Usman Nurmagomedov reveals what’s most important to his future as he approaches free agency
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Usman Nurmagomedov would love nothing more than to focus on his upcoming PFL title defense against Archie Colgan, but he also understands it’s impossible to ignore the reality that he’s on the final fight of his current contract and may soon become one of the most coveted free agents in recent history.
With an undefeated record at 28 years old and coming from the same lineage that produced fighters like Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev, it’s understandable why so much attention is being paid towards his future. The widespread assumption is that Nurmagomedov wins in July and then moves on to the UFC, where he would immediately become a major player in the lightweight division, especially now that Makhachev has moved up to welterweight.
AdvertisementAdvertisementBut Nurmagomedov maintains no decision has been made yet and refuses to say a bad word about the PFL, especially with how he’s been treated since first arriving in the promotion.
“I have a very good relationship [with PFL] with all of this team,” Nurmagomedov told MMA Fighting. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. We will see. If they hold me, keep me in this promotion, I think it’s going to be good. Why not?”
Because he’s entering the prime of his athletic career, Nurmagomedov finds himself in an enviable position where he could effectively create a bidding war for his services.
If he joined the UFC roster, Nurmagomedov would actually be the youngest fighter in the top five, with Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan both one year older than him. The rest of the fighters comprising the top five in the rankings are over 30.
AdvertisementAdvertisementBut in the PFL, Nurmagomedov is one of the faces of the promotion, and he would remain one of the most important pieces of the puzzle, especially as the organization seeks out a new broadcast deal at the end of 2026.
So what exactly is most important to Nurmagomedov as he looks towards the future?
“Of course, money is important,” Nurmagomedov said. “This time when everything is so expensive, and you have a big family, you have to think not only about you, you have to think about the people around you. We’ll see.
“Most important things, first of all, it’s legacy. Second, it’s money. I think this is two inside the one.”
AdvertisementAdvertisementPFL CEO John Martin has made it clear that the promotion would love to retain Nurmagomedov, but he also said recently that the company hasn’t engaged in any serious talks with him outside of booking his latest title defense.
For his part, Nurmagomedov plans on leaving negotiations on his next contract with his manager and he wants to put all of his attention on the upcoming fight against Colgan.
Nurmagomedov knows what happens when fighters get distracted thinking about something other than the task at hand. That’s why he’s deep in training camp and working hard to remain undefeated.
He’ll truly think about what comes next after July 31.
“These kinds of things, Ali [Abdel-aziz] has to fix,” Nurmagomedov said. “I will sign before or after or what we’re going to do. My opinion, if I will show my best performance in my life, maybe I’m going to do some crazy things and it’s going to be very nice highlights, maybe then people are going to be interested in me. We’ll see. I don’t want say something bad because I have a very good relationship with PFL, and I love PFL, and I see how many lions they have in PFL right now who want to take this belt. Like Archie, he is undefeated, and you can’t stay like this undefeated for a long time if you’re not top five. That’s why he’s a [No. 1 contender], and he wants to take everything what I have.
“I don’t want to look ahead and thinking about the future for my career or something like that. I have fight, I have a name, and we’re going to fight. If something happens before the fight, we will see. But it doesn’t make some reason. I have a fight, and we have to do this.”
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
