Ali Abdelaziz says he is prepared to personally make up any shortfall in Usman Nurmagomedov’s UFC purse if it helps secure a debut fight with Ilia Topuria. The manager called Nurmagomedov vs. Topuria his “dream fight” and said he would cover the gap himself, even if it reached $1 million.
Abdelaziz made the offer during an appearance on Submission Radio while discussing the unbeaten PFL lightweight champion’s potential next move. Nurmagomedov is coming off the final fight of his PFL deal and has been linked with a move to the UFC, where he would enter one of MMA’s deepest divisions without an established UFC record or UFC-specific contract history.
Ali Abdelaziz Ready to Fund Usman Nurmagomedov’s UFC Move for Topuria Fight
“If the UFC wanna do that, I’ll pay the difference from my pocket,” Abdelaziz said. “If it’s a million or something from my pocket, I will cover, I will cover Usman’s purse. I would love to see that.” He framed Topuria as the opponent he most wants for Nurmagomedov’s first UFC appearance.
Nurmagomedov has built a strong case as one of the most valuable free agents in MMA. The 28-year-old is unbeaten in 22 professional wins, with one no contest, and holds the PFL lightweight title after previously reigning as Bellator lightweight champion.
His July win over Archie Colgan at PFL New York was a first-round knockout and marked the second defense of his PFL belt. That bout also fulfilled the final fight on the agreement he carried over from Bellator after PFL acquired the promotion. Reports have indicated that PFL retained a limited exclusive negotiating window, while Nurmagomedov has also been connected to a UFC switch.
There has been talk of a PFL offer worth $2 million, although the exact terms and whether that figure applied to one bout or a longer agreement have not been independently detailed publicly. What is clear is that a UFC deal would not automatically match the value available to an established champion elsewhere.
UFC fighter compensation is not a simple salary. Contracts can include guaranteed show money, a win bonus, Venum fight-week payments, discretionary bonuses, and in rare cases larger commercial arrangements. The promotion does not publish base purses for many U.S. events, so comparisons between organizations are often based on partial disclosures, estimates and reports from the fighters’ teams. A newcomer can be paid below the level they earned as a champion in another promotion, even if they arrive with a high-profile record.
Abdelaziz‘s public stance suggests he sees the Topuria fight as worth accepting that risk, provided Nurmagomedov does not take a financial hit to do it. The offer should still be treated as a negotiating position rather than a completed arrangement. Neither the UFC nor Nurmagomedov has announced a signing, a debut date, a Topuria booking or terms that would allow the proposed payment difference to be calculated.
Topuria would give Nurmagomedov an immediate high-stakes UFC matchup. Their styles make the idea easy to sell: Nurmagomedov is known for a layered grappling game, range striking and control, while Topuria has become one of the division’s most prominent finishers.
The callout also arrives after online exchanges involving Topuria and Abdelaziz. Abdelaziz has publicly argued that Nurmagomedov would be capable of finishing Topuria, while Topuria’s team has pushed back on the idea.
