Because the UFC returns to the United Arab Emirates, all eyes shift focus to Umar Nurmagomedov. He takes on the powerful problem of dealing with the ever-dynamic Cory Sandhagen and might be in search of the very best win of his profession by a rustic mile.
Will he rise to the event? Is Umar Nurmagomedov prepared for the bantamweight division’s elite, even doable a shot at Sean O’Malley? This weekend is his alternative to reply these questions.
Umar Nurmagomedov: Attending to the scales
Umar Nurmagomedov dons a terrific weight on his shoulders. Along with his final title, a lot is anticipated of the Dagestani native. His brother, Usman Nurmagomedov, is a champion in Bellator. His cousin: Khabib Nurmagomedov. Followers and analysts alike are fairly expectant of Umar Nurmagomedov with these accolades alone. Add his excellent 17-0 document on high of this and the hype surrounding the Dagestani has hit vital ranges.
So why the hesitation? In deeper MMA circles, some analyst query his stage of expertise. The primary problem is that Nurmagomedov has had a tough time making it to the day of a battle.
He and Sandhagen have been initially scheduled to indicate down in 2023. Umar Nurmagomedov was pressured out of that battle with a shoulder damage. By this time, pulling out could be a standard theme for the undefeated contender.
The explanations for this we’re clear: Umar Nurmagomedov missed plenty of the contracted fights that he was alleged to take.
It gained’t be truthful to carry the Hunter Azure battle towards him. That battle was canceled as a result of COVID-19 pandemic. Even the battle with Nathaniel Wooden is excusable; his uncle and coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov handed away.
However Nurmagomedov was scheduled to face Sergey Morozov at UFC 254 and pulled out as a result of sickness. To his credit score that battle was rebooked three months later and he gained by way of a second spherical rear bare choke. He was scheduled to face Jack Shore, a tricky check for Nurmagomedov, in 2022 and pulled out of that battle with no actual cause excuse given. After which, in fact, the aforementioned Sandhagen battle.
It’s not persistent, like Alex Perez or Manel Kape, previously. However Umar Nurmagomedov has not been dependable.
That’s to not say he’s not been nice. The proof when he does battle has proven to be the opposite.
Unimaginable expertise
When he does battle, Umar Nurmagomedov is just spectacular. He’s beat fighters like Brian Kelleher and Raoni Barcelos. Each fighters, whereas not ranked, have been long-staples to the UFC’s stacked bantamweight division.
At 5-0 within the UFC, Nurmagomedov has three finishes. The one two fighters who went the gap is Nate Maness and Bezkat Almakhan. The battle with Almakhan was nearer than most. However the win was clear for Nurmagomedov.
That is what has his followers pulling their hair out. Nice as Barcelos and Kelleher are, Umar Nurmagomedov doesn’t have that key signature win. That’s the place Cory Sandhagen involves play.
Sandhagen is one in every of bantamweight’s finest and most troublesome fights for anybody. Like Sean O’Malley getting an enormous step up in competitors in Petr Yan after a number of years of “improvement” fights, Nurmagomedov might be taking up a fighter that’s orders of magnitude higher than anybody he’s fought earlier than.
Ought to he win, Nurmagomedov might see himself ranked within the high three, changing Sandhagen at #2.
That is the event to which Umar Nurmagomedov. He has to indicate up on battle day and make it to the cage. He has to tackle the hardest contender within the UFC’s hardest division. A win will proceed the legacy of the Dagestani Dynasty.
