Arman Tsarukyan stated he believes he would have defeated Khabib Nurmagomedov by decision, citing his versatility as a key advantage. Jiri Prochazka is highly rated by UFC brass, having fought four title fights in just eight UFC appearances. Daniel Cormier proposed an unusual career move for Islam Makhachev, suggesting he should fight Conor McGregor. Dana White expressed relief at stepping back from fighter negotiations, saying the company has outgrown that stage and he grew tired of dealing with often frivolous fighter issues. Tsarukyan was prepared to bet one million dollars on Khamzat Chimaev's victory, but a streamer who proposed betting on Sean immediately withdrew, changing the wager to fifty thousand dollars.
Arman Tsarukyan made headlines this week with a bold hypothetical claim, stating that he believes he would have defeated the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov by decision, pointing to his own versatility as the deciding factor. The comments arrived alongside a wave of other notable remarks from UFC figures, painting a busy week on the media circuit.
Khabib Nurmagomedov retired in 2021 with a flawless 29-0-0 record and remains one of the most dominant grapplers the sport has ever produced. The 37-year-old Russian averaged an extraordinary 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career, making him a nightmare matchup for virtually any opponent regardless of skill set.
Islam Makhachev, a teammate of Khabib's under Eagles MMA, currently stands as the pound-for-pound number one fighter on the planet and reigning welterweight champion with a 28-1-0 record. The 34-year-old southpaw from Russia lands strikes at 58 percent accuracy and averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, underscoring his own elite grappling pedigree. Daniel Cormier floated the idea this week that Makhachev should pursue a fight with Conor McGregor, an unusual suggestion given the stylistic and divisional landscape.
Jiri Prochazka also drew praise from UFC brass during the media cycle. The Czech light heavyweight contender, ranked second in his division, accomplished four title fights within just eight UFC appearances — a remarkable pace for any fighter. 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 dangerous strikers in the 205-pound division.
Elsewhere, Dana White commented on stepping back from direct fighter negotiations, suggesting the organization has grown beyond that model and that he grew weary of handling disputes he considered trivial.
Tsarukyan also drew attention for reportedly being willing to wager one million dollars on Khamzat Chimaev in an upcoming contest, though a streamer who had proposed betting on his opponent quickly retreated and reduced the proposed stake to fifty thousand dollars.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's Khabib comments will fuel debate about who could truly challenge the unbeaten legend's legacy
- Cormier's McGregor suggestion for Makhachev adds noise around what comes next for the pound-for-pound king
- Prochazka's title-fight frequency at light heavyweight signals the UFC's long-term investment in him as a marquee name
