Usman Nurmagomedov's Future

UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev is backing his cousin and longtime teammate Usman Nurmagomedov to eventually sign with the UFC, putting the odds at 90 percent.

"It's the perfect move for him; he needs to prove he's the best in the world. He could face a top-10 rival and soon earn a title shot. He grew up alongside Khabib and me, has trained with the best from the start of his career and has extensive experience working with champions; now is the best time for him to join the UFC," Makhachev

Nurmagomedov finished his PFL contract with a first-round stoppage of Archie Colgan in July and reportedly turned down a $2 million offer to re-sign. He remains in a 90-day exclusive negotiating window with the PFL that runs through late October, after which he'll be free to talk to other promotions.

While the PFL hasn't ruled out making another push to keep him, Makhachev sees a UFC move as the natural next step. Nurmagomedov was last seen in cousin Umar Nurmagomedov's corner at UFC Shanghai.