Usman Nurmagomedov has been one of the most dominant fighters in the PFL but much like his coach and cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov, there's always going to be certain stylistic matchups that makes it look like he's vulnerable.
MMA
Usman Nurmagomedov welcomes ‘little short’ guy Archie Colgan to try and wrestle him: ‘He’s not going to win’
Published
2 months agoon
Throughout Khabib's illustrious career, the question always came up ‘what happens if he faces a dominant wrestler?' The former UFC lightweight champion answered by putting together a perfect 29-0 record before retiring from the sport to focus on coaching.
Now it's Usman's turn to provide his own answers as he takes on former college wrestler turned top lightweight contender Archie Colgan in his latest title defense. But don't expect the reigning PFL lightweight king to show any fear going up against another wrestler in his latest title defense.
“He's a little short, uncomfortable fighter,†Nurmagomedov said about Colgan when speaking to MMA Fighting. “He's wrestling very well but I'm from Dagestsan. I can wrestle, I can grapple, I can do Muay Thai. I can do anything. Whatever he will compete with me, I am going to be better at. All respect for Archie and his team. He's not going to win.
“I don't think he's going to take me down. This is very hard to take me down, to be honest. I know how I have to fight with little short guys. I always love to fight with the little short guys. I have a longer reach. I can control everything.â€
While the wrestling question is going to come up often leading into this main event clash, Nurmagomedov is quick to point out that he's not wrestling Colgan — they are fighting. Nurmagomedov is confident he can match Colgan anywhere on the feet or on the ground and if they want to settle the wrestling debate there's another way that can happen.
“I think I'm going to grapple with him, too,†Nurmagomedov said. “I think I can take him down. My wrestling is not bad. We can do it like this. I'm going to beat him or knock him down, I know I'm going to beat this guy. For the people if they want to see who is better in the wrestling, we can do it in RAF.â€
If anything, Nurmagomedov really hopes that Colgan can bring out the best in him because that's what he always wants when he's going out to defend his title.
“I think I have a big potential inside of me,†Nurmagomedov said. “I have very big ambitions. I just need somebody with who I can show this for the people.â€
As far as the future goes, Nurmagomedov is undoubtedly going to be bombarded with questions about what comes next as he competes on Friday's PFL card on the final fight of his contract.
There's been heavy speculation that Nurmagomedov plans to leave PFL and sign with the UFC, especially now that his teammate and friend Islam Makhachev left the lightweight division to compete at welterweight instead.
Nurmagomedov hasn't made any decisions yet and he's doing his absolute best to shut out all the noise until after his fight.
He knows getting distracted is the perfect recipe for disaster if he's not putting his full focus on Colgan and the fight directly ahead of him.
“Archie, he's undefeated,†Nurmagomedov said. “You can't stay like this for a long time [being undefeated] if you're not in the top five. That's why he's the No. 1 contender and of course, he wants to take everything what I have.
“I don't want to look ahead and thinking about the future for my career. I have a fight. I have a name. We're going to fight. I have a fight and we have to do this.â€
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MMA
MVP fires back at Heather Hardys $10M lawsuit over Amanda Serrano fight
Published
2 hours agoon
September 29, 2026
Most Valuable Promotions has responded to a lawsuit filed by
former world champion Heather
Hardy over her 2023 rematch with Amanda
Serrano.
Hardy is seeking $10 million in damages from MVP, alleging in her
complaint that the promotion moved forward with the bout despite
concerns about the risks involved. Hardy alleges that she suffered
permanent neurological damage from the fight, which took place in
August 2023 on the Jake
Paul-Nate Diaz
card.
Most Valuable Promotions cites Hardy’s medical clearance and
commission oversight in response to the lawsuit
According to Hardy's complaint, the fight presented an
“extraordinary and foreseeable risk of serious neurological harm.â€
She also alleges that the bout contributed to lasting issues,
including traumatic brain injury, memory loss and double
vision.
MVP disputed the allegations in a statement issued in response to
the lawsuit, emphasizing Hardy's medical clearance and the
commission's oversight of the contest.
“MVP has great respect for Heather Hardy. We recognize the
difficulty of her circumstances and extend our sincere sympathy and
hope that she receives the care and support she deserves,†MVP
responded (via ESPN). “Heather's participation on our Aug. 5,
2023, card was arranged through her promoter, Lou DiBella, who
contracted for the fight, and Heather publicly expressed her
gratitude for the opportunity both before and after the fight.â€
“MVP followed applicable protocols for the fight, Heather was
medically cleared to compete by the athletic commission overseeing
the event, and the bout proceeded under the commission's authority
and supervision in accordance with their standard medical and
safety requirements,†the statement added. “MVP remains committed
to fighter safety and supporting the athletes who compete in our
events in full compliance with commission standards.â€
MMA
UFC 332 Odds: Payton Talbott a massive favorite over former champion
Published
4 hours agoon
September 29, 2026
MMA
Paul Felder: ‘I thought he had a heart attack’ at UFC Vegas 121
Published
6 hours agoon
September 29, 2026
Felder has witnessed several shocking moments during his years
working
Ultimate Fighting Championship events, but Raoni
Barcelos' collapse at
UFC Vegas 121 left him particularly shaken.
Felder was on commentary duty at Meta Apex in Las Vegas for the
latest Fight Night. The main event, which was a back-and-forth
battle, ended in frightening fashion as Barcelos appeared to go
limp during a wrestling exchange against the Octagon wall in the
final round. The referee immediately stopped the contest, and
Barcelos was removed from the Octagon on a stretcher and
transported to a hospital.
It was later confirmed that Barcelos was conscious and responsive.
For Felder, the moments after the finish remain unforgettable.
Paul Felder revisits Raoni Barcelos' collapse at UFC Vegas 121:
‘I thought he had a heart attack'
Speaking on the “Believe You Me†podcast, Felder recalled his
immediate reaction while watching the medical team attend to
Barcelos. The former fighter was alarmed when he saw a doctor check
Barcelos' pulse, something he said he had never witnessed in
similar circumstances.
“His neck was all clinched up and he was unconscious,†Felder said.
“And it looked like he was — I thought he had a heart attack, off
the bat. Then they came in, and they checked his pulse, which was
terrifying to see. I have never seen somebody that was KO'd, where
they come in and the first thing they did, the doctor put his
fingers right on Raoni's pulse. I was like, ‘Oh, this is really
bad.â€
Felder said the uncertainty continued as Barcelos remained
motionless.
“He was just not getting up and then I'm thinking, ‘Is it a stroke?
Is it a heart attack?'†Felder added. “But if they weren't doing
CPR and his pulse was at least there and present and he's
breathing, probably not a heart attack.â€
Barcelos reportedly remains under medical supervision but has
addressed fans on social media, assuring them that he is doing
well.
MVP fires back at Heather Hardys $10M lawsuit over Amanda Serrano fight
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