PFL CEO John Martin Says UFC Has Not Offered Usman Nurmagomedov
PFL CEO John Martin says the UFC has not made Usman Nurmagomedov an offer and is not allowed to make one right now. Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Martin said the unbeaten lightweight is still inside an exclusive negotiating window with the PFL.
That cuts against the idea that a UFC deal is already done. Helwani told Martin he left UFC 330 believing Nurmagomedov was gone.
“I think you may be wrong.”
Martin said there has been too much noise around the 28-year-old’s future. He wanted the contract picture stated plainly.
“The UFC has not given him an offer. They’re not legally allowed to. So we have an exclusive negotiating period.”
The window is 90 days. Manager Ali Abdelaziz said the same thing earlier this month, and Martin’s comments put the PFL’s CEO on the record.
Nurmagomedov is 22-0 with one no contest and remains the PFL lightweight champion. He finished his last contracted fight on July 31, stopping Archie Colgan by first-round knockout in New York.
That win made him the biggest free agent in the sport. It did not immediately open the door to the UFC.
Martin said the PFL is building a bid and will sit down with Nurmagomedov’s side. He made it clear the company wants him to stay.
“We’re putting together an offer and we’re gonna sit and we’re gonna talk with them. I think our offer will be competitive. It’s really up to him. We would love to have him. We would love to keep him.”
He also argued the PFL can still keep him busy. Martin said more fighters are coming in and the lightweight division can challenge him for years.
That is the case he has to make. Nurmagomedov’s cousin and coach, Khabib Nurmagomedov, has said a decision is coming soon, and Dana White has already said the UFC is interested.
The interest looked public last weekend. Helwani said Nurmagomedov was featured at UFC 330 in Philadelphia, including a moment with Daniel Cormier.
Martin found the sudden rush ironic. He said he called Nurmagomedov one of the best lightweights in the world a year ago, when plenty of people rolled their eyes.
“I think people were almost mocking me and the original speculation was he wouldn’t even be top 15 in the UFC. I’m like, well, then you’re not watching what I’m watching.”
He pointed to the two fights after Paul Hughes. Nurmagomedov beat Alfie Davis, then finished Colgan, and the same fighter who was once waved off as a PFL name is now being treated like a prize.
“So now I find it kind of ironic that he is being paraded around like he’s the salvation of this martial arts. I mean, he’s a terrific talent.”
Martin still wants that talent in the PFL. He said if Nurmagomedov chooses another path, the league has other lightweights and will move on.
Helwani asked how it felt to watch the UFC 330 attention and whether Nurmagomedov was openly flirting with a move. Martin would not pretend to know what was in his fighter’s head.
“I don’t know. He would only know that but no, this is look I’m up for all of this. This is fine. This is part of the sport.”
None of that changes the legal reality. Until the exclusive period ends, the UFC cannot put a contract in front of Usman Nurmagomedov.
Martin’s next step is the offer he says is being assembled. After that, Abdelaziz has said he can talk to other promotions if the PFL does not close.
Nurmagomedov has not signed anywhere. The only confirmed fact from Martin is that the UFC offer everyone is already debating does not exist yet, because the PFL still has the first and only seat at the table.