Undefeated lightweight Usman Nurmagomedov becomes free agent as UFC rumors swirl
The gist
Undefeated Dagestani lightweight Usman Nurmagomedov's 90-day exclusive PFL negotiating window expired on Oct 29.
His manager denies a UFC deal, so the sport's top free agent remains unsigned.
How it unfolded
- Nov 2022Nurmagomedov beat Patricky Freire to win the Bellator lightweight title.
- 2025After Bellator's merger with the PFL, he defeated Paul Hughes twice to win the PFL lightweight title.
- Jul 31, 2026At PFL New York he beat Archie Colgan by first-round TKO at 3:42, in the final fight of his PFL contract.
Key terms
- lightweight
- A weight class in combat sports, in MMA generally grouping fighters between about 146 and 155 pounds.
- no-contest
- A combat-sport result meaning a fight ended for reasons outside the fighters' control, with no winner or loser.
- free agent
- A professional athlete who is not under contract with any team and is free to sign with another.
Source: Wikipedia