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Usman Nurmagomedov has a decision to make, and if he lands a UFC deal, his coach believes Ilia Topuria would be the most stern test.

Nurmagomedov is widely considered to be the best lightweight outside the UFC banner. This past Friday, he made short work of the previously unbeaten Archie Colgan. Nurmagomedov won the fight via first-round knockout to successfully retain the PFL Lightweight Championship. Nurmagomedov’s record stands at 22-0, 1 NC, and many believe he could be UFC bound.

Appearing on Submission Radio, American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez admitted he feels Topuria would be difficult to solve if Nurmagomedov joins the top MMA promotion. Even so, he’s confident that the former Bellator titleholder can pass the test (h/t MMAJunkie).

“He matches up extremely well with every one of those guys,” Mendez said. “The guy who’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. He’s the one I would have the most respect going up against. … Our toughest task that we have to work on is Ilia.”

Mendez doesn’t believe the 28-year-old champion would need any tune-up fight upon entering UFC. He wants his fighter to go straight for the wolves at 155 pounds.

“If he does jump in (to the UFC), I’m looking at the top two dogs, someone like a (Arman) Tsarukyan, someone like a Topuria. Those are the two I look at as the dream fights,” Mendez said. “Not the dream fights, but the fights to want to have.”

Mendez anticipates that the UFC matchmakers would give Nurmagomedov either Paddy Pimblett or Max Holloway instead. If that were to be the case, the AKA head coach wouldn’t be opposed to it. Ultimately, he feels Nurmagomedov should get a top five-ranked opponent for his UFC debut if he makes the jump.

Do you agree that Ilia Topuria would be Usman Nurmagomedov’s toughest opponent if he joins the UFC roster, or do you have someone else in mind? Share your opinion in the comments below.

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