Islam Makhachev presses Usman Nurmagomedov for the UFC after PFL breakthrough

Usman Nurmagomedov’s path to the UFC is back in focus after a dominant performance in PFL New York. On Friday at UBS Arena in Elmont, the PFL lightweight champion knocked out Archie Colgan in the first round, a result that set up fresh talk of what Nurmagomedov might do next.

Islam Makhachev, Nurmagomedov’s peer in the lightweight division and the current UFC welterweight champion, framed the moment as a turning point. In comments reported by Yahoo Sports, Makhachev argued it is time for Nurmagomedov to test himself in the UFC, describing the UFC environment as a more difficult, high-level “jungle” than the step he has already mastered in PFL competition.

Makhachev’s endorsement also came alongside a public-facing response from UFC leadership. When asked about the possibility of adding Nurmagomedov to the UFC roster, UFC CEO Dana White reportedly smiled, a small but meaningful indicator that the matchup between Nurmagomedov’s momentum and the UFC’s interest is at least being considered.

Nurmagomedov’s status adds to the conversation. According to the same report, he is now a free agent following the PFL New York main event win, which means negotiations would not be constrained by an immediately binding promotion-specific contract. In MMA, that kind of timing often accelerates discussions when a fighter has recently demonstrated both finishing ability and competitive relevance against recognizable competition.

For the UFC, a potential signing would also reflect an ongoing trend of importing elite talent from the PFL, particularly in divisions where athleticism and composure are rewarded. A Nurmagomedov UFC landing would immediately raise matchmaking questions, including whether the promotion tries to fast-track him to top-contender fights or first places him in a high-leverage test designed to clarify where he fits among current UFC lightweight and welterweight prospects.

For Makhachev, the appeal is straightforward: he has positioned himself as a marker for elite performance and consistency, and he is now putting his credibility behind a teammate-style recommendation. His hope, as described in the report, is that the UFC will take advantage of a moment when Nurmagomedov has both a compelling record and recent spotlight momentum from PFL’s biggest nights.