Medov won against Cory Sandhagen last Saturday at UFC Abu Dhabi, but despite the victory, the Russian fighter seemed dissatisfied with his performance, particularly on the ground.
A Victory Without Satisfaction: Why Was Nurmagomedov Unhappy?
Omar Nurmagomedov, who was ranked tenth in the bantamweight division, achieved a unanimous decision victory over Cory Sandhagen at UFC Abu Dhabi. Despite his significant superiority in striking, his strength lies in his ground game, which he was not pleased with in this bout.
In a post-fight press conference, Nurmagomedov stated, “I’m not happy. My performance was good offensively, but when it comes to grappling and how I controlled, it wasn’t good.”
Unexpected Challenges on the Ground
Despite his clear dominance, Nurmagomedov was surprised by Cory Sandhagen’s level on the ground. He expected to have full control, but Sandhagen provided unexpected resistance.
Nurmagomedov added, “I expected to dominate him on the ground, but my opponent was strong and difficult. Cory is very good, and his kicks are tough. I think he has more experience in the UFC cage than I do, but I won in the end. I’m happy with the result.”
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Support: Motivation in Tough Times
Despite the difficulties faced, Nurmagomedov emphasized that his physical condition helped him maintain control. The words of Khabib Nurmagomedov, his coach and mentor, also played a significant role in motivating him during the fight.
Nurmagomedov said, “It was a bit challenging, but I didn’t feel as tired as Cory suggested. At the end of the rounds, nothing happened as he predicted. After the third round, Khabib told me: ‘This is the start of the rounds, and you need to be strong, not show weakness. Go ahead and take this victory, don’t waste a second.'”
The Next Step: Waiting and Looking Forward
With his win in Abu Dhabi, Nurmagomedov is now in the top position to face the UFC bantamweight champion. However, he can’t imagine replacing Merab Dvalishvili to face Sean O’Malley in September in Las Vegas. It seems that Nurmagomedov will have to wait his turn for the next challenge, and he still has time to adapt and improve.
In the end, Nurmagomedov’s reaction after the fight highlights a deep desire for perfection and excellence, even amidst victory. This passion and dedication to improving his performance underscore additional facets of the Russian fighter’s character, who is not content with current success and aspires to greater heights in the future.
