Islam Makhachev: Usman Nurmagomedov will take pay cut by signing with UFC

Islam Makhachev, the UFC welterweight champion and teammate of Usman Nurmagomedov, believes that a move to the UFC would require the elite PFL lightweight to accept substantially reduced pay. Nurmagomedov's current Professional Fighters League contract expires after he defends his lightweight title against Archie Colgan at PFL New York on July 31 at the UBS Arena in Long Island, and speculation has mounted about his potential transition to the UFC.

While Makhachev acknowledged that Nurmagomedov would benefit from facing stiffer competition in the UFC to fully unlock his potential, he cautioned that the financial gap between promotions is severe. According to Makhachev, Nurmagomedov could expect to earn roughly half his PFL purse if he signs with the UFC, making the move purely a competitive one rather than an economically advantageous decision. Makhachev advised his teammate to pursue another PFL contract extension spanning three additional fights rather than rush into a UFC deal, allowing time for the promotion to present an offer substantial enough to justify the move.

Makhachev's guidance reflects the broader reality of fighter compensation across promotions: the PFL has established itself as a more lucrative option for established talent, while the UFC's standard pay scales remain significantly lower despite the organization's larger mainstream profile. Nurmagomedov (20-1) is widely regarded as one of the world's best lightweights regardless of promotion, giving him leverage in negotiations—a position Makhachev suggested he should use strategically.