PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov had some choice words for the UFC’s top-ranked lightweights.
Nurmagomedov (22-0) is a free agent after retaining his belt with a first-round knockout out Archie Colgan at PFL New York last month. The 28-year-old is looking to either re-sign with the PFL or ink a deal with the UFC.
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Nurmagomedov has beaten all of PFL’s top lightweights, including Paul Hughes twice. He disagrees with the notion that the best fighters are only in the UFC, and picked apart the current rankings and matchups that have taken place in the octagon.
“There’s a narrative that if you don’t compete in the UFC, you’re not on that high level, and I don’t agree with that,” Nurmagomedov told Sport24 (h/t Red Corner MMA). “Just look at the guys who are in the UFC top 10. They just keep fighting each other and maintain their top-10 spots. Benoit Saint Denis, he was 4-0 then lost to Dustin Poirier, then he lost to (Renato) Moicano, and won three times after that, and then lost in the first round within 30 seconds (vs. Pimblett), but he’s still in the top five, oddly enough.
“Pimblett lost to a 37-year-old veteran, but he’s the No. 1 contender now, right? Or No. 2. 17-0 Topuria, who had been praising himself as the greatest, he lost, quit on the stool, saying he wasn’t going to continue. Arman (Tsarukyan), he lost to (Mateusz) Gamrot, he lost to Islam (Makhachef). He is just waiting it out, fighting once a year and saying he’s the best fighter in the world. While he fought twice, I defended my title four times. The UFC PR machine is very powerful. The brand is very solid, but I wouldn’t say they all put on such great fights.”
Justin Gaethje upset Ilia Topuria to claim the lightweight title at UFC Freedom 250. As he awaits his first title defense, top-ranked Arman Tsarukyan meets Mauricio Ruffy in the UFC 331 co-main event on Sept. 19 in what is likely a No. 1 contender bout.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Usman Nurmagomedov refutes claim that you’re only high level if you’re in UFC
