Arman Tsarukyan stated he believes he would have defeated Khabib Nurmagomedov by decision, citing his well-rounded skills as his main advantage. In other comments from recent media, Jiri Prochazka is highly rated by UFC brass, having competed in eight UFC fights with four being title fights. Prochazka also expressed belief that Alex Pereira could defeat Ciryl Gane. Dana White revealed he is happy to have stepped back from fighter negotiations, saying the company has outgrown that phase and he grew tired of dealing with often careless fighters. Daniel Cormier suggested an unusual career path for Islam Makhachev, proposing a fight with Conor McGregor. Tsarukyan was prepared to bet one million dollars on Khamzat Chimaev's victory, but the streamer who proposed the bet immediately reduced the wager to $50,000.
Arman Tsarukyan made headlines this week by claiming he would have defeated the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov, and by decision, pointing to his well-rounded skill set as the decisive edge over the retired legend.
Khabib Nurmagomedov, nicknamed "The Eagle," retired with a perfect 29-0-0 record and remains one of the most dominant grapplers in MMA history. The Russian fighter stood five-foot-ten with a 70-inch reach and averaged an extraordinary 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes during his career, making his ground game the defining threat any opponent would need to solve.
Jiri Prochazka also drew attention in the media cycle, with UFC brass speaking highly of the Czech light heavyweight contender. Ranked second at 185 pounds, the 33-year-old from Brno carries a 32-6-1 record and has competed in eight UFC bouts, four of which were title fights. At six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach, Prochazka is one of the division's most dangerous strikers, landing 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. He also commented that he believes Alex Pereira is capable of defeating Ciryl Gane.
Dana White added that he is pleased to have stepped back from fighter negotiations, stating the company has grown beyond that stage and that dealing with fighters who were often careless wore on him over time.
Daniel Cormier floated an unconventional idea for lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, suggesting a potential fight with Conor McGregor. Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1-0 record and is the top pound-for-pound fighter in the sport. The southpaw champion averages 3.2 takedowns and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes, while connecting at an impressive 58 percent striking accuracy.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's comments keep debate alive around Khabib's legacy and the current lightweight division's depth
- Prochazka's standing with UFC leadership suggests he remains a priority contender at light heavyweight
- Makhachev's name being linked to a McGregor matchup signals ongoing commercial interest in his future booking
