Arman Tsarukyan stated he believes he would have defeated Khabib Nurmagomedov by decision, citing his well-rounded skill set as a key advantage. Daniel Cormier proposed an unusual next fight for Islam Makhachev, suggesting a matchup with Conor McGregor. Jiří Procházka expressed confidence that Alex Pereira could defeat Ciryl Gane. Dana White revealed he is relieved to step back from fighter negotiations, saying the company has outgrown that stage and he grew tired of dealing with fighters' problems. Tsarukyan was reportedly ready to bet one million dollars on Khamzat Chimaev's victory, but the streamer who proposed the bet quickly backed down and reduced the wager to 50,000 dollars.
Several notable names dominated MMA media conversation this week, with Arman Tsarukyan making a bold claim about Khabib Nurmagomedov, Daniel Cormier floating a surprise opponent for Islam Makhachev, and Dana White opening up about stepping back from fighter negotiations.
Tsarukyan sparked debate by stating he believes he would have beaten Khabib by decision, pointing to his all-around skill set as the deciding factor. Khabib, now 37 and retired with a perfect 29-0-0 record, was one of the sport's most dominant grapplers, averaging 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes and finishing his career without a single loss. The claim is a striking one given the Dagestani legend's unbeaten legacy.
The conversation around lightweight champion Islam Makhachev took an unexpected turn when Cormier proposed Conor McGregor as a potential opponent. Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1-0 record, currently sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings, and has recently moved to welterweight. He lands strikes at 58 percent accuracy and averages 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, making him one of the most complete fighters on the roster.
Elsewhere, Jiri Prochazka voiced his belief that Alex Pereira has what it takes to defeat Ciryl Gane, adding another voice to the ongoing discussion surrounding the light heavyweight title picture.
White, meanwhile, addressed his reduced role in fighter negotiations, saying the organization has grown beyond that stage and that he tired of managing the personal problems that often came with those talks.
In a lighter moment, Tsarukyan was reportedly ready to stake one million dollars on Khamzat Chimaev winning a proposed bet with a streamer. Chimaev, the number-one ranked middleweight at 15-1-0, carries a 60 percent striking accuracy and averages 5.29 takedowns per 15 minutes. The streamer quickly retreated, scaling the wager down to fifty thousand dollars.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's Khabib comments keep his name prominent in lightweight title discussions
- Cormier's McGregor suggestion adds fuel to speculation around Makhachev's next opponent
- White's comments signal an organizational shift in how the UFC handles fighter relations
