Arman Tsarukyan believes he would have defeated Khabib Nurmagomedov by decision if they had fought, citing his well-rounded skill set as a key advantage. Jiri Prochazka is highly valued by UFC leadership, having had four title fights in just eight UFC appearances. Prochazka also expressed confidence that Alex Pereira could defeat Ciryl Gane. Meanwhile, Dana White stated he is relieved to have distanced himself from direct fighter negotiations, saying the company has outgrown that stage and he grew tired of dealing with what he described as often irresponsible fighters. Daniel Cormier suggested an unusual next fight for Islam Makhachev, proposing a bout with Conor McGregor.
Arman Tsarukyan has stirred debate by declaring he would have beaten retired legend Khabib Nurmagomedov by decision, pointing to his all-around game as the deciding factor in a fight that never happened.
Khabib, who retired with a perfect 29-0-0 record, remains one of the most dominant figures in MMA history. The Russian standout stood five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach and averaged an extraordinary 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes during his career, with a striking accuracy of 48 percent. Tsarukyan, who trains out of the same combat sports tradition, believes his versatility would have been enough to weather that pressure and earn a decision victory.
Elsewhere, UFC president Dana White acknowledged he is glad to have stepped away from handling fighter negotiations directly, noting that the organization has grown beyond that stage. White added that dealing with fighters he described as frequently irresponsible had worn on him over time.
Jiri Prochazka continues to be highly regarded by UFC leadership. The Czech light heavyweight, ranked second in his division at 33 years old, has earned four title fights in just eight UFC appearances — a remarkable rate by any measure. Standing six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach, Prochazka carries a 32-6-1 record and lands 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. He also weighed in on the Alex Pereira versus Ciryl Gane matchup, expressing confidence that Pereira would come out on top.
Daniel Cormier meanwhile floated an unexpected idea for lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, suggesting a fight with Conor McGregor as a potential next booking. Makhachev, the pound-for-pound number one fighter at 28-1-0, is a southpaw who connects at 58 percent striking accuracy and averages 3.2 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's comments keep the debate alive over who could have challenged Khabib's undefeated legacy
- Prochazka's four title fights in eight appearances underlines his standing as a marquee UFC asset
- A Makhachev versus McGregor proposal, however unconventional, speaks to the commercial ambitions surrounding the lightweight champion
