Khabib Nurmagomedov made sure Jake Paul did not get the clean belt-wrap moment after Usman Nurmagomedov‘s title defense at PFL New York. After Nurmagomedov stopped Archie Colgan at 3:42 of round one, Khabib took the PFL lightweight belt from Paul’s hands and handled the presentation himself.
The belt scene turned a clean knockout night into another MVP-PFL flashpoint. Paul was in the cage after MVP and PFL merged into a new combat-sports platform, and Nurmagomedov had just finished the final fight on his current PFL deal.
Watch the belt moment below.
Khabib snatched the belt from Jake Paul 💀
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) August 1, 2026
The post-fight interview got even stranger when Paul jumped in while Usman was being asked about his future. Usman had already tied his next move to the money side of the new ownership structure.
We’ll see what’s going on. This was my last fight, and MVP, they always talk trash talk a little bit about Dana, he doesn’t pay. Now we’re going to see how they want to pay.
Paul then floated an extra incentive for Usman’s next appearance.
Next fight, we’re watching, everyone tune in. Next fight, if you get a knockout, I buy you a car.
Brother, let’s talk about today, because we don’t know what’s going on tomorrow. But we want the future.
Hey, you might get the bonus, come on.
We’re invested in his whole team. This is why we love this sport. This is why we’re backing him. This is why we’re here tonight. I love the boos. I love the hate. It fuels everything that we’re doing.
Everyone can be mad at me. It’s so funny. This shit is so funny to me. This is the guy. This is the center of attention. Everyone’s mad at me. They can boo me. But look at this guy. Look at what he’s doing. Channel this energy, channel this hate into what he’s doing.
The same interview clip is below.
Jake Paul just took over Usman Nurmagomedov’s post fight interview 😭
“Everyone can be mad at me. It’s so funny, this sh*t is so funny to me.”
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) August 1, 2026
Paul also put Nurmagomedov over while Justin Gaethje was in the building.
We’re backing him. PFL just turned into MVP. This guy is on a different platform. He’s the best in the fucking world. He’s the best in the world. Justin Gaethje’s over there. Honestly, I think he would make light work of Gaethje. So I love you, Justin.
Ladies and gentlemen, make some noise. The undisputed, undefeated, lightweight champion of the world, Usman Nurmagomedov.
Usman Pushes Back On Jake Paul
Usman did not follow Paul’s lead after the cameras moved away from the cage. Asked about Paul as a promoter and fighter, Nurmagomedov separated the business attention from the reality of fighting.
Like a promoter, he talk too much of course, but like a fighter, he’s not a fighter. He’s not a fighter. He’s a YouTuber guy, come from YouTube. He have a lot of money, but fighter live differently. If you want to see a fighter come to my gym.
He also refused to laugh off the Gaethje line.
You know guys, like when somebody doesn’t give the respect for Justin, this is, to be honest, this is not good. Justin Gaethje is a legend. I’m really happy that he’s a champion right now, and I wish all the best to Justin. Keep doing legacy, but money, brother. I have a family.
We’ll see, like I don’t want to go ahead and say something like big words. Like I said, I have to talk with Khabib, and then we will make the decision.
Usman’s answer is below.
Usman Nurmagomedov cooked Jake Paul 😭
“Like a promoter, he talk too much. He’s not a fighter, he’s a YouTuber guy… When somebody doesn’t give the respect for Justin Gaethje, this is not good.”
(via @Cagesidepress)
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) August 1, 2026
Nurmagomedov entered the main event at 21-0, Colgan entered at 13-0, and both lightweights weighed 154.8 pounds. The official finish moved Nurmagomedov to 22-0, and it landed with extra leverage because his PFL contract was complete. Khabib’s own history with Gaethje still hangs over the name-drop, too. Khabib submitted Gaethje at UFC 254 and retired immediately afterward, while Usman now has a free-agency decision tied to the new MVP-PFL money era.
