In the recent UFC Abu Dhabi event, Omar Nurmagomedov, Khabib Nurmagomedov’s cousin, achieved a significant victory in the bantamweight division against Cory Sandhagen. The win came by unanimous decision after 5 competitive rounds, with Omar ranked 10th and Sandhagen ranked 2nd before the fight.
With this victory, Omar is expected to have a chance at the title, potentially facing the winner of the fight between Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili. However, behind this success, an intriguing comparison has been made between Omar and Khabib’s careers, discussed by their former coach Javier Mendez in an interview with The Schmo.
Comparison of Performance and Mental Toughness between Khabib and Omar
Javier Mendez, head coach of the American Kickboxing Academy, compared Khabib and Omar in terms of performance on the ground. He stated that Khabib’s performance on the ground remains the best, noting that while Omar’s ground game is impressive, it doesn’t match Khabib’s level.
Regarding chin and mental toughness, Mendez described Khabib’s chin as being “like granite” due to its exceptional durability, stating he hasn’t seen anyone with a chin like Khabib’s. However, he praised Omar’s performance in his last fight, where he displayed significant resilience after taking some heavy shots but managed to attempt a takedown. While Mendez leans towards Khabib for chin durability, he believes both fighters are nearly equal in mental toughness.
Omar’s Future in Bantamweight
When asked about Omar’s potential in the bantamweight division, Mendez expressed his belief that Omar could become the best fighter in this weight class. At 28 years old, he suggested that Omar still has ample opportunities for success and could potentially excel across multiple divisions over time.
Omar’s Impressive Career
Before his victory over Sandhagen, Omar secured notable wins against fighters like Bektar Makhan, Ronnie Barcelos, and Nathan Maness. With an undefeated record of 18 wins, including 7 by submission and 2 by TKO/KO, it seems Omar is on track to replicate Khabib’s achievements in the octagon, according to his coach.
