “It’s time for legacy.”

The timing matters because Nurmagomedov is no longer bound by his PFL contract. Yahoo Sports reported that he completed the final fight on that deal last month and is now a free agent, creating an opening for negotiations with UFC and any other major promotion competing for top talent.

Nurmagomedov’s UFC visibility appeared to grow last week during UFC 330 weigh-ins in Philadelphia. Yahoo Sports said he was seen chatting with Hunter Campbell, UFC’s Chief Business Office, while he was in town all week to support teammate Islam Makhachev, who was leading the week’s attention as champion.

Makhachev’s presence also serves as context for why Nurmagomedov could be in position to make a promotion shift. Nurmagomedov’s team ties and the ecosystem around Makhachev have often influenced how opportunities emerge across organizations, particularly when a fighter is trying to build momentum beyond one league.

Still, Cormier’s call is advocacy rather than confirmation. Nothing in the Yahoo Sports report establishes that Nurmagomedov has signed, agreed to terms, or finalized an Octagon debut timeline, only that he is a free agent and that he engaged UFC business leadership while in the city for UFC 330.

UFC 330’s weigh-in week is one of the sport’s most concentrated moments for matchmaking and negotiations, and a conversation with a senior UFC business executive indicates interest can exist even before a contract is public. For fans, the key takeaway is that Nurmagomedov’s market is active, and UFC is in the conversation.

For Nurmagomedov, the decision carries an added layer of career-picture stakes. Moving from a promotion where he won a lightweight title to the UFC typically means stepping into a different style of competition, a deeper talent pool, and a longer spotlight that can define a fighter’s historical standing for years.

What to watch next is whether Nurmagomedov’s free agency turns into an announced UFC signing, and if so, which division and opponent profile he targets first. With UFC 330 already underway in the spotlight, the next meaningful milestone would be any formal statement from UFC or Nurmagomedov’s camp.

Why It Matters

If Nurmagomedov does join the UFC, it would reshape the sport’s top-end depth, especially at lightweight where contenders are tightly clustered.
A signing would also intensify the competitive picture around Makhachev’s camp, with more interconnected matchups across UFC events.
The business-office involvement during UFC 330 suggests the UFC is actively assessing major free agents during peak event exposure.
For Nurmagomedov, the move would shift the “legacy” argument from one promotion’s championship context to the UFC’s long-running historical baseline.

Sources

Key Facts

Daniel Cormier urged Usman Nurmagomedov to sign with the UFC, saying it is “time for legacy.”
Nurmagomedov is reported as a free agent after completing the final fight on his PFL contract last month.
Yahoo Sports reported Nurmagomedov was seen chatting with UFC Chief Business Office Hunter Campbell during UFC 330 weigh-ins in Philadelphia.
Nurmagomedov was in Philadelphia all week to support teammate Islam Makhachev, reported as a champion in the Yahoo Sports write-up.
The report frames Cormier’s comments as encouragement amid a free-agent window rather than confirmation of a UFC deal.