At UFC 324, Khabib Nurmagomedov found himself stepping into a tense moment backstage when Islam Makhachev and Kamaru Usman came face-to-face following their respective victories. Serving as head coach for his cousin Umar Nurmagomedov, who defeated Deiveson Figueiredo at the event, Khabib was present to support his team and ended up mediating a confrontation between the current UFC welterweight champion Usman and the lightweight champion Makhachev.
Umar Nurmagomedov Aims for Bantamweight Title Opportunity After Another Win
Umar Nurmagomedov secured a unanimous decision win over Deiveson Figueiredo, marking his second consecutive victory since a loss to Merab Dvalishvili. At 30 years old, Umar was hoping this result might propel him ahead of Dvalishvili for a future shot at the bantamweight title held by Petr Yan. Despite performing well, the victory likely falls short of earning an immediate title challenge, as seen in the typical competitive landscape of the division.
Backdrop of the Makhachev-Usman Backstage Exchange
Islam Makhachev, fresh off claiming the UFC lightweight title, celebrated Umar’s victory alongside the team when Kamaru Usman, the welterweight king and teammate to main event winner Justin Gaethje, appeared backstage. With Usman having recently won the 170-pound title over Jack Della Maddalena, he and Makhachev—who recently expressed interest in a fight with Usman—came into contact, setting the stage for a potential rivalry.
During their exchange, Usman approached Makhachev and challenged him directly, asking,
“What do you want to say about me?”
followed by,
“What do you want to say?”
Khabib Nurmagomedov intervened quickly, urging, “Hey, be nice, be nice.”
Makhachev replied calmly,
“I will say everything in the cage,”
to which Usman responded, “Me too, me too.” The interaction stayed respectful, with both fighters sharing a moment of mutual understanding while Khabib kept them physically apart.
Islam Makhachev’s View on the Main Event Fight
The night’s main event featured former division rivals competing for the interim lightweight title. After Paddy Pimblett’s recent attempts to ignite a feud with Makhachev, the Russian champion took the opportunity to criticize Pimblett’s performance following his loss. Makhachev commented pointedly, saying,
“What was brought on a platter turned out to be inedible,”
reflecting his dismissive take on Pimblett’s recent bout.
What This Moment Means for Future UFC Matchups
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s role as a mediator between Islam Makhachev and Kamaru Usman underscores the growing anticipation surrounding a possible bout between the two champions. Both fighters have asserted their willingness to settle differences inside the Octagon, suggesting that fans might soon witness a high-stakes showdown between top-tier UFC talents. Meanwhile, Umar Nurmagomedov’s continued progress hints at evolving rivalry dynamics in the bantamweight division, with contenders jockeying for position against Petr Yan.
"Be nice, be nice" 😪
Khabib has to step in between Islam Makhachev and Kamaru Usman
via @paramountufc #UFC324 pic.twitter.com/HOl4AHzwZ1
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) January 25, 2026
