UFC 321: Dana White makes deal with Umar Nurmagomedov
Dana White and Umar Nurmagomedov made a deal about a title shot at the UFC 321 press conference.
Umar Nurmagomedov has spent much of UFC 321 fight week fielding questions about a potential rematch with bantamweight champion.
At Thursday’s pre-fight press conference for the event at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi (ESPN+ pay-per-view, Disney+/FX/ESPN+), it was Nurmagomedov who decided to ask a question, and it was directed at UFC CEO Dana White.
With Nurmagomedov (18-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) holding uncertainty about what exactly is on the line in Saturday’s main card bout with Mario Bautista (16-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC), he put White on the spot to clarify.
“I ask question,” Nurmagomedov said. “Is it possible that this fight is for (next) contender, me and Mario?”
White was quick to reply, telling Nurmagomedov that a lacklustre performance isn’t going to get the job done.
“Should this fight be the contender fight?” White responded. “Go out there and put on a show on Saturday that makes people go, ‘Damn, one of these guys should be fighting for the title next.'”
Nurmagomedov intends to oblige, ideally setting up an early 2026 title shot with the winner of Dvalishvili and Petr Yan, who have a rematch of their own at UFC 323 on Dec. 6 in Las Vegas.
“OK, I’m going to do (that),” Nurmagomedov said.
“Deal,” White answered in closing.
