Javier Mendes calls Ilia Topuria toughest test for Usman Nurmagomedov

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BELMONT PARK, NY - JULY 31: Usman Nurmagomedov celebrates with Khabib Nurmagomedov after fighting against Archie Colgan during PFL New York at the UBS Arena on July 31, 2026 in Belmont Park, New York. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images Usman Nurmagomedov is the hottest free agent in MMA, and if he ends up joining the UFC, his coach thinks it won’t be long before he’s holding gold. This past weekend, Nurmagomedov successfully defended his PFL lightweight title, stopping Archie Colgan with strikes in the first round. The win moved Nurmagomedov to 22-0 (1 no-contest) in his MMA career, and completed his current contract with the PFL. The 28-year-old champion is now eligible to sign with any promotion he wants, with the UFC and the PFL appearing to be the obvious frontrunners for his services. But whoever he signs with, Nurmagomedov’s coach, Javier Mendez, believes that organization is getting the best lightweight in the world. “For me, I’m being biased, of course. He’s my guy. Since Islam went up to welterweight, I consider Usman the best lightweight in the world,” Mendez told Submission Radio. “I’ve always felt that, and I’m willing to prove that with him. And he’s willing to prove it! So, if we get those opportunities, we’re willing to jump on them. But let’s see what happens. Money talks, so let’s see who’s going to come up with the kind of money that he wants, or who’s going to come up with the opportunities that he wants.” “The kid, the ceiling is — his potential is so great. I’ve said it many times: If you look at my interviews from years back, he’s the most talented out of anybody I’ve ever trained. And I don’t take any of what I said back. I’m sticking to it, 100 percent what I said, and he’s proving me right by what he’s doing.” Following his win on Friday, Nurmagomedov said he was undecided on his free agency, essentially telling reporters that “money talks.” Nevertheless, fans seem to believe Nurmagomedov is soon to join his teammate Islam Makhachev in the UFC, where he will immediately become a player in the lightweight title picture. And if that does come to pass, Mendez wants to jump right into the deep end. “If he does jump in, I’m looking at the top two dogs, if he jumps in,” Mendez said. “Someone like [Arman] Tsarukyan, someone like [Ilia] Topuria, those are the two that I look at as the dream fights. Not dream fights, but the fights to want to have. But how it’s going to work if we do jump over … they’re probably going to give us someone like a Paddy [Pimblett]. Someone of that stature, which is fine, too. Or maybe Max Holloway. Who knows? But it’s going to be somebody in the top five.” But if he had his druthers, Mendez would pick a man his team has some history with: Ilia Topuria. For much of the past two years, Topuria chased a fight with Islam Makhachev, until Justin Gaethje ruined those plans by upsetting Topuria at UFC White House. Still, Mendez has always rated Topuria highly, and thinks that would be the most challenging fight for Usman Nurmagomedov to take. “He matches up extremely well with every one of those guys,” Mendez said. “The guy that’s going to be the toughest puzzle, in my opinion, is Topuria. He’s going to be the toughest puzzle, but we’ll get him solved, too. But he’s the toughest puzzle, and he’s the one I would have the most respect going up against. Khabib’s opinion may be different; other coaches that train Usman might have different opinions, but my opinion is [that] our toughest task we have to work on is Ilia. And we would do it. I know we would do it, but he is definitely, by far, our toughest challenge.” TOP STORIES Tragic. UFC flyweight Allan Nascimento dead at 34. Investment. UFC owners reveal how much money was lost staging UFC White House card in June. Upset. Charles Oliveira: Ian Machado Garry has a ‘very good chance’ of beating Islam Makhachev at UFC 330. Election. UFC Hall of Famer B.J. Penn running for local office in Hawaii amid numerous other legal issues. MVPFL. PFL CEO John Martin on MVP MMA merger: ‘Together, we can really accelerate and fundamentally change this sport.’ Grappling. Zabit Magomedsharipov set to grapple UFC featherweight. VIDEO STEW Every Quillan Salkilld fight in the UFC. Main event fighters on Friday. Your boy on Morning Kombat. Cooking with Volk. FLAVOR IN YOUR EAR Fighter vs. Writer. View Link SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE Awful. This morning, Monday, August 3rd, our beloved flyweight fighter, Allan Nascimento, was found unresponsive after suffering an apparent heart attack in his sleep. Despite the efforts of the responding medical team, he was pronounced deceased at the scene. Our thoughts and deepest… pic.twitter.com/vlaBaBOyJr — UFC (@ufc) August 3, 2026 Reaction. Rest in peace bro. It was an honor sharing the cage with you last year. You are a warrior. https://t.co/lE4HN5LPTl — Cody Durden (@Cody_Durden) August 4, 2026 Sad to hear of the passing of @allanpuroosso RIP brother until we meet again ❤️ pic.twitter.com/GRjYDNz9vU — Jake 'White Kong' Hadley (@JakeHadleyMMA) August 4, 2026 Rest in peace Alan Nascimento. — Renato Moicano (@moicanoufc) August 3, 2026 Charles Oliveira reacts to the sudden passing of his close friend and teammate, Allan Nascimento. 💔🇧🇷 “Today I lost a brother. Thank you for always being there, for sharing the mat, the track, for the words. I only have gratitude for having you by my side, brother, in training,… pic.twitter.com/AOH5AA8xkv — MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) August 3, 2026 Conor McGregor is off to surgery. View this post on Instagram Jan statement after his loss. It is what it is. Another one for the collection. pic.twitter.com/iw0QYQrLBK — Jan Blachowicz (@JanBlachowicz) August 2, 2026 Every choice leaves a mark. I don't run from destiny. Experience comes at a price. Sometimes a very high one.#LegendaryPolishPower pic.twitter.com/UC3QXoOdVg — Jan Blachowicz (@JanBlachowicz) August 3, 2026 Ciryl Gane can hoop. View this post on Instagram Damn. View this post on Instagram FEED ME MORE Mailbag questions! FINAL THOUGHTS I know it’s not until next week, but honestly, I’m starting to get the vibe that Islam Makhachev’s run ends here. And that is gonna be weird if it happens. EXIT POLL If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKLee or @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let us know about it. 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Legendary coach Javier Mendez believes Ilia Topuria is the biggest threat to Usman Nurmagomedov at lightweight