Makhachev's Coach Says 21-0 Usman Nurmagomedov Beats Every UFC Lightweight

Javier Mendez isn't hedging. The head coach at American Kickboxing Academy says his 21-0 fighter Usman Nurmagomedov would beat every lightweight the UFC can currently throw at him — every single one, with a lone exception being his own teammate. That's a big claim about a division that includes champion Justin Gaethje (28-5) and rising star Paddy Pimblett (24-4).

The context matters. Nurmagomedov is the reigning PFL lightweight champion and has one fight left on his current deal. He defends the belt against Archie Colgan at PFL New York next Friday, and PFL CEO John Martin has said the promotion won't block a move if the Dagestani wants to test the UFC waters. By August 1, he could be the most coveted free agent in the sport.

The One Man Mendez Won't Pick Against

Mendez told Heavy Sports that Nurmagomedov matches up well with the entire UFC top tier and, in his view, beats all of them. The only fighter he wouldn't back Usman to defeat is Islam Makhachev — Nurmagomedov's sparring partner, who vacated the 155-pound throne to move up to welterweight.

It's a coach talking up his guy, sure. But it's also worth noting Mendez has seen both men in the same room for years. When your honest assessment is 'he beats everyone except the pound-for-pound guy I also train,' that's a specific kind of endorsement, not a blanket sales pitch.

How Nurmagomedov Got Here

The undefeated 21-0 record isn't padding. Nurmagomedov won the PFL lightweight title by beating Paul Hughes, then defended it against Alfie Davis this past February. Colgan is next, and if that goes his way, the free-agency clock starts ticking loudly.

The blueprint is right there in front of him. His cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov built a legend at 155 in the Octagon, and Makhachev picked up where Khabib left off. With Islam now gone from lightweight, the throne he'd be chasing is genuinely open — Gaethje holds the belt after his fourth-round knockout of Ilia Topuria.

The Money Problem

Here's the wrinkle. Nurmagomedov reportedly sits as one of PFL's highest-paid athletes at $1 million per fight, level with Dakota Ditcheva. That's a serious number for a promotion that isn't the UFC, and it complicates any jump.

Makhachev himself has floated the concern: the UFC's historical reluctance to hand new signings big money could see them miss out entirely. If Nurmagomedov has to take a pay cut to prove himself in a new promotion, the math might not add up — no matter how good the matchups look on paper.

What It Means for the Division

If he does make the move, the lightweight picture gets messy in the best way. Gaethje is the champion and a knockout artist with 21 stoppages on his ledger. Pimblett, the No. 5 contender, submitted Benoît Saint Denis in the first round last time out and carries an 11-submission résumé of his own — a grappler's puzzle for anyone.

For now, though, this is all projection. No decision on a PFL stay or UFC venture has been announced, and Nurmagomedov has said in the past he's happy where he is. The talking stops next Friday in New York, where Colgan gets first crack at the man everyone else is arguing about.

The honest read: Mendez is doing his job, and the ceiling is real. But until an undefeated fighter shares a cage with the actual UFC lightweight roster, the 'beats them all' line stays exactly what it is — a bold, well-informed opinion waiting on a signature.