Final Combating Championship (UFC) Featherweight standout, Cory Sandhagen, will put his No. 2 rating on the road when he locks horns with Umar Nurmagomedov this afternoon (Sat., Aug. 3, 2024) at UFC Abu Dhabi inside Etihad Area in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Sandhagen is knocking on the door of his second UFC title shot. “The Sandman” has received three straight fights over high quality contenders since his first alternative at interim gold, displaying an total improved combined martial arts (MMA) recreation within the course of. On the flip aspect, Nurmagomedov doesn’t have a single ranked win, so how’s he the favourite? The household identify actually doesn’t damage, but it surely’s additionally clear that the Russian athlete is a particular expertise himself. The undefeated (17-0) Nurmagomedov will take a large step up in competitors right here and attempt to show he’s prepared for the title combine proper now.
Let’s take a better take a look at the betting odds and strategic keys for every athlete:
Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov Betting Odds
Cory Sandhagen victory: +260
Cory Sandhagen through TKO/KO/DQ: +550
Cory Sandhagen through submission: +1600
Cory Sandhagen through determination: +650
Umar Nurmagomedov victory: -325
Umar Nurmagomedov through TKO/KO/DQ: +650
Umar Nurmagomedov through submission: +275
Umar Nurmagomedov through determination: +110
Odds through DraftKings Sportsbook
How Sandhagen Wins
Sandhagen is considered one of his division’s greatest kickboxers. The rangy Bantamweight feints and strikes very well, using gentle punches and stance shifts to achieve angles and create larger connections. As well as, offensive wrestling has grow to be a bigger facet of his recreation, including one other layer to his feints.
Huge image, Sandhagen needs a kickboxing match. This can be a struggle between well-rounded contenders who can do all of it, however Sandhagen’s greatest avenue to success includes making the most of Nurmagomedov’s restricted hanging. Restricted could sound harsh, however in reality, Nurmagomedov is ready to make nice use of comparatively few expertise — flashy kicks, a stiff jab, and a test hook — as a result of the takedown is at all times on his opponent’s thoughts.
Subsequently, the important thing for Sandhagen is to increase exchanges with out getting taken down within the course of; a job simpler mentioned than performed after all! A giant profit to Sandhagen in comparison with earlier Nurmagomedov opponents is that he can kick with the Russian. He’s not outgunned at distance, which implies making an attempt to attract Nurmagomedov ahead into counters could possibly be a viable technique.
Alternatively — or probably, as well as — Sandhagen might goal to increase pocket combos. Nurmagomedov tends to simply fade again with single photographs, and he can get out of place within the course of. If Sandhagen makes use of his feints and shifts to attract out these single counter punches, he ought to be in good place to punch with comparatively little worry of the takedown.
How Nurmagomedov Wins
Nurmagomedov has struggle followers excited for a cause. A wonderful kicker with knockout energy, he’s additionally one of many division’s greatest wrestlers with that traditional Nurmagomedov mauling model. A wrestler who can kick properly is at all times a really harmful contender, and Nurmagomedov suits that mould completely.
Probably the most confirmed weak spot in Sandhagen’s recreation is his behavior of turning the again whereas avoiding takedowns. Certainly, he has labored to enhance that facet of his protection, however previous habits die exhausting. In the meantime, Nurmagomedov is a top-notch back-taker with six wins through rear bare choke.
See the place I’m going with this?
Nurmagomedov has a really robust potential to time his single leg takedown. It’s in all probability in his greatest curiosity to restrict the hanging exchanges to a kicking match, then as quickly as Sandhagen actually advances or is near the fence, provoke the wrestling. Much like how Sandhagen needs to attract Nurmagomedov into longer boxing exchanges, extra prolonged time wrestling will reveal Nurmagomedov’s expertise benefit in that space.
Sandhagen Vs. Nurmagomedov Prediction
I’m on board the Sandhagen 2.0 hype practice. I additionally consider that leaping from unranked opposition to the No. 2-ranked Bantamweight on the planet is a monstrous ask, even in a division like 135-pounds the place the unranked fighters are nonetheless fairly good.
It additionally advantages Sandhagen that this can be a 25-minute struggle. I don’t anticipate Nurmagomedov with the ability to merely blow him out of the water within the grappling, not when an unknown like Bezkat Almakhan managed to outlive three full rounds on the ground with Nurmagomedov. Sandhagen has the time to be shocked by Nurmagomedov’s power after which alter, and as soon as he finds a gap, I feel the momentum continues to pile up within the veteran’s favor.
Sandhagen is wise, extremely disciplined, and intensely technical — precisely what it takes to upset an undefeated stud like Nurmagomedov.
Prediction: Sandhagen through determination (+650)
Keep in mind that MMAmania.com will ship LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow protection of all the UFC Abu Dhabi struggle card proper right here, beginning with the ESPN/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches, that are scheduled to start at 12 p.m. ET, then the remaining fundamental card steadiness on ABC/ESPN (simulcast on ESPN+) at 3 p.m. ET.
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