Esteemed MMA coach Javier Mendez has named a fighter from his camp whom he believes is the runner-up to UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
Mendez, a legendary figure in MMA coaching, has guided numerous world champions, including the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov, Cain Velasquez, Luke Rockhold, and the current champion, Makhachev. Makhachev recently hinted at a move to the welterweight division, potentially seeking to become a two-division king.
Earlier this week, Makhachev vacated his lightweight title, setting his sights on challenging welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena. With the lightweight belt now vacant, the division`s contenders Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira are scheduled to face off for the title at UFC 317.
Former champion Oliveira holds a strong recent record, going 13-2 in his last 15 fights, with one of those losses coming against Makhachev. His upcoming opponent, Topuria, aims to maintain his undefeated professional record (17-0) and potentially claim a second divisional title. Topuria has limited experience at lightweight, with his sole fight in the division being a knockout win over Jai Herbert, where he himself was rocked early on.
Despite the upcoming clash between two highly ranked fighters for the vacant UFC title, Makhachev’s coach Javier Mendez believes there`s another lightweight outside the UFC who possesses superior skills to both Topuria and Oliveira: Usman Nurmagomedov.
Javier Mendez ranks Usman Nurmagomedov as world`s second-best lightweight after Islam Makhachev
Usman Nurmagomedov, 27, is the younger brother of recent UFC contender Umar Nurmagomedov and a cousin of the retired undefeated UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Following in his family`s footsteps, Usman boasts a perfect professional record of 19-0.
Speaking on Tim Welch’s Red Hawk Recap, Mendez stated, “I think he’s the second-best lightweight in the world.”
Usman Nurmagomedov previously held the Bellator lightweight championship, successfully defending it against notable opponents like former UFC champion Benson Henderson, Alexander Shabliy, and Ireland’s Paul Hughes in a highly competitive fight in January. His record across PFL and Bellator stands at 8-0 with one no-contest.
Why Usman Nurmagomedov is not currently competing in the UFC
Despite his impressive record and skillset, Usman Nurmagomedov has not yet competed in the UFC Octagon. He is currently under contract with the PFL, and according to Mendez, there are no immediate plans for him to join the UFC roster.
“He’s with PFL and there’s no talks about [Nurmagomedov fighting in the UFC] at all,” Mendez confirmed.
Mendez added that the PFL organization is taking excellent care of the undefeated fighter. However, he also acknowledged the nature of fighter contracts:
“But at the end of the day, when the contracts are up, the contracts are up,” Mendez said. “Whoever bids the highest is and then the fighter wants to go, that’s where the fighter’s gonna go. But at the present time, he’s got an obligation with PFL, and they’re taking great care of him.”
Usman Nurmagomedov himself has previously indicated in interviews that he intends to join the UFC sometime in the future, but only after Islam Makhachev has concluded his fighting career. Whether the undefeated Usman Nurmagomedov will eventually make his way to the UFC remains to be seen.
