Arman Tsarukyan stated he believes he would have defeated Khabib Nurmagomedov by decision, citing his well-rounded skill set as his main advantage. Dana White revealed he is relieved to have stepped away from direct fighter negotiations, saying the company has outgrown that phase and he grew tired of dealing with what he described as often irresponsible fighters. Daniel Cormier suggested an unusual career move for Islam Makhachev, proposing a fight with Conor McGregor. Jiri Prochazka is reportedly highly regarded by UFC management, having fought in four title fights across just eight UFC bouts. The post also mentioned that Arman was willing to bet one million dollars on Khamzat Chimaev's victory, though the streamer who proposed the bet quickly reduced the wager to fifty thousand dollars.
Arman Tsarukyan has made a bold claim about a fight that never happened, stating that he would have defeated the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov by decision, pointing to his all-around skill set as the decisive edge. The comments emerged as part of a broader wave of media activity involving several prominent figures in the UFC landscape.
Tsarukyan's confidence in a hypothetical matchup with Khabib is notable given the retired Russian's spotless 29-0-0 record. Khabib, now 37, built his legacy on suffocating grappling, averaging an extraordinary 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes during his career. The two fighters share a Dagestani training background, which adds a particular edge to Tsarukyan's claim.
Islam Makhachev, the current welterweight champion and the top-ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world at 34 years old, was the subject of an eyebrow-raising suggestion from Daniel Cormier, who floated the idea of Makhachev fighting Conor McGregor. The Russian southpaw carries a 28-1-0 record and averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, underscoring the danger he poses on the ground.
Jiri Prochazka has quietly earned significant respect within UFC management. The Czech light heavyweight contender, ranked second in his division, has competed in four title fights across just eight UFC appearances — a remarkable concentration of high-stakes bouts. The 33-year-old stands six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach and lands 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy, making him one of the most active and efficient strikers in the company.
On the business side, Dana White commented that he is no longer directly involved in fighter negotiations, describing the shift as a natural consequence of the organization's growth and expressing relief at stepping back from dealings he characterized as frequently frustrating.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's Khabib claim keeps the retired legend's legacy in active discussion and elevates Tsarukyan's own profile ahead of future lightweight title contention
- A Makhachev-McGregor suggestion from Cormier signals the ongoing commercial pull McGregor has on UFC matchmaking conversations
- Prochazka's title-fight density at 32-6-1 cements his standing as a cornerstone of the light heavyweight division
