THE APEX TIMES
The UFC lightweight champion said he does not expect the promotion to match what a top PFL lightweight titleholder would command, questioning whether Nurmagomedov would be convinced to make the jump.
Islam Makhachev weighed in on the ongoing conversation about whether Usman Nurmagomedov would leave the PFL and come to the UFC, and his answer was cautious. In remarks reported by Yahoo Sports on June 21, Makhachev said he is not convinced the UFC will “open the chequebook” to pull Nurmagomedov into the Octagon, even though the match-up is the kind of cross-organization move fans have debated for some time.
Nurmagomedov has built a strong reputation outside the UFC, and the idea of him transitioning to MMA’s largest platform has persisted. Makhachev’s concern, as framed in the report, centers on pay and leverage, suggesting that the UFC may have to offer more than the kind of standard compensation that typically comes with switching promotions. The comment also implies that a fighter’s decision is shaped as much by perceived value as by prestige.
At issue is that Nurmagomedov is not arriving from a lower tier. He is identified in the report as the PFL lightweight champion, which matters because it means he is currently positioned as the face of a weight class on a major stage. When a reigning champion is asked to consider changing organizations, the discussion often turns to guarantees, upside, and the long-term path to additional big fights, not simply the opportunity to compete for money in general.
Makhachev’s public skepticism can be read as a reminder that the UFC’s talent pool is not only built by contracts, but also by relationships and fighter incentives that vary from athlete to athlete. If a champion believes his market value is tied to his performance and drawing power, he may treat the move to the UFC as a negotiation rather than a default. The report frames Makhachev as unconvinced that the UFC will meet that negotiation on Nurmagomedov’s terms.
There is also a broader ecosystem context. The PFL has increasingly offered fighters a path to major titles, and the UFC has long been seen as the highest-ceiling environment for high-profile matchups. Still, the translation between those realities is not automatic. A fighter who is thriving in one promotion can demand more than what would make sense on a one-size-fits-all basis, especially when he already holds a championship belt.
For now, Makhachev’s remarks do not confirm any official contact or offer, and the question of Nurmagomedov’s next step remains unresolved. What is clear is that even fellow elite fighters are publicly considering the possibility that financial terms could be the deciding factor. That alone elevates the likelihood that pay and contract structure will be central to any future discussion involving a UFC move.
What to watch next is whether any UFC or PFL officials address Nurmagomedov’s status and whether Nurmagomedov himself indicates openness or resistance to changing promotions. If the conversation continues, reporters and fans will likely focus less on hypothetical matchups and more on the concrete business details that determine whether a champion believes the UFC’s offer reflects his current standing.
