Usman Nurmagomedov, the undefeated Bellator 155-pound champion and cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov, plans to transition to the UFC after his training partner Islam Makhachev retires, aiming to compete there by age 28 while currently preparing for a title defense against Paul Hughes.
Usman Nurmagomedov is a man with a plan.
He’s the younger brother of UFC bantamweight contender Umar and cousin to lightweight GOAT Khabib. Usman, undefeated, now holds the Bellator 155-pound title. Recently, he defended it against Alexander Shabliy in September, solidifying his status as one of the best lightweights globally. But he’s not stopping there.
In a recent conversation about his future, Nurmagomedov shared his aspirations. He wants to follow in his cousin’s footsteps by stepping into the octagon once training partner Islam Makhachev retires.
“I’m waiting for Islam to finish his career and then I will [go after the UFC title],” Nurmagomedov mentioned on Gorilla Fighting’s YouTube. “If we time it right, I’ll be fighting in the UFC at 28. I’m 26 now. Two years to get stronger—that’s it. Enter the UFC at 28 and compete till I’m 32.”
Islam Makhachev, undefeated for almost a decade, is currently MMA’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter with three successful lightweight title defenses. Before claiming the belt, he was also “the next man up” after Khabib. This was part of Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov’s grand plan—he developed these fighters, and according to Khabib, Usman was always included.
“This is what Abdulmanap envisioned,” said Khabib. “He believed strongly in Usman and always said he’d be a future champion. At 16, I didn’t see it. But I saw potential, and from day one, my father believed in Usman’s future.”
Nurmagomedov’s UFC ambitions aren’t exactly music to Bellator or its owner PFL’s ears. Yet, when speaking with MMA Fighting on Wednesday, PFL co-founder Donn Davis seemed unfazed by this prospect.
“How many say they’ll move to Florida and retire in four years? How many actually do?” Davis questioned. “One in ten? One in five?… People make plans all the time but don’t follow through.”
“So might he go? Might he stay? In two years? Five years? Champion or not? My aim is to keep Usman happy and successful—financially rich and a champion—so that in two years, he forgets he ever said this.”
Whatever unfolds in two years, for now, Nurmagomedov remains with Bellator. His next likely fight is a title defense against Paul Hughes after Hughes’ victory over A.J. McKee at PFL Battle of the Giants last Saturday.