‘I’m not a cheater’ – Usman Nurmagomedov responds to Alfie Davis’ Team Khabib drug claim

Usman Nurmagomedov has insisted he’s ‘not a cheater’ after Alfie Davis raised concerns over alleged drug cheating.

Usman, cousin of UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, defends his lightweight title against Britain’s Davis at PFL Dubai on Saturday.

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The undefeated 27-year-old defeated Paul Hughes twice in 2025 to retain his title and was named the PFL‘s No. 1 men’s pound-for-pound fighter last month.

Against all odds, Davis stunned Team Khabib member Gadzhi Rabadanov last August to win the PFL lightweight tournament, $500,000, and a meeting with Usman.

Ahead of the fight, Davis told talkSPORT.com that he has no fears over facing another member of the Dagestani clan, but has made a new pre-fight claim.

Alfie Davis: I’m scared about drug cheating in the sport

“What I am scared of is the fact that they have been renowned drug cheats for years,” the 33-year-old said.

“That definitely gives them an edge… one of their guys got popped, more recently, so it’s a bit of a grey area, and I feel like some people don’t want to talk about it.”

Two months ago, former PFL featherweight champion Movlid Khaybulaev, also a member of Khabib’s team, was stripped of his title and suspended for one year over a doping violation.

Usman himself was banned for six months in 2023 after failing a drug test ahead of his fight with Brent Primus at Bellator 300.

The Russian fighter denied any wrongdoing, later telling MMA Junkie ‘it was medication’ when speaking about the failed test.

He returned in September 2024, defending the Bellator — acquired by PFL in 2023 — lightweight title against Alexander Shabliy before back-to-back wins over Hughes.

Usman Nurmagomedov’s response

When asked by talkSPORT.com what he thinks of Davis’ fears, Usman put it straight.

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“Don’t worry… tell him don’t worry, I’m not a cheater,” Usman said.

“Like, I never do this, but you can’t control the people trying to do it. 

“Sometimes it happens, it’s a part of life, but by my side, it was medical, and the company, and the commission, tell them, tell the people, ‘Hey, it was medical,’ and they approved this.

“But I never did anything because I think the best cheating is when you’re getting sleep at 9pm.

“This is the best cheater in the world, because if you go to bed at 9pm, you can rest your body, you are feeling very good, but it’s very hard to go to bed 9pm.”

When pressed about whether he feels Team Khabib face extra scrutiny following Khaybulaev’s failed test, Usman shook his head and responded: “No.”

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‘I’ll talk in the cage’ – Usman explains

Davis believes he will take advantage of Usman’s weaknesses that he says were exposed in his two fights with Hughes.

Usman said the biggest lessons from his double header with the Irishman were to ‘never underestimate your opponent’ and you can ‘always go deeper’ than first thought.

The PFL lightweight champion isn’t bothered by Davis’ comments on his style and just hopes ‘The Axe Man’ makes it to the SmartCage for fight night.

“Honestly, I don’t care,” Usman said.

“I just hope he will come to Dubai, and I pray he doesn’t take any injury.

“Let him speak right now, but I’m gonna wanna speak with him in the cage.

“I’m gonna take him down and then I will speak with him.”

Usman’s brother, Umar Nurmagomedov, defeated Deiveson Figueiredo via unanimous decision at UFC 324 in January to climb up the bantamweight rankings.

Khabib, alongside another team member, UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, cornered Umar for the fight.

The former UFC lightweight champion, who famously submitted Conor McGregor in 2018, will also be in Usman’s corner for PFL Dubai.

He said in the build-up to the bout that he has been focusing more on Usman’s preparation, as Davis to him is viewed as a tougher opponent than Figueiredo.

Khabib was asked by the media ahead of PFL Dubai about the negative talk and fears surrounding his team.

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“Honestly, I don’t care about this. If people like, they like. If they hate, they hate,” he said.

“But the numbers talk. Numbers talk. Belts. We can say belts talk. And ranking.

“They talk by themselves — I don’t have to change somebody’s mind.

“If they like our team, they like. If they don’t, who cares? That’s why we love this sport.

“There is competition. There are a lot of different fighters and teams.

“They can choose whatever they want. But we’re here, we’re here to take everything.”

The PFL returns on February 7 for the third instalment of the Road to Dubai series.

Usman will cement his status as the PFL’s No. 1 star with a victory at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena, while Davis hopes to defy the odds and disrupt the momentum among Team Khabib.