Overview
- PFL CEO John Martin said the promotion has a 90‑day exclusive negotiating period that legally bars the UFC from making an offer to Nurmagomedov during that window.
- PFL says it is preparing a competitive contract to retain Nurmagomedov after he completed his PFL deal with a first‑round knockout at PFL New York on July 31, 2026.
- The UFC has publicly signaled interest in signing Nurmagomedov, with on‑site promotion and a broadcast spotlight at UFC 330 intensifying speculation about a move to the Octagon.
- Martin called the UFC’s on‑site promotion staged and suggested PFL could press forward without Nurmagomedov, comments that drew fan backlash and added public pressure to negotiations.
- The exclusive window and PFL’s pending offer mean the next several weeks will decide Nurmagomedov’s pay, competitive path, and broader roster strategy as PFL prepares to merge with MVP.