Arman Tsarukyan stated he believes he would have defeated Khabib Nurmagomedov by decision, citing his well-rounded skill set as the key advantage. Meanwhile, Daniel Cormier proposed an unusual matchup between Islam Makhachev and Conor McGregor. Jiri Prochazka expressed confidence that Alex Pereira could defeat Ciryl Gane in a potential matchup. Dana White revealed he is glad to have stepped back from fighter negotiations, stating the company has outgrown that phase and he was tired of dealing with what he called frivolous fighter issues. Tsarukyan was reportedly ready to bet one million dollars on Khamzat Chimaev's victory, but a streamer who proposed betting on Sean O'Malley quickly reduced the wager to fifty thousand dollars.
Arman Tsarukyan stirred debate this week by claiming he would have beaten Khabib Nurmagomedov by decision, while Daniel Cormier floated the idea of a fight between Islam Makhachev and Conor McGregor, and Jiri Prochazka weighed in on a potential Alex Pereira versus Ciryl Gane matchup.
Tsarukyan's bold claim centers on his belief that his well-rounded skill set would have been the decisive edge against Khabib Nurmagomedov, the undefeated Russian legend who retired with a perfect 29-0-0 record. Khabib, now 37, remains one of the sport's most dominant forces in history, averaging an extraordinary 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes across his career. Tsarukyan also reportedly expressed confidence in Khamzat Chimaev, telling a streamer he was ready to wager one million dollars on Chimaev winning — though the streamer countered with a bet on Sean O'Malley, and the proposed amount quickly dropped to fifty thousand dollars.
Daniel Cormier proposed a different kind of spectacle, suggesting that lightweight and welterweight champion Islam Makhachev take on Conor McGregor. Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1-0 record and sits atop the pound-for-pound rankings. The Dagestan native lands strikes at 58 percent accuracy and averages 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes, complementing his 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes.
Prochazka, ranked second in the light heavyweight division with a 32-6-1 record, voiced his belief that Alex Pereira would defeat Ciryl Gane in a potential future meeting. The Czech fighter, known for his explosive output of 5.69 significant strikes per minute and an 80-inch reach, carries credibility in assessing elite-level matchups at the top of the 205-pound weight class.
Dana White also made news off the competitive side, saying he is glad to have removed himself from direct fighter negotiations, noting that the organization has grown beyond that stage and that he grew tired of what he described as frivolous fighter issues.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's Khabib comments keep legacy debates alive and signal his confidence heading toward future title contention
- Cormier's McGregor-Makhachev proposal reflects ongoing discussion about what big fight comes next for the pound-for-pound king
- Prochazka's Pereira-Gane endorsement adds another voice to a potential light heavyweight title eliminator conversation
