Islam Makhachev questions whether pay will push Usman Nurmagomedov to the UFC

Islam Makhachev, one of the UFC’s most prominent lightweight champions, has cast doubt on whether Usman Nurmagomedov’s next move will be the UFC. In comments reported by Yahoo Sports, Makhachev said pay could be a deciding factor in whether Nurmagomedov signs with the UFC, implying that financial structure matters as much as prestige when a fight career reaches the “what’s next” stage.

That uncertainty arrives as Nurmagomedov remains in the middle of the PFL’s lightweight championship picture. Yahoo Sports reports that Nurmagomedov will defend his PFL lightweight title in the PFL Long Island main event on July 31 at UBS Arena in Belmont Park, New York. The card is set for ESPN broadcast, which underscores how prominently the PFL is positioning its championship matchups for mainstream audiences.

Nurmagomedov enters the event with an unbeaten record of 21-0, and the opponent across from him is Archie Colgan, also undefeated at 13-0, according to Yahoo Sports. The matchup sets up a clash between two rising lightweight prospects who have each built momentum through long runs without a loss, and it places the championship at the center of both fighters’ credibility beyond the regular fight calendar.

Makhachev’s remarks also matter because they connect two of the sport’s biggest promotion ecosystems at a moment when UFC recruitment narratives often dominate MMA headlines. Nurmagomedov’s potential departure from the PFL would not just be a personal branding decision, but a statement about the balance of power between organizations, especially when a champion is still in the middle of title defenses rather than transitioning after a single bout.

From a competitive standpoint, the timing is striking. By the account in the Yahoo Sports report, Nurmagomedov’s PFL contract situation is a looming question, and Makhachev’s comments frame the UFC as an option that depends on what happens in contract negotiations, not simply what the bigger stage offers. In other words, the decision could be less about who offers the best platform and more about who offers the best overall package.

The PFL’s schedule and championship strategy also create pressure for both fighters. Nurmagomedov is not defending his title in an empty vacuum, because his performance will influence how fans and matchmakers view the lightweight division’s pecking order. Colgan, meanwhile, has to treat the fight as his clearest shot at turning undefeated status into championship legitimacy, particularly with the spotlight on ESPN.

What to watch next is whether the July 31 title bout changes the tone of the UFC discussion. If Nurmagomedov handles Colgan decisively, it may raise the leverage of any future negotiations, including the pay question Makhachev highlighted. If Colgan upsets him, the narrative could flip quickly, because a new champion can reset the incentives for both promotions and reshape what “next” looks like for other elite arabs in the division.