Daniel
Cormier believes Ali Abdelaziz may be getting carried away with
his assessment of Usman
Nurmagomedov.
Nurmagomedov (22-0) recently completed his
Professional Fighters League contract in emphatic fashion,
stopping Archie
Colgan in the opening round at
PFL New York.
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The undefeated lightweight is now a free agent and
Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana
White has indicated that his promotion is interested.
Daniel Cormier says Usman Nurmagomedov will have his work cut
out for him in the UFC
Abdelaziz has made lofty predictions about what Nurmagomedov could
accomplish against the UFC’s elite. The veteran manager has claimed
that the undefeated Russian would finish the likes of Ilia
Topuria, Paddy
Pimblett, Charles
Oliveira and Max
Holloway, expectedly leaving out his other client, Justin
Gaethje, the reigning UFC lightweight champ.
Cormier acknowledged Nurmagomedov’s considerable talent but
believes there is a major difference between dominating the PFL
lightweight division and proving yourself against the UFC’s
top-tier contenders.
“I get it, that’s your guy, but you’re speaking about the absolute
best guys in the world,” Cormier said in a video on his YouTube
channel. Addressing Abdelaziz’s claims. “This dude might be a
little bit out there. I think Usman Nurmagomedov is special… I know
he has championship-level experience… The UFC guys are just
better.”
Cormier has trained with Nurmagomedov and believes the UFC
lightweight division presents a significantly greater challenge
than what the PFL offers.
„Easier said than done, I train with the guy, I really care about
the guy but to go out there and be really far left about who those
guys are, because I know who Max Holloway is, I know who Ilia
Topuria is, I know who Paddy Pimblett is, I know who Charles
Oliveira is, I know who they are as fighters,” Cormier continued.
“I know who they are. To think they would just be completely
dominated and outclassed is just absolutely crazy and I will tell
Ali that to his face.”