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UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev hinted that Usman Nurmagomedov could be signing with the promotion soon.

Islam Makhachev will defend his UFC welterweight title this Saturday against Ian Machado Garry at UFC 330. Makhachev returns to the Octagon after becoming the UFC's latest two-division champ by defeating Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322.

As Makhachev continues his final preparations for UFC 330, one of his longtime teammates could be on the way to the promotion. PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov, cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov, is a free agent and could potentially sign with the UFC in the coming weeks.

UFC CEO Dana White recently expressed interest in signing the undefeated champion, and manager Ali Abdelaziz hinted that the promotion has reached out. Nurmagomedov most recently finished Archie Colgan at PFL New York.

Ahead of UFC 330, Makhachev not only hinted that a Nurmagomedov UFC signing could be imminent, but also teased a few potential matchups for the PFL champ.

Islam Makhachev tabs Usman Nurmagomedov for immediate UFC title shot

During his UFC 330 media day press conference, Makhachev was asked about Nurmagomedov's potential UFC signing and hinted at a potential deal in the works.

“Usman has been training with us since he was really young. I know 100 percent that he's ready to fight for the UFC title tomorrow,†Makhachev said of Nurmagomedov.

“In my opinion, Usman did his job in the PFL, and he's ready to show a good performance in the UFC. Right now, is the time for Usman in the UFC and we have some people in mind. We want Justin for the belt, but if he has to do one more [fight], he'll face Arman [Tsarukyan] or [Mauricio] Ruffy.â€

Arman Tsarukyan and Mauricio Ruffy will clash in the UFC 331 co-main event next month in Los Angeles. Meanwhile, lightweight champ Justin Gaethje's return timeline remains uncertain, although he's widely speculated to face the Tsarukyan vs. Ruffy winner for his first title defense.

Can Usman Nurmagomedov win a UFC title? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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ONE Championship

A newly crowned champion is stepping into unfamiliar territory instead of taking a victory lap.

Nico Carrillo makes his ONE Championship kickboxing debut against Chinese newcomer Zhou Jiaqiang at ONE Fight Night 46, broadcasting live in US primetime this Friday, August 14, from Bangkok's Lumpinee Stadium. The 27-year-old Scot went from interim titleholder to undisputed ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion last month. This happened after Tawanchai PK Saenchai vacated the belt to continue rehabbing a serious leg injury.

Carrillo earned that opportunity by outworking Shadow Mavinn across five rounds at ONE Fight Night 40 in February. He now carries a 29-4 record and a relentless finishing instinct into this new discipline. A win over Zhou would put him on course to chase two-sport World Champion status. It would also add kickboxing gold to a Muay Thai throne he now holds outright.

“Nothing has changed. I have an opponent in front of me that I have to deal with, and I'm locked on that task. The news of me being officially crowned has nothing to do with this fight camp,†he said.

Nico Carrillo eyes bigger picture beyond Friday

Carrillo has already mapped out a path that extends well past this weekend, with plans to defend his Muay Thai title later this year before pursuing an MMA debut in Qatar as early as March, part of a renewed three-year partnership between ONE Championship and Visit Qatar.

Stacking disciplines immediately after inheriting undisputed gold is a bold call, but it fits a fighter who has built his career on seeking out the toughest available test rather than the safest one.

“I'm already a ONE World Champion, and the next obvious step is to become a two-sport World Champion, kickboxing or MMA alongside Muay Thai. For now, it's one step at a time,†he said.

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Gillian Robertson can make history at UFC 330.

Robertson is set to challenge for the UFC strawweight title against Mackenzie Dern in the co-main event of UFC 330 on Saturday. After Robertson's last win against Amanda Lemos, she thought she had done enough to get a title shot, and the UFC brass confirmed shortly after.

“I think I did do enough, but I wasn't happy with my performance,†Robertson said on Just Scrap Radio on BJPENN.com. “Coming out of the cage, legit, after my first couple of steps, Hunter Campbell was there and said I was getting a title shot. Then, they brought me back to Dana, and he told me the same thing. So, right after the fight, I knew it was solidified.â€

Heading into UFC 330, Robertson will be competing in her 21st UFC fight. It's been a long journey for the Canadian as she looks to become the first female Canadian UFC champion in history.

“I have had the longest journey for a female to a title in the UFC. It's been a crazy journey; I'm just here in the fights. Obviosuly the title is big; I just want to perform and fight. … Being the first female Canadian UFC champ, just saying that is unreal. And maybe we can get a surge in Canadians; we need more in the sport,†Robertson added.

Gillian Robertson eyes TKO win at UFC 330

However, to do that, Robertson will need to beat Dern, which is easier said than done.

Gillian Robertson knows Mackenzie Dern is an elite grappler. But she believes her aggression on the ground will be the difference.

“If Mackenzie and I competed in straight jiu-jitsu, she might be a better grappler than me. But when it comes to MMA, I'm the best on the ground. There is no pressure or aggression like mine; I feel like it will be a different world than hers,†Robertson said.

Ultimately, Robertson believes the aggression on the ground will lead to a TKO win and hearing Bruce Buffer say ‘And New.'

“I see this very much as an MMA fight, being all over the place. In the striking, the clinch, the ground, it won't solely be one aspect. … The way for me to win is to make it dirty, use ground and pound, elbows. She will be tough to submit; I will be looking for that, but I think a TKO is more likely for me,†Robertson said.

If Robertson gets her hand raised, she wants her first title defense to be against Zhang Weili.

“100 percent. Mackenzie is facing it right now, and I will face it as soon as I get the belt. Everybody doesn't call her the champ; everyone says Weili is the champ. You need to beat her to solidify yourself. It has to be the first fight after the belt,†Robertson concluded.

Do you think Gillian Robertson will beat Mackenzie Dern at UFC 330?

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