Arman Tsarukyan stated he believes he would have defeated Khabib Nurmagomedov by decision, citing his diverse skill set as a key advantage. In other news, Jiri Prochazka is highly valued by UFC management, having competed in eight UFC fights including four title fights. Prochazka expressed confidence that Alex Pereira could defeat Ciryl Gane. Dana White revealed he is relieved to have stepped 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 suggested an unusual career direction for Islam Makhachev, proposing a fight with Conor McGregor. Additionally, Tsarukyan was prepared to bet one million dollars on Khamzat Chimaev's victory, but the streamer who proposed betting on Sean O'Malley immediately reduced the wager to $50,000.
Arman Tsarukyan made headlines recently by claiming he would have defeated the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov via decision, pointing to his well-rounded skill set as the deciding factor in any hypothetical matchup between the two.
Khabib Nurmagomedov, nicknamed "The Eagle," retired with a perfect 29-0-0 record and remains one of the most dominant fighters in MMA history. The 37-year-old Russian is best remembered for a ferocious grappling game that averaged 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career, complemented by 0.8 submission attempts per 15 minutes. His striking accuracy sat at 48 percent with 4.1 significant strikes landed per minute.
Elsewhere in the news cycle, Jiri Prochazka continues to be highly regarded within UFC management. The Czech light heavyweight, currently ranked second in his division, has competed in eight UFC bouts, four of which were title fights. The 33-year-old out of Jetsaam Gym Brno stands six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach and lands an impressive 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. Prochazka also voiced his belief that Alex Pereira would defeat Ciryl Gane.
Islam Makhachev's name came up in an unexpected context, with Daniel Cormier floating the idea of a fight between the reigning champion and Conor McGregor. Makhachev, 34, holds a 28-1-0 record and is listed as a welterweight champion in the database, posting 3.2 takedowns per 15 minutes and 1.1 submission attempts per 15 minutes alongside a 58 percent striking accuracy.
Dana White also spoke publicly about stepping back from direct fighter negotiations, saying the organization has grown beyond that model and that he found the volume of often minor fighter concerns draining.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's comments keep the legacy debate around Nurmagomedov alive within the lightweight division
- Prochazka's standing with UFC management reinforces his relevance at the top of the light heavyweight rankings
- A potential Makhachev-McGregor pairing would carry enormous commercial weight regardless of divisional logic
