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Henry Cejudo Says PFL Is Finished If Usman Nurmagomedov Leaves | MiddleEasy

MiddleEasy · Jake Blend · 2026-09-04T13:14:51+00:00 · nguồn gốc

Henry Cejudo put a blunt price on Usman Nurmagomedov‘s next move, arguing that PFL cannot afford to lose him while UFC interest keeps building around the unbeaten lightweight. The discussion followed Nurmagomedov’s recent contract leverage, including his claim that he turned down a $2 million PFL offer. The Pound 4 Pound source video is below. Cejudo first framed the conversation around the kind of money Nurmagomedov could command if both sides push for him. “So it could be, man, like you’re looking at maybe a deal between Usman Nurmagomedov with MVP and the UFC between anywhere between three and four million per fight. This is my opinion. Am I wrong?” Kamaru Usman did not dismiss that range, but he questioned whether PFL should make that kind of outlay during a rebuild. “UFC can pay that for sure. And I say they can pay that because there’s a way they can recoup that for sure.” “So, if you’re in a rebuilding phase, do you really want to shell out this much cash? Cuz we’ve seen that before and not have a strategy to recoup that back.” Cejudo answered by pointing to the leverage that comes with Nurmagomedov’s last name, his PFL belt, and the fact that other fighters have already argued UFC should pay heavily for him. “He is in such a great position. If I’m Usman, be like, hey, I sign with the UFC, I take a cut on pay, but I want my title shot. And I think that’s how you do it.” “Or I signed a seven-fight deal with the PFL and just set yourself up for the rest of your life. I mean, that is a lot of money, Kamaru.” Cejudo Sees PFL’s Risk The sharpest line came when Usman asked whether Nurmagomedov leaving PFL would change the promotion’s position. “He leaves the PFL tomorrow, the PFL is finished straight up.” Cejudo also argued Nurmagomedov is not just a free-agent name being floated for attention. He said the former PFL champion is already discussed like an elite lightweight even while he remains outside the UFC. “This guy’s not even in the UFC and he’s being talked about the most out of anybody in the UFC right now. So, he’s doing something right.” “I think he’s top three in the entire world. I think if he gets that opportunity, it would be interesting, but I know that he’s top three in the world.” The title-shot part of that argument remains complicated because Javier Mendez previously warned that an immediate UFC title shot could be a dangerous gamble. Cejudo’s point is different: if Nurmagomedov reaches the open market with UFC interest and PFL money both in play, he believes the promotion that already has him cannot treat the decision like a normal renewal.