Arman Tsarukyan believes he would have defeated Khabib Nurmagomedov by decision, citing his versatility as the key advantage. Jiri Prochazka is highly rated by UFC management, having competed in eight UFC fights including four title fights, and believes Alex Pereira could defeat Ciryl Gane. Dana White stated he's glad to have stepped back from fighter negotiations, saying the company has outgrown that stage and he grew tired of dealing with often frivolous fighter issues. Daniel Cormier suggested an unusual career continuation for Islam Makhachev by proposing a fight with Conor McGregor. Tsarukyan was prepared to bet one million dollars on Khamzat Chimaev's victory, but the streamer who proposed a bet on Sean Strickland immediately withdrew and changed the wager to fifty thousand dollars.
Arman Tsarukyan stirred debate in the MMA world this week by claiming he would have defeated Khabib Nurmagomedov by decision, pointing to his own versatility as the decisive factor. The comments emerged alongside a cluster of notable statements from prominent figures in the sport, including Daniel Cormier and Dana White.
Khabib Nurmagomedov, who retired with a perfect 29-0-0 record, remains one of the most decorated fighters in UFC history. The Russian grappler averaged 5.32 takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career and posted a striking accuracy of 48 percent, with a reach of 70 inches and a height of five-foot-ten. Tsarukyan did not elaborate extensively on his reasoning beyond citing versatility as the edge he believes would have carried him to a points victory.
Daniel Cormier added an unexpected twist to the lightweight division's future by proposing a fight between champion Islam Makhachev and Conor McGregor as a possible career path for Makhachev. No official talks were referenced in Cormier's suggestion.
Jiri Prochazka, ranked second in the light heavyweight division, drew praise from UFC management. The 33-year-old Czech fighter carries a 32-6-1 record and has competed in eight UFC bouts, four of which were title fights. Standing six-foot-three with an 80-inch reach, Prochazka lands 5.69 significant strikes per minute at 55 percent accuracy. He also weighed in on the heavyweight picture, expressing the belief that Alex Pereira could defeat Ciryl Gane.
Dana White commented on his decision to step back from fighter negotiations, stating the organization has grown beyond that stage and that he found dealing with what he described as often frivolous fighter concerns draining.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan's Nurmagomedov claim keeps him prominent in lightweight conversations ahead of any future title pursuits
- Cormier's McGregor suggestion, if pursued, would carry enormous commercial weight for the lightweight division
- Prochazka's continued visibility at 32-6-1 and four UFC title-fight appearances cements his standing as a major light heavyweight contender
- A reported betting dispute involving Tsarukyan and a proposed wager on Khamzat Chimaev versus Sean Strickland collapsed when the opposing party reduced the stake from one million dollars to fifty thousand dollars
