Arman Tsarukyan stated he believes he would have defeated Khabib Nurmagomedov by decision, citing his well-rounded skillset as the key advantage. UFC commentator Daniel Cormier proposed an unusual next fight for Islam Makhachev, suggesting a matchup with Conor McGregor. Dana White commented that he's pleased to have stepped back from fighter negotiations, saying the company has outgrown that phase and he grew tired of dealing with issues from often irresponsible fighters. Additionally, Tsarukyan was prepared to wager one million dollars on Khamzat Chimaev's victory, but the streamer who proposed the bet quickly reduced the amount to fifty thousand dollars.
Arman Tsarukyan made headlines this week with a bold claim about UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, asserting that he would have defeated the undefeated Russian by decision had they ever competed, pointing to his own well-rounded skillset as the decisive edge.
Khabib, who retired with a perfect 29-0-0 record, remains one of the most dominant fighters in MMA history. The 37-year-old Russian averaged 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career and landed significant strikes at a clip of 4.1 per minute, combining elite grappling with enough striking to neutralize virtually every opponent he faced.
Tsarukyan's comments came as part of a broader news cycle involving the lightweight and welterweight divisions. UFC commentator Daniel Cormier added to the conversation by floating an unusual matchup suggestion, proposing that current welterweight champion Islam Makhachev take on Conor McGregor next. Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1-0 record and is ranked number one in the pound-for-pound standings. The southpaw champion boasts a striking accuracy of 58 percent and averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, making him one of the most technically complete fighters on the roster.
Separately, UFC president Dana White remarked that he is glad to have stepped away from direct fighter negotiations, noting that the organization has grown past that stage and that managing often irresponsible fighters had worn on him.
Tsarukyan also made news for his willingness to back middleweight contender Khamzat Chimaev with a one-million-dollar wager. The streamer who proposed the bet quickly retreated, shrinking the stake to fifty thousand dollars. Chimaev, ranked first in the middleweight division and tenth pound-for-pound, carries a 15-1-0 record and leads the division with a 60 percent striking accuracy and 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's Khabib claim keeps his name central to lightweight legacy debates ahead of any title pursuit
- Cormier's McGregor suggestion adds public pressure around Makhachev's next title defense
- White's remarks signal a structural shift in how the UFC handles fighter contract discussions
