🚨BREAKING: According to sources close to the situation, Usman Nurmagomedov has turned down a massive new offer from the PFL that was worth over 2 million dollars per fight. The company went all out trying to convince him to stay with a ridiculous amount of cash, especially with their momentum following the merger with Netflix. The PFL threw everything they had at him during their exclusive negotiation period, but it looks like money alone was not enough to lock him down long term. Once that 90 day exclusive window with the PFL fully expires, Usman is expected to make things official and sign with the UFC. If everything stays on track, the plan is for him to make his UFC debut before the year comes to an end.
Usman Nurmagomedov has reportedly rejected a new PFL offer worth more than 2 million dollars per fight, according to sources close to the situation. The report has not been officially confirmed by either side.
The promotion is said to have pushed hard to keep him, backing its pitch with a large cash offer and the momentum from its merger with Netflix. The offer came during PFL's exclusive negotiation window, but money alone reportedly was not enough to secure his long-term commitment.
The fighter
Nurmagomedov is unbeaten at 22-0, and he is 27 years old and represents Russia. He is ranked 14th on the pound-for-pound list. He stands five-foot-eleven (180 cm) with a 71-inch reach, also 180 cm.
His numbers point to a patient, accurate fighter rather than a volume striker. He lands 0.33 significant strikes per minute at 52.78 percent accuracy, and averages 0.65 takedowns per 15 minutes. He has recorded no submission attempts per 15 minutes in the tracked sample.
What happens next
Once the 90-day exclusive window with the PFL fully expires, Nurmagomedov is expected to make things official and sign with the UFC. If the plan stays on track, he would make his UFC debut before the end of the year. Until a deal is signed, the move remains a report rather than a done deal.
Why it matters
- A 22-0 fighter ranked inside the pound-for-pound top 15 would arrive in the UFC without a loss on his record.
- Turning down a reported eight-figure-scale annual commitment from the PFL, rather than a single-fight payday, would show how much weight he places on competing in the UFC.
- A debut before year's end would put him in the cage quickly once the exclusive window closes.
