Umar Nurmagomedov, cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov, secured a significant victory in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi on Saturday, defeating Cory Sandhagen.
Facing the number 2 contender in the bantamweight division, Nurmagomedov, ranked 10th, had no room for error. Against Cory Sandhagen, the Dagestani needed a win to move closer to the title currently held by Sean O’Malley.
In this fight, Nurmagomedov, Khabib’s younger cousin, tried repeatedly to take the American down, but Sandhagen defended well. Despite multiple takedown attempts from Nurmagomedov, Sandhagen managed to stay on his feet. The two fighters engaged in striking exchanges, particularly with kicks.
In the boxing exchanges, the Russian demonstrated his substantial skill and managed to trouble Sandhagen in this area. The fight was very close, and Nurmagomedov knew he needed to prove himself to earn a top spot. Towards the end of the fight, Nurmagomedov was able to keep Sandhagen on the ground but couldn’t secure a finish.
Is the Title Shot Next?
Despite a tough opponent, Umar Nurmagomedov won by unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46), maintaining his perfect record of 18-0. This victory also marks a significant rise in the rankings, putting him in the top 3.
Omar Nurmagomedov secures a dominant victory by unanimous decision and continues his flawless record (0-18). #UFCAbuDhabi
عمر نورمحمدوف يحقق انتصاراً ساحقاً بقرار إجماعي ويواصل مسيرته المثالية دون هزائم (0-18) #UFCAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/Uog5yhT3uW
— mmamag.ma (@jamalsoussi10) August 4, 2024
After the fight, Nurmagomedov called for a title shot against the winner of the bout between O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili, which is set to take place on September 14 at UFC 306.
