Daniel Cormier tells Usman Nurmagomedov it's ‘time for legacy’

Daniel Cormier challenged unbeaten PFL lightweight Usman Nurmagomedov to join the UFC and prove himself against the promotion's elite. The two crossed paths at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia following UFC 330, where Cormier, a Hall of Famer and former two-division UFC champion, made a direct pitch to the 22-0 Dagestani fighter.

Nurmagomedov recently completed his PFL contract by defeating Archie Colgan and is now a free agent. Before the UFC can formally offer him a deal, PFL maintains a limited exclusive negotiation window—and given the promotion's merger with MVP, he is expected to receive a substantial new contract from his current organization.

During his conversation with Cormier, Nurmagomedov questioned the caliber of top-ranked UFC lightweights, labeling them "bums." Cormier responded by emphasizing that Nurmagomedov should prioritize legacy over money at this stage of his career. "It's time for legacy. You think they're bums? Come show me," Cormier said, shaking hands with the Russian fighter.

Nurmagomedov could follow the path of fellow Dagestani fighters Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev in pursuing UFC lightweight supremacy. His decision will likely hinge on the contractual offers from both organizations.