Islam Makhachev believes it's time for PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov to make his move to the UFC.
Nurmagomedov (22-0) is now a free agent after knocking out Archie Colgan in the first-round of last Friday's PFL New York main event at UBS Arena in Elmont. UFC CEO Dana White smiled
when asked about the possibility of signing Nurmagomedov, and UFC welterweight champion Makhachev hopes it happens."I think it's good time for Usman to jump to real jungle and give the chance to other guys from our team," Makhachev told MMA Junkie. "We have three more guys in PFL who are fighting at lightweight. Usman did really good. He trained very hard for this camp, for this fight because he had a good opponent, but Usman have good style, you know.
He have good wrestling, he can defend wrestling, but his kicks, his punching is so fast."
Makhachev doesn't see any more quality opponents for Nurmagomedov in PFL, but says there are numerous big fights in the UFC.
"In the UFC, someone in top five," Makhachev said. "Lightweight top 10 are good fighters. Usman can fight with anyone: (Ilia) Topuria, Arman (Tsarukyan), or somebody else because he's training with us his whole life. I know his skills. I know what he can do."
Both Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov fulfilled "Father's Plan" by becoming UFC lightweight champions, and Makhachev wants to see Usman follow suit.
"It's a dream for our team because of Khabib, because of myself," Makhachev said. "We have very, very tough guys in lightweight and welterweight because we're always training together, give good rounds."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Islam Makhachev: Usman Nurmagomedov ready for 'real jungle' in UFC
