Merab Dvalishvili is confident he would run through Umar Nurmagomedov.
LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] is confident he would run through [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag].
Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) challenges bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley (18-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 306 headliner at Sphere (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPNews, ESPN+).
After his UFC on ABC 7 main event win over Cory Sandhagen in August, Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) was declared No. 1 contender by UFC CEO Dana White. In a matchup between two of the best grapplers at 135 pounds, Dvalishvili boldly said he’d have no issues with Nurmagomedov’s style.
“First, I have a tough opponent: Sean O’Malley,” Dvalishvili told MMA Junkie and other reporters at Wednesday’s UFC 306 media day. “I’m focused on him. God willing after I win against him, whoever the UFC wants me to fight, I will fight.
“I never choose my next opponent. If Umar is my next opponent, that’s fine. Me and my team, we will work and we will train. That fight, I think it’s easy for me. That fight is no problem for me. I will dominate him.”
Dvalishvili made it clear on numerous occasions that he doesn’t think Nurmagomedov is a worthy title challenger after securing just one top five win. He’d rather fight former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo, who has defeated Rob Font, Cody Garbrandt, and Marlon Vera since moving up to bantamweight.
“What excites me more: Deiveson Figueiredo,” Dvalishvili said. “He is a former champion, I already beat three former champions. Sean O’Malley is champion now. He will be my fourth champion, and if I fight Figueiredo that will be my fifth champion.
“That is my goal. Figueiredo has knockout power, he has good submissions, good ground game, lots of experience, he’s bigger than me. Also, he dominated former title challenger (Marlon) ‘Chito Vera’ – in an even more impressive way than Sean O’Malley.”
Merab Dvalishvili argues that Deiveson Figueiredo is a more worthy No. 1 contender than Umar Nurmagomedov after UFC 306.
[autotag]Merab Dvalishvili[/autotag] argues that [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] is a more worthy No. 1 contender than [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag].
Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) challenges bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley (17-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) in the UFC 306 main event Sept. 14 at Sphere in Las Vegas. The main card airs on ESPN+ pay-per-view following prelims on ESPNews.
UFC CEO Dana White said Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) will get the next title shot against the winner of O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili following his UFC on ABC 7 main event win over Cory Sandhagen in August, but at least one side of the fight doesn’t see him as deserving.
Dvalishvili makes the case former flyweight champ Figueiredo (24-3-1 MMA, 13-3-1 UFC) has a superior resume to Nurmagomedov since moving up to 135 pounds.
“Deiveson Figueiredo deserves to fight for the belt,” Dvalishvili told MMA Junkie. “He beat one former champion in this weight class and one title challenger, and he beat Rob Font. And Figueiredo is former champion, and he has big name, and he deserves.
“Umar, he only beat Cory Sandhagen from top 15. Only one guy he beat from top 15 and why he deserve to fight for the belt? I’m not saying – even if I would be champion, he has to fight Sean O’Malley. I don’t think he deserves to fight for the belt, you know. That’s my opinion.”
Since moving up to bantamweight, former flyweight champion Figueiredo has defeated Font, former champion Cody Garbrandt, and most recently former title challenger Marlon Vera.
Meanwhile, Nurmagomedov went from finishing unranked Raoni Barcelos to beating Bekzat Almakhan to outlasting Sandhagen in his first octagon headliner.
Analyzing Saturday’s UFC on ABC 7 odds between Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov, with MMA picks and predictions.
[gambcom-standard rankid=”3011″ ]
In a 5-round bantamweight bout in the main event, Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov meet Saturday at UFC on ABC 7 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the UFC on ABC 7: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.
The prelims begin noon ET, on ESPN2/ESPN+, while the main card starts at 3 p.m. ET, on ABC/ESPN.
Sandhagen lost in his first and only UFC title fight against Petr Yan at UFC 267, but he has bounced back with 3 straight victories over Song Yadong, Marlon Vera and Rob Font, with the past 2 wins coming via decision.
For Nurmagomedov, he is unbeaten in 5 fights at the UFC level. In fact, he has never lost in 17 career pro bouts since Dec. 16, 2016. He picked up a unanimous-decision win March 2 against Bekzat Almakhan, coming on the heels of a Round 1 KO/TKO of Raoni Barcelos in Jan. 2023.
In 17 fights for Nurmagomedov, he has won 2 times via KO/TKO, and 7 times via submission. For Sandhagen, he has never been knocked out, going 7-0 via the method. He is 3-1 by way of submission, too.
Sandhagen holds a slight 1-inch reach advantage, and the switch-stance fighter has a 5.33-to-4.75 significant strikes landed per minute advantage.
Nurmagomedov is much more accurate at 74.49% on those strikes, while Sandhagen checks in at just 50.04%. Nurmagomedov is strong in the takedown game, too, posting a 4.51 takedown average and 56.00% takedown accuracy percentage.
There is no value playing the unbeaten Nurmagomedov (-350), as he will cost you 3½ times your potential return. There is just no value playing such a heavy favorite. Let’s get more specific instead.
When Sandhagen has been beaten since Oct. 30, 2021, he has made the opposition work. He lost via split decision to TJ Dillashaw, and he lost via unanimous decision to Yan in the title fight.
If Sandhagen goes down, it will be because the unbeaten Dagestani fighter wowed the judges. Play NURMAGOMEDOV BY POINTS (+115) for a much better value.
YES (-134): WILL THE FIGHT GO THE DISTANCE? isn’t a bad play, and it isn’t priced out line.
Sandhagen has gone the distance in 2 straight, and 4 of the past 5 bouts, against top competition.
For Nurmagomedov, he has needed the judges in 2 of his past 3 outings. OVER 4.5 ROUNDS (-150) is a suggested play if you’d like a little wiggle room in the event of a 5th-round finish.
Visit MMA Junkie for more fight news and analysis.
Here’s when to expect Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov to make their cage walks at UFC Abu Dhabi.
[autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] and [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] have the opportunity to assert themselves as the next title challenger in the bantamweight division when they meet in the UFC on ABC 7 main event. This bout is scheduled for five rounds is taking place Saturday, Aug. 3 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Sandhagen (17-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) stumbled for a bit with back-to-back losses T.J. Dillashaw and Petr Yan but has since reeled off three wins in a row to reestablish himself as a title threat. Sandhagen has defeated contenders Song Yadong, Marlon Vera and most recently Rob Font last August.
Undefeated Nurmagomedov (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) aims to be the next champion under the tutelage of UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov. This fight against Sandhagen represents by far the biggest jump in competition of his career.
Here are the walkout times for the UFC on ABC 7 main event between Sandhagen and Nurmagomedov.
When does the UFC on ABC 7 fight card start?
The UFC on ABC 7 lineup consists of 14 fights. Prelims start at noon ET and the main card at 3 p.m. ET.
Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov walkout time
As the main event, Sandhagen and Nurmagomedov are expected to walk out to the cage at approximately 5:30 p.m. ET.
On the latest episode of “Spinning Back Clique,” the panel previews the key bouts at Saturday’s UFC on ABC 7 in Abu Dhabi.
There’s a big UFC event this weekend, with lots to discuss.
The octagon returns to Abu Dhabi with UFC on ABC 7 – an action-packed card with several important matchups. In the main event, top bantamweight contenders [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] and [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] clash in what may likely be a title eliminator bout. Additionally, [autotag]Shara Magomedov[/autotag] takes on [autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag], fan-favorite bantamweights [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] and [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag], clash, and [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag] makes his return, among other matchups.
With a big Fight Night on the horizon, MMA Junkie’s Brian “Goze” Garcia, Nolan King, Danny Segura, and host “Gorgeous” George Garcia previewed and analyzed the biggest bouts on UFC on ABC 7.
Watch their discussion in the video above, and don’t miss this week’s complete episode below on YouTube and in podcast form.
Check out the final faceoff between UFC on ABC 7 headliners Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov in Abu Dhabi.
ABU DHABI – [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] and [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] had their final pre-fight meeting at Friday’s ceremonial weigh-ins ahead of their UFC on ABC 7 main event.
Sandhagen (17-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) goes after what arguably would be the biggest win of his career Saturday against the unbeaten Nurmagomedov (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC). The fight is expected to be a title eliminator in the bantamweight division.
Watch the video above to see the UFC on ABC 7 ceremonial weigh-in faceoff between Sandhagen and Nurmagomedov. UFC on ABC 7 (ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Etihad Arena in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.
Will Umar Nurmagomedov remain undefeated by getting past the savvy Cory Sandhagen in the UFC on ABC 7 main event?
MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom goes in-depth to break down the biggest fights in the UFC. Today, he takes a closer look at the UFC on ABC 7 main event between former bantamweight interim title challenger [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] and undefeated [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag].
Supplemental info:
+ Combat sambo world champion
+ Amateur MMA accolades
+ 2 KO victories
+ 7 submission wins
+ 5 first-round finishes
+ Aggressive pace and pressure
+ Deceptively accurate hands/shot selection
^ Usually works off single shots
+ Dynamic kicking ability
^ Competent from both stances
+ Explosive power-double takedown
+ Strong inside the clinch
+ Excellent wrestling ability
^ Quick reactive shots/chains attacks well
+ Superb transitional grappler
^ Loves creating back exposure
Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov point of interest: Shifty strikers
Mar 25, 2023; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Marlon Vera (red gloves) fights Cory Sandhagen (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Meullion-USA TODAY Sports
The main event in Abu Dhabi features a bantamweight showdown between two fighters who aren’t afraid to switch their stances.
Despite listing himself as an orthodox stance fighter, Nurmagomedov is a competent operator from either side.
Preferring to fight from the outside, Nurmagomedov commands a plethora of kicks out of both stances. From prodding sidekicks to more powerful Thai kicks, Nurmagomedov is good about playing with the looks and levels of his attacks.
Once Nurmagomedov establishes a threat, the 28-year-old is smart about building off it by either going up high with a question mark kick or attaching sneaky counter-balancing punches to the end of his attacks.
Nevertheless, Nurmagomedov is not beyond being countered for his shifting sensibilities and will need to be on his best behavior opposite Sandhagen.
Coming up through the kickboxing ranks in the quiet martial arts hotbed of Colorado, Sandhagen has clearly studied and absorbed a lot in what has been a fun career to watch thus far.
Cory Sandhagen tracking Moraes' pivots by stepping through into southpaw to cut him off and flashing the jab in his face pic.twitter.com/6ezCljyQS0
Utilizing his long and lean frame like second nature, Sandhagen is a rangy kickboxer who appears comfortable poking and prodding his opposition with accurate jabs and leg kicks from either stance. Shifting or drop-stepping at a moment’s notice, the 32-year-old talent can piece together flowing, varied offense off of whatever building materials are offered up to him.
Whether Sandhagen is bringing back Jose Aldo’s patented “Dutchie” combination or launching jumping switch-knees that give me flashbacks to Liu Kang’s bicycle kick, he certainly knows how to keep things spicy. And when Sandhagen is feeling in stride, it’s not uncommon to see the good samaritan show a sadistic smile after punctuating his presence with deep hooks or uppercuts to the body.
However, despite the multi-leveled attacks, Sandhagen is not exactly impervious from a defensive standpoint and will have to respect the potential level-changing counters coming his way.
Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov breakdown: Potential grappling threats
Mar 5, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, UNITED STATES; Brian Kelleher (red gloves) fights Umar Nurmagomedov (blue gloves) during UFC 272 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Considering the arguable crux of Nurmagomedov’s game, no one should be shocked if the Russian fighter looks to take this party to the floor.
A world champion in combat sambo, Nurmagomedov is a well-rounded grappler who is dangerous from multiple positions.
Training with his brother under the tutelage of his uncle, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, from a young age, Nurmagomedov possesses a lot of the translateable wrestling and sambo tactics you’d like to see from said background.
Whether he’s hitting reactive shots at the drop of a dime or entering in on a clinch, Nurmagomedov is good about chaining his attacks until getting his desired result. From shuck-bys to the back to balance de-basing leg play, Sandhagen will have a lot to worry about this Saturday.
However, in the American’s defense, Sandhagen has, in his own words, become a bit of a wrestler himself.
After dropping a somewhat controversial decision to T.J. Dillashaw in the summer of 2021, Sandhagen started to smartly round out his game and incorporate more takedown looks into his offense.
Although Sandhagen hasn’t exactly gotten any finishes through his newfound appreciation for wrestling, you can argue that these looks help overload opposition and plant potential level-changing seeds that the Colorado native can capitalize on down the road.
Defensively, Sandhagen hasn’t had to show much of his chops since losing to Dillashaw, given the stylistic draw of his opponents. And though Sandhagen still surrendered takedowns in said sample sizes, the majority of those numbers come from caught kicks that played no real effect on the fight.
Even when taken down, Sandhagen can be a tricky customer to deal with.
Slippery inside the scramble, Sandhagen has shown that he is not one to settle for bad positions, displaying a stoic composure that – outside of his fight with Aljamain Sterling – has surely assisted him in adverse spots before. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt in his own right, Sandhagen is far from a slouch when it comes to fighting for positions in the grappling department.
Even when Sandhagen is taken down, he is quick to attack, whether he is throwing armbars off his back to going for triangles from an inverted guard. However, despite showing some savvy in tough spots, Sandhagen still will need to be careful when returning to his feet given his propensity to tripod up and expose his back (I warned about this in my breakdowns before his fights with Sterling and T.J. Dillashaw).
As Nurmagomedov has already shown in the octagon, the Dagestani fighter is incredibly systematic and effective when it comes to breaking down his opponents from rear mount and riding positions.
From wrist feeds to wrist rides, Nurmagomedov demonstrates all the hallmarks of his teammates who came before him in regard to wearing down and finishing opposition.
Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov odds
The oddsmakers and the public are siding with the Russian fighter, listing Nurmagomedov -333 and Sandhagen +250 via FanDuel.
Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov prediction, pick
Mar 5, 2022; Las Vegas, Nevada, UNITED STATES; Umar Nurmagomedov (blue gloves) celebrates after defeating Brian Kelleher (not pictured) during UFC 272 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Even though I don’t disagree with who is favored from a betting perspective, this fight could get even more interesting if these two are still tangling come the latter rounds.
Nurmagomedov appears to be a solid athlete with a strong motor attached to him, but we know that Sandhagen is a proven product when it comes to both his durability and staying power. Should he survive the early waves of offense from Nurmagomedov, then I’ll be curious to see how the Dagestani phenom swims in deep water.
That said, I ultimately believe that this is a stylistic matchup that bodes badly for Sandhagen.
Despite making marked improvements to his wrestling that he deserves credit for, Sandhagen still shows a strong propensity to show his back in scrambles – something that seems hardwired into his game at this point.
Although I’m curious to see what the presence of Sandhagen’s newfound coach, Trevor Wittman, will bring to the table, I’m not sure it will counteract the grappling dynamic between these two.
As a fan of Sandhagen’s, I definitely wouldn’t mind being wrong on this one. But as an analyst who is just trying to go off of what I see, I can’t help but side with Nurmagomedov to find a submission by the end of Round 3.
Prediction: Nurmagomedov inside the distance
Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov start time, where to watch
As the main event, Sandhagen and Nurmagomedov are expected to make their walks to the octagon at approximately 5:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. PT). The fight broadcasts live on ESPN and streams on ESPN+.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.
The high-stakes bantamweight main event at UFC on ABC 7 is now locked in after Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov made weight.
ABU DHABI – The high-stakes bantamweight main event at UFC on ABC 7 is now locked in after [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] and [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] made weight.
At official weigh-ins Friday morning on Yas Island, Sandhagen (17-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) and Nurmagomedov (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) did their jobs on the scale in hitting the divisional limit ahead a scheduled five-round bout with significant stakes on the title picture.
Sandhagen stepped on the scale at 136 pounds, while the undefeated Nurmagomedov registered at 135 for his first main event.
Both men have the expectations of a title shot against the winner of Noche UFC headliner Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili, and now the path is clear for them to clash Saturday at Etihad Arena (ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+).
Watch the video above to see Sandhagen and Nurmagomedov make weight for UFC on ABC 7.
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.
Check out the results from the official UFC on ABC 7 fighter weigh-ins in Abu Dhabi ahead of Saturday’s event.
ABU DHABI – MMA Junkie was on scene and reporting live from Friday’s official UFC on ABC 7 fighter weigh-ins, where every fighter hit their mark.
The early weigh-ins took place at the UFC host hotel, where bantamweight headliners [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] (17-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) and [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC), middleweight co-headliners [autotag]Shara Magomedov[/autotag] (13-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) and [autotag]Michal Oleksiejczuk[/autotag] (19-8 MMA, 17-6 UFC), and featured bantamweights [autotag]Deiveson Figueiredo[/autotag] (23-3-1 MMA, 12-3-1 UFC) and [autotag]Marlon Vera[/autotag] (23-9-1 MMA, 15-8 UFC) were among 26 fighters who stepped on the scale.
UFC on ABC 7 takes place Saturday at Etihad Arena, with prelims that simulcast on ESPN2 and ESPN+ and a main card on ABC and ESPN+.
Below are the complete UFC on ABC weigh-in results:
MAIN CARD (ABC, ESPN+, 3 p.m. ET)
Cory Sandhagen (136) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (135)
Shara Magomedov (186) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (185)
Deiveson Figueiredo (135) vs. Marlon Vera (136)
Michael Chiesa (170) vs. Tony Ferguson (170)
Mackenzie Dern (115.5) vs. Loopy Godinez (115.5)
Joel Alvarez (155.5) vs. Elves Brener (155)
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN2, ESPN+, noon ET)
Alonzo Menifield (204) vs. Azamat Murzakanov (205)
Kaue Fernandes (155.5) vs. Mohammad Yahya (155)
Shamil Gaziev (262) vs. Don’Tale Mayes (265)
Guram Kutateladze (155) vs. Jordan Vucenic (155)
Viktoriia Dudakova (115.5) vs. Sam Hughes (114)
Rolando Bedoya (155) vs. Jai Herbert (155.5)
Sedriques Dumas (186) vs. Denis Tiuliulin (185)
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.
Cory Sandhagen is motivated to prove the doubters wrong at UFC on ABC 7.
ABU DHABI – [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] is motivated to prove his doubters wrong at UFC on ABC 7.
According to Bet MGM, Sandhagen (17-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) is a +240 underdog against [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) in Saturday’s headliner (ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+) at Etihad Arena.
Considering Nurmagomedov is far less experienced, former interim title challenger Sandhagen can’t understand why he has so many naysayers.
“Umar is a unique fighter,” Sandhagen told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at UFC on ABC 7 media day. “Stylistically, he’s a really tough fight. I had to work in a lot of overtime hours in order to make sure I was prepared for this fight. But the rankings, him coming up, the odds, the bettors, I couldn’t honestly give a sh*t less.
“I’m focused on what I’m going to do Saturday, and that’s executing underneath the lights, and I can’t wait for that peace because it’s weird that people are counting me out for this one, but I just can’t wait to prove all those people wrong.”
Outside of his quick submission loss to Aljamain Sterling in June 2020, Sandhagen said his takedown defense hasn’t been properly tested.
“No one’s seen me defensively wrestle ever almost except the situation with Sterling,” Sandhagen said. “That’s what we’ll call that loss, a situation. The situation with Sterling where – and that was what, four years ago? I was two years into my career. I’m six, seven years into my career now and still no one’s really seen it.
“So, just another element that I get to show to people, and man, I’m excited for this one just to show how great I am because Umar is going to bring out the best in me, and he already has in this camp, and I’m pumped for it. I can’t wait to watch myself fight.”
