Tag: Umar Nurmagomedov

Cory Sandhagen finds it ‘weird’ that people are counting him out vs. Umar Nurmagomedov at 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.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.

Umar Nurmagomedov hopes ‘bigger name’ Sean O’Malley beats Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306

Umar Nurmagomedov, who meets Cory Sandhagen at UFC Abu Dhabi, sees more upside in a title fight with Sean O’Malley.

ABU DHABI – [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] sees more upside in a UFC bantamweight title fight with [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] than [autotag]Merab Devalishvili[/autotag].

Nurmagomedov (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) says he’s been promised a title fight if he can get past Cory Sandhagen (17-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC on ABC 7 (ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+) main event at Etihad Arena.

O’Malley (18-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) defends his bantamweight title against Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) on Sept. 16 in the Noche UFC main event, and Nurmagomedov would rather fight O’Malley for the title if both are victorious.

“I don’t know. It’s difficult,” Nurmagomedov told reporters, including MMA Junkie, at UFC on ABC 7 media day. “For me, it doesn’t matter. I can fight with both. With Merab, I think he will try to take me down, but I will strike with him. In striking, he’s not good. With Sean, I will do whatever I want.

“For anybody, I think it’s hard to say who’s going to win between them. I wish O’Malley wins, I think he has bigger name. But for me, it doesn’t matter fighting with Merab or with O’Malley.”

Nurmagomedov likes that his fight is just a month prior to O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili, lining him up perfectly to fight the winner.

“Yes, it’s very good,” Nurmagomedov said. “It’s very good they fight next month. I will try to go to see this fight at the Sphere in Las Vegas. I want to watch this fight, and I hope I will fight with the champion like beginning of next year – January, February, before Ramadan. It’s going to be very good time.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.

Khabib Nurmagomedov returns to corner cousin Umar at UFC on ABC 7

UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov will be back on corner duty for his cousin Umar in the UFC on ABC 7 main event.

Undefeated [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] will have his UFC Hall of Fame family member, [autotag]Khabib Nurmagomedov[/autotag] in his corner this weekend.

At UFC on ABC 7, which takes place at Etihad Arena in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, Umar (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) confirmed to MMA Junkie that he will once again have his cousin Khabib on hand to help guide him to victory in the main event against former interim title challenger Cory Sandhagen.

It’s a big fight in the UFC’s 135-pound division.

Umar, currently No. 13 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie bantamweight rankings and No. 10 in the UFC’s promotional rankings, said he was promised a title shot with a victory. Sandhagen (17-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) currently sits at No. 6 and 2, respectively.

In a fight with such high stakes, it’s important for Umar to have his best team available, including Khabib, who was last in his corner at UFC 272 in March 2022 in a first-round submission victory over Brian Kelleher.

“It will be Usman (Nurmagomedov), Shamil Zavurov, Javier (Mendez), and Khabib,” Umar told MMA Junkie.

Through five UFC bouts, Umar has been a dominant force at bantamweight. He has finished Kelleher, Sergey Morozov and Raoni Barcelos, while picking up decisions over Nate Maness and Bakzat Almakhan.

Khabib last appeared as a cornerman at UFC 302. He was part of the coaching team for Islam Makhachev, who defeated Dustin Poirier to retain the lightweight title. It was a return to the scene for “The Eagle” after signaling he was taking time away from the sport completely after turning in a 2022 Coach of the Year campaign with Mendez.

He returns to be in his cousin’s corner to help him navigate his way to victory against a savvy Sandhagen, who once fought for the vacant interim bantamweight title, but came up short against former champ Petr Yan.

The bantamweight title is set to be defended at Noche UFC at Sphere in Las Vegas on Sept. 14 when champ Sean O’Malley meets Merab Dvalishvili.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.

Umar Nurmagomedov says he’s been assured title shot with UFC on ABC 7 win over Cory Sandhagen

Umar Nurmagomedov claims the UFC has told him he will fight the Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili winner with a win in Abu Dhabi.

[autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] says he will be fighting for the bantamweight championship if he can get through Cory Sandhagen in Saturday’s UFC on ABC 7 headliner.

Nurmagomedov (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) will take on the biggest test of his career when he steps onto the main event stage for the first time against perennial contender Sandhagen (17-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) in a five-round showdown at Etihad Arena on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi (ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+).

It’s not often a fighter in the position of Nurmagomedov, who is No. 10 in the official UFC rankings, gets to take on a No. 2-ranked contender such as Sandhagen, but this is the case here. A win would move him up several spots, and Nurmagomedov said he’s been told he will get the winner of Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili, who fight for the 135-pound belt in the Noche UFC headliner on Sept. 14.

“I hope I will fight next, they said I will fight whoever will win (between Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili),” Nurmagomedov told MMA Junkie on Tuesday. “Yes, (they told me I will be next).”

Nurmagomedov said he struggles to make a definitive prediction about who will emerge from Noche UFC with the title. He is indifferent about whom he fights but said O’Malley’s recent prediction that he would pull out of the fight against Sandhagen this weekend shows he is trying to resist a progression toward a championship clash.

“I think they pray,” Nurmagomedov said. “They hope I will pull out and will not take this opportunity to fight for the title. They wish this. For me it doesn’t matter who wins. It’s a very hard fight for both. One is a wrestling, one is a striker weight height. He is tall. Stylistically, for me, personally it’s very difficult to say who is going to win. I don’t know.”

O’Malley, to his credit, has somewhat laid the foundation for a future title bout with Nurmagomedov. He’s said in the past he thinks they will eventually fight, and it could be a new-age version of the UFC’s biggest fight of all-time between Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor.

Although Nurmagomedov, 28, can’t ever see a fight with O’Malley (18-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) reaching that level of personal vitriol, he does agree it would be a marquee matchup for the promotion.

“It’s never going to be close to Khabib and Conor because they have personal hate,” Nurmagomedov said. “He talked bad about religion, family, everything – father. I don’t know. I see Sean’s personality, he’s not too dirty of a person to talk bad about my family or my religion. But if we will fight it’s Irish vs. Dagestan again. It’s going to be interesting, but I think it’s not going to be same.

“I just want to beat him. I just want to take his belt. But personally, for him, I don’t know nothing.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.

Cory Sandhagen before UFC on ABC 7: Training with Trevor Wittman ‘far exceeded my expectations’

Cory Sandhagen will have a new addition in his corner when he meets Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC on ABC 7.

ABU DHABI – [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] has a new addition to his coaching staff heading into UFC on ABC 7.

Sandhagen (17-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) sought help from renowned coach Trevor Wittman ahead of Saturday’s main event (ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+) vs. [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) at Etihad Arena.

Wittman has been an integral part of the success of the likes of former UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman, former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas, and ex-interim champ Justin Gaethje.

“I’ve been with Trevor for about four months now,” Sandhagen told MMA Junkie on Tuesday. “Working with Trevor has been great. He’s super impressive. He really knows how to work with the athletes on the technical, strategic side of things. I haven’t met anyone better honestly. He far exceeded my expectations on what he was going to be, and that’s really cool because I didn’t really know.

“Although I have known Trevor for a really long time. I never worked this closely with him, and yeah, it’s really exciting. I really feel like me, Trevor, Ryan Hall, head coach Carrington Banks, they came up with the recipe for success in this one, and I just got to go out there and execute.”

Despite Nurmagomedov being ranked eight spots below him in the official UFC bantamweight rankings, he has Sandhagen’s full attention.

“This camp has been a handful,” Sandhagen said. “Fighting someone that’s this well rounded is a handful. So, it’s been everything. I really had to push myself really far in order to learn enough, understand things enough, and also the physical and mental preparation.

“You add in a really unique style of fighting with someone that’s really good at striking and really good at grappling, it makes you work really hard. So, I worked my ass off this camp.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.

Spinning Back Clique REPLAY: Belal Muhammad & Tom Aspinall’s UFC 304 title wins, UFC on ABC 7 preview, more

On “Spinning Back Clique,” our panel discusses UFC 304, previews UFC on ABC 7 in Abu Dhabi and much more.

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.

This week’s panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Nolan King and Danny Segura will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate the following topics:

  • The UFC welterweight division has a new king. [autotag]Belal Muhammad[/autotag] defeated [autotag]Leon Edwards[/autotag] in a dominant decision win in the main event of UFC 304. This is a big shake up for the division. Who should be Muhammad’s first challenger? Where does Edwards go from here? We discuss.
  • In the co-main event of UFC 304, [autotag]Tom Aspinall[/autotag] retained his UFC interim heavyweight title by stopping [autotag]Curtis Blaydes[/autotag] in just 60 seconds. Did Aspinall prove he’s the best heavyweight on the planet? How does this result impact the expected title fight between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic? We break down the Englishman’s win, along with the state of the heavyweight division.
  • Aside from Muhammad and Aspinall’s wins, there were other important results at UFC 304. [autotag]Paddy Pimblett[/autotag] viciously submitted veteran [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag][autotag]. [autotag]Muhammad Mokaev[/autotag] continued his unbeaten run, but may have seen his UFC career come to an end. [autotag]Gregory Rodrigues[/autotag],[autotag] Nathaniel Wood[/autotag] and [autotag]Arnold Allen[/autotag] picked up important wins. We discuss it all.
  • UFC on ABC 7 goes down Saturday, and the UFC has brought many impressive matchups to Abu Dhabi. From its main event in [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag], to [autotag]Tony Ferguson[/autotag]’s return, the panel previews all the action.
  •  Beyond UFC 304 in Manchester and the upcoming UFC Abu Dhabi, there has been plenty of news since the last Spinning Back Clique episode. We highlight the biggest headlines to close out the show.

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Vinicius Oliveira calls out Umar Nurmagomedov after UFC 303: ‘He keeps running’

Just one fight into his UFC career, Vinicius Oliveira shot a reasonably big shot Saturday in Las Vegas.

LAS VEGAS – Just one fight into his UFC career, [autotag]Vinicius Oliveira[/autotag] shot a reasonably big shot Saturday in Las Vegas.

Oliveira (20-3 MMA, 1-0 UFC) outworked Ricky Simon (20-5 MMA, 8-4 UFC) for a unanimous decision to open up UFC 303 at T-Mobile Arena, the anchor of International Fight Week. Then he called out unbeaten bantamweight standout [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag], cousin of former UFC champ Khabib.

“I’d like to fight so much against Umar Nurmagomedov,” Oliveira said at his UFC 303 post-fight news conference. “He was changing some bad words on Instagram, on social media. But he’s scared of me right now. He must have watched my last fight here and he knows that it’s not easy to put me on the ground. I’m a nightmare for him.

“I think he will refuse to fight against me, so I would like to fight against Dominick Cruz, maybe, I know that (Nurmagomedov has a fight), but I think he was running away from me.”

While asking for Nurmagomedov may seem like Oliveira is fast-tracking himself, he’s got a plan in place.

“I don’t need many fights to fight for the belt,” he said. “I think in around two years, I’ll be fighting for the belt. And Dana (White) – Mr. D, how I say his name – Mr. D, my boss, he can put me to fight for the belt this year. The end of the year, I’ll be ready to fight for the belt, but he can choose all my fights that I’ll be prepared for anyone.”

Watch Oliveira’s full post-fight interview in the video above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 303.

Michael Bisping credits Cory Sandhagen for ‘willing to risk it all’ vs. Umar Nurmagomedov

Michael Bisping praises Cory Sandhagen for risking his ranking vs. Umar Nurmagomedov.

[autotag]Michael Bisping[/autotag] praises [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] for risking his ranking vs. [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag].

Sandhagen (17-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) takes on Nurmagomedov (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) in the UFC on ABC 7 main event, which takes place Aug. 3 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

After Merab Dvalishvili gets his shot at UFC bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley, Bisping expects the next No. 1 contender to emerge out of the winner between Sandhagen and Nurmagomedov.

“When it comes to contenders, Cory Sandhagen is right there,” Bisping told TNT Sports. “He has proven himself as the worthy guy, but he’s got to continue fighting to establish himself and get that shot. There is no one better, there’s no one hungrier, there’s no one more undeniable than Umar Nurmagomedov.

“Of course with that last name, with the resume, the undefeated record and the well-rounded skills. (He’s) Dagestani – we know the wrestling is there. But the man is a kickboxing phenom, as well. This is a tremendous fight. Of course, it’s the main event and whoever wins this, they have to be next for Sean O’Malley.”

Bisping thinks both Sandhagen and Nurmagomedov have a lot to lose, but it’s No. 2 ranked UFC bantamweight Sandhagen who’s fighting someone ranked eight spots below him.

“It’s kind of a bad situation for both of them,” Bisping said. “On paper, they’re both right there. Cory Sandhagen has earned a title fight. Remember that absolute washout he had of (Marlon) ‘Chito’ Vera? No disrespect to ‘Chito’ – he’s a good friend of mine – but Cory Sandhagen was just one step ahead. He’s a beautiful striker. He’s got great submissions. He’s got excellent wrestling. He’s very tall and long for the division.

“He’s beaten some great competition, and now he’s going to take on the undefeated Dagestani with a ton of hype and a great last name. So I kind of feel for Cory Sandhagen, but credit to this guy, kudos to him, because he’s willing to do it. He’s willing to risk it all to go up against Umar Nurmagomedov. It’s a sensational fight.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Abu Dhabi.

T.J. Dillashaw thinks Cory Sandhagen will be UFC champ if he tops Umar Nurmagomedov

T.J. Dillashaw believes Cory Sandhagen would beat UFC bantamweight champ Sean O’Malley “all day,” but he’s got a big test first.

[autotag]T.J. Dillashaw[/autotag] thinks [autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] could be UFC champion right now.

In order to get that opportunity, Sandhagen (17-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) has to get past [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) in the UFC on ABC 7 main event, which takes place Aug. 3 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Former champion Dillashaw’s last octagon win came over Sandhagen when he edged him out in a back-and-forth battle in July 2021. While Dillashaw sees Sandhagen beating UFC bantamweight champion [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag], he thinks Nurmagomedov is a more stern test for him.

“It is a tough fight,” Dillashaw said on the “JAXXON PODCAST.” “I think Sandhagen should be champion right now. He’d beat O’Malley all day. I think that’s the toughest fight for O’Malley in the weight class. (If) Sandhagen gets through this fight, he’ll be world champion.

“This is a tough one for him to get through, though. I don’t like this fight for him. I hope that he gets through it. The guy he’s fighting is a dog. He’s a good wrestler – he can hold him down.”

Despite being the far more experienced fighter, Sandhagen opened up as a slight underdog against Nurmagomedov.

“It is very dangerous for both of them because Cory’s next up for a title fight (if) he wins this one,” Dillashaw said. “Umar’s trying to get to the top, and (now Sandhagen) needs to go back down a couple steps (for this fight). So I think it’s dangerous for both of them, but that’s what makes it a great f*cking fight.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Abu Dhabi.

Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov: Odds and what to know ahead of UFC on ABC 7

Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov battle in a high-stakes bantamweight matchup at UFC on ABC 7. Here’s what you need to know.

[autotag]Cory Sandhagen[/autotag] and [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] battle in a high-stakes bantamweight matchup at UFC on ABC 7.

Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov preview

Sandhagen (17-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) and Nurmagomedov were booked to fight last August in the UFC on ESPN 50 main event, but Nurmagomedov withdrew due to a shoulder injury. Sandhagen faced Rob Font instead, defeating him by a lopsided unanimous decision.

Nurmagomedov (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) remained unbeaten when he scored a unanimous decision win over newcomer Bekzat Almakhan at UFC Fight Night 238 in March.

Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov odds

DraftKings released the odds for the bout, with Nurmagomedov opening up as a -265 favorite over Sandhagen, who’s a +215 underdog.

How to watch Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC on ABC 7

  • When: Aug. 3
  • Where: Etihad Arena, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi
  • Broadcast/streaming: ABC, ESPN2, ESPN+

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ABC 7.