Usman Nurmagomedov, the undefeated PFL lightweight champion with a 22-0 record, has attracted attention from UFC ranks, with teammate Islam Makhachev urging him to join the promotion. Grant Dawson, a UFC lightweight contender, believes Nurmagomedov deserves a high-profile fight or even a title shot right away if he enters the UFC.
Dawson, who fights out of American Top Team, understands the depth of the UFC lightweight division and the difficulty of breaking through. Speaking to MMA Junkie, he remarked on the stacked nature of the weight class and the challenge newcomers face. “Another tough dude in a tough weight class,” Dawson said. “Have you seen that meme? Have you seen that meme where it’s like at lightweight, if you want to become champion, you have to get through Justin Gaethje, Ilia Topuria, Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira just to get knocked out by whoever the champ is at the time. It’s just so crazy, and then now we’ve got a new guy coming in. If he is, is that for real?”
Nurmagomedov’s undefeated streak and dominance as PFL champion for nearly four years have convinced Dawson that the fighter merits immediate tests against top UFC names. “I think you throw him in there with the best of the best,” Dawson said. “I mean, come on, man. He’s proven it. He’s not champion at some rinky-dink promotion that nobody’s heard of. PFL is probably the second biggest promotion in America, if not the world. Maybe RIZIN or whatever. But the way he’s beaten guys, he’s undefeated, a lot of finishes.”
Dawson suggested Nurmagomedov should be matched against established UFC contenders like Max Holloway, Charles Oliveira, or Arman Tsarukyan. He even proposed the possibility of a title fight should circumstances allow. “I think you have to give him a big name, and I think, you do him and Max, Charles, Arman—if Arman’s not the champion at that point. I mean, it makes sense. You could even throw them in there with a title fight, man. They’ve done it before.”
Islam Makhachev, the current UFC welterweight champion and Nurmagomedov’s teammate, has publicly pushed for his fellow fighter to make the leap to UFC competition. Nurmagomedov’s free agent status has fueled speculation about where he will fight next, but no official announcement has been made yet.
Dawson’s comments underline the UFC lightweight division’s reputation as one of the most competitive in MMA. With Nurmagomedov’s undefeated record and PFL title, his entry could shake up the status quo. For now, the fight world is waiting to see if Nurmagomedov will accept the challenge and who he might face first in the Octagon.
According to Yahoo Sports.