Ever since Usman Nurmagomedov closed out his contract with a first-round knockout of Archie Colgan at PFL New York on July 31, the MMA community has been waiting to see where the 28-year-old star lands next.
After that bout, the undefeated PFL lightweight champion entered a 90-day exclusive negotiating period with the promotion. That initial window was widely believed to have expired in late October, yet his camp shared no announcement regarding his next destination.
Amid the silence, reports surfaced this week claiming Nurmagomedov had already signed with another promotion. Some rumors gained significant traction after suggesting that the cousin of former UFC icon Khabib Nurmagomedov could be officially introduced as its latest signing during the UFC 334 broadcast.
Before the rumors went any further, Nurmagomedov’s manager Ali Abdelaziz stepped forward to clear up the situation.
Ali Abdelaziz Denies Usman Nurmagomedov Signed With Another Promotion
When Usman hit free agency, many assumed he was bound for the UFC given his perfect 22-0 (1 NC) record. Veteran lightweight contender Beneil Dariush recently stated that he is surprised a talent like Usman isn’t in the UFC.
Dana White has also expressed interest in signing the Dagestani standout, whose older brother Umar Nurmagomedov is already a top UFC bantamweight contender. Still, the reality is that Usman remains unsigned and hasn’t reached a deal with any promotion.
On Wednesday, his manager Abdelaziz posted, “Guys, the reports that Usman Nurmagomedov signed with another promotion are false. He’s still in an exclusive negotiating period with the PFL, which means he can’t negotiate with any other promotion right now.”
That claim appears to contradict the calendar math and reporting from late October onward. Following the Colgan fight in July, Abdelaziz himself explained how the window works in an interview with MMAjunkie.
“In the next 90 days, they have an exclusive negotiation,” Abdelaziz said at the time. “And after that, I’m going to talk to other people, and we’ll figure it out.”
There is no denying that Usman is a favorite to join Dana White’s promotion, since his brother Umar and cousin Khabib are already established names in the UFC. It would be a major surprise if Usman didn’t follow in their footsteps after reportedly turning down a PFL offer worth more than $2 million per fight.
He could choose to stay with the PFL if they raise the stakes. The promotion is merging with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions at the start of 2027, giving him significant leverage to command an even bigger payday.
Regardless, it is clear his final decision remains up in the air. His brother Umar recently confirmed that Usman’s next move remains undecided, adding that he is confident his younger brother can dominate champions anywhere he goes.
