Islam Makhachev has made the case plainly, he believes Usman Nurmagomedov should leave the PFL and test himself in the UFC, even if that move cuts his payday in half. The comment lands at a key point in Usman’s career, with the unbeaten PFL lightweight champion nearing the end of his current deal and weighing whether money or competition should drive his next step.
Islam Makhachev says UFC won’t match PFL pay for Usman Nurmagomedov
Makhachev said Usman should move because the UFC offers stronger opposition, and he framed that jump as the path for Usman to “fully realize his potential.” He also said the financial side could be a serious obstacle, adding that the UFC “doesn’t like paying that much” and that Nurmagomedov could make about half of what he earns in the PFL if he signs there. “In the PFL they pay much more, the UFC doesn’t like paying that much. If Usman signs, I think he gets half the purse he gets in PFL.”
Makhachev is not pushing a simple “UFC is better” line. He is saying the sporting upside is clear, while the business side may make the decision harder than fans expect. For a fighter with championship status outside the UFC, that trade-off is real: more visibility and a deeper lightweight field on one side, stronger leverage with a rival promotion on the other.
The timing is important because Nurmagomedov has already spoken publicly about his contract situation. Ahead of his February 2026 title defense, he said he had two fights left on his deal and that future talks would depend in part on how much the PFL was willing to pay. He also made clear that he was happy with the promotion, saying he had a good relationship with the PFL and could still become a star there.
That means Makhachev’s comments are landing during an actual negotiation window, not in the abstract. The debate around Usman moving to the UFC has been around for a while, but contract timing now gives it weight because free agency is getting closer.
Usman Nurmagomedov defended his PFL lightweight title against Alfie Davis at PFL Dubai on February 7, 2026, and moved to 21-0 with a third-round submission win. That result kept him at the center of the lightweight conversation outside the UFC and strengthened his bargaining position whether he stays or goes.
He has also made his own ambition clear. Usman said he wants to be known as the best lightweight in the world, and he argued that his career can still carry value outside the UFC if he keeps winning. At the same time, even coverage favorable to him has acknowledged the recurring question around his résumé: the UFC lightweight division is still viewed as the deepest proving ground at 155 pounds.
If maximizing income and star treatment is the priority, the PFL may still have the stronger hand, especially since Usman himself has said pay will shape the next round of talks. this is less about fantasy matchmaking and more about career leverage
