Video footage from backstage at UFC 330 in Philadelphia shows Daniel Cormier imploring PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov to make the move to the UFC. Cormier, who has trained alongside many of the Dagestani fighters at American Kickboxing Academy, told Nurmagomedov it was time to think about legacy. Nurmagomedov attended the event to support teammate Islam Makhachev and is currently a free agent after his knockout of Archie Colgan at PFL New York fulfilled the final bout on his contract.
Footage circulating from backstage at UFC 330 in Philadelphia shows Daniel Cormier making a personal pitch to unbeaten PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov, urging the 27-year-old Dagestani to sign with the UFC. The exchange, captured on video the night of August 15, has not led to any officially announced deal and should be treated as unconfirmed at this stage.
Nurmagomedov attended the event in support of teammate Islam Makhachev and arrives at an opportune moment in his career. The Russian standout carries a spotless 22-0-0 record and sits at number 14 in the pound-for-pound rankings despite never having competed inside the Octagon. His PFL contract expired after a knockout of Archie Colgan at PFL New York, leaving him a free agent. Standing five-foot-eleven with a 71-inch reach, he is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished lightweights outside the UFC.
Cormier, 47, holds a 22-3-0 professional record and has long-standing ties to the Dagestani fighting community through his work at American Kickboxing Academy. In the video, he is reported to have framed the conversation around legacy, suggesting to Nurmagomedov that the time was right to test himself in the world's premier MMA organization.
Makhachev, now competing at welterweight, headlined the card and remains one of the sport's premier fighters, carrying a 29-1-0 record and the welterweight championship into the event. His presence in Philadelphia drew several members of the broader Dagestani camp.
Why it matters
- Nurmagomedov is undefeated and a free agent, making him arguably the most sought-after unsigned fighter in the lightweight division.
- A move to the UFC would immediately thrust him into title contention and shake up one of the promotion's deepest weight classes.
- Cormier's involvement adds an informal but credible voice to the recruitment effort, given his established relationships within the AKA and Dagestani networks.
- No deal has been reported, and Nurmagomedov's camp has not publicly responded to the approach.
Saturday, August 15, 2026
