Arman Tsarukyan stated he believes he would have defeated Khabib Nurmagomedov by decision, citing his well-rounded skill set as his main advantage. UFC President Dana White expressed relief at stepping away from direct fighter negotiations, saying the company has outgrown that phase and he grew tired of dealing with often frivolous fighter issues. Daniel Cormier proposed an unusual next step for Islam Makhachev's career, suggesting he should fight Conor McGregor. Jiri Prochazka expressed confidence that Alex Pereira could defeat Ciryl Gane. Tsarukyan was prepared to bet one million dollars on a Khamzat Chimaev victory, but his opponent in the wager quickly reduced the amount to fifty thousand dollars.
Arman Tsarukyan made headlines this week with a bold hypothetical claim, asserting he would have beaten retired legend Khabib Nurmagomedov by decision, pointing to his well-rounded skill set as the decisive edge. The comments surfaced as part of a wider wave of MMA media discussion that also touched on Islam Makhachev's future and the light heavyweight division.
Khabib Nurmagomedov finished his career at a perfect 29-0, and the Russian grappler remains one of the most dominant champions in UFC history. Standing five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach, Khabib averaged an extraordinary 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes, a figure that underscores why any fighter claiming they could neutralize him is making a significant statement.
Islam Makhachev, the current welterweight champion and the top pound-for-pound fighter in the AgentMMA rankings, drew an eyebrow-raising suggestion from analyst Daniel Cormier, who proposed that Makhachev should next fight Conor McGregor. The 34-year-old Russian southpaw carries a 28-1 record and connects at a 58 percent striking accuracy rate, averaging 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes for Eagles MMA.
Elsewhere in the media cycle, Jiri Prochazka expressed confidence that Alex Pereira would defeat Ciryl Gane. The Czech light heavyweight, ranked second in his division at 33 years old, holds a 32-6-1 record and brings an aggressive offensive output of 5.69 significant strikes per minute with an 80-inch reach, giving him credibility as a voice on high-level striking matchups.
Tsarukyan also generated buzz around the Khamzat Chimaev fight card, reportedly ready to stake one million dollars on a Chimaev victory, though the person on the other side of the wager quickly negotiated that figure down to fifty thousand dollars.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's Khabib claim keeps his name prominent as he positions himself in the lightweight picture
- Cormier's McGregor suggestion for Makhachev would be one of the most commercially significant bouts the UFC could make
- Prochazka's endorsement of Pereira adds context to the ongoing light heavyweight title conversation
