Khabib declares Usman Nurmagomedov wouldn’t have reached the UFC at 21

Khabib Nurmagomedov credited the Professional Fighters League for developing Usman Nurmagomedov, underscoring the league's role in his rise and current free‑agent interest. In remarks on the Smol Talk podcast, Khabib said the PFL gave Usman a platform to grow, adding that at 21 he would not have reached the UFC. He noted Usman's early run with Bellator MMA, now under the PFL banner, and described him as an elite lightweight.Usman's PFL deal is set to conclude after his July 31 title defense against Archie Colgan at UBS Arena in Long Island, New York. Khabib declined to discuss next steps out of respect for the PFL. Usman is 21-0 (1 NC); his brother Umar competes in the UFC.