Umar Nurmagomedov might have earned the most important win of his profession over Cory Sandhagen at UFC Abu Dhabi, however that doesn’t imply he’s glad together with his efficiency.
Regardless of successful not less than 4 rounds on each scorecard, the undefeated bantamweight was nonetheless important about some errors he made throughout the combat. Particularly, Nurmagomedov pointed to Sandhagen’s potential to close down his wrestling and grappling after ending simply 5 of 13 takedown makes an attempt. Whereas getting the victory was clearly most vital, Nurmagomedov nonetheless anticipated higher of himself.
“I’m not glad,” Nurmagomedov mentioned on the UFC Abu Dhabi post-fight press convention. “It was a superb efficiency on the putting, however in the event you’re speaking about grappling and the way I managed him, it was not good.
“As a result of I [expected I would do that], I assumed I might maul him on the bottom, however he’s powerful, he’s good. Cory’s too good and he has exhausting kicks. He’s a troublesome man. I feel he has extra expertise than me within the UFC cage, however I gained. However I’m glad, I gained.”
Whereas Nurmagomedov might not have discovered as a lot success together with his grappling as he’s grow to be accustomed to, he nonetheless stored Sandhagen guessing throughout all 5 rounds, which was nonetheless a weapon even when the takedowns weren’t taking place.
The bantamweight combat performed out in back-and-forth trend, significantly via the primary three rounds, nevertheless it was throughout these ultimate 10 minutes that Nurmagomedov actually took over.
It seems that occurred not less than partially due to the recommendation Nurmagomedov acquired from his cousin and head coach Khabib Nurmagomedov, who was working his nook for the combat.
“After the third spherical, Khabib cornered me and he [said], ‘Now’s the start of [the championship] rounds and it’s a must to be sturdy, don’t present weak point,’” Nurmagomedov mentioned. “[Khabib said,] ‘It’s important to be sturdy. Go forward and take this victory, press him, push him, don’t lose any second.’”
Nurmagomedov took that recommendation to coronary heart as he pressed the tempo on Sandhagen and imposed his will throughout these ultimate two rounds.
As a lot as your entire combat didn’t depart him feeling one of the best, the 28-year-old bantamweight contender can’t deny that his conditioning was an actual asset in his first UFC major occasion.
“It’s a bit of bit tough however I didn’t [get] drained how he mentioned [I would],” Nurmagomedov mentioned. “You keep in mind how Cory mentioned I’ll get drained, he’ll choke me, and on the finish of the rounds, nothing taking place. I feel I used to be extra recent than him.”
With the win over Sandhagen, Nurmagomedov nearly definitely cements himself because the No. 1 contender within the bantamweight division because the title goes up for grabs at UFC 306 when reigning champion Sean O’Malley takes on Merab Dvalishvili in the principle occasion.
Prior to now, Nurmagomedov acknowledged that he sees the matchup as a good combat, and he’s not altering his opinion now, particularly understanding he actually simply desires the winner.
“I’m planning on going to the combat, however I don’t wish to identify one man or the opposite man as a result of I don’t need the opposite man to suppose I’m attempting to keep away from preventing him,” Nurmagomedov mentioned. “So in fact, I’d be very glad to combat each of them. The purpose is to combat the winner.”
Whereas Nurmagomedov anticipates a title shot for his subsequent combat, he’s not fairly as sure when requested about probably making a fast turnaround to function the backup for O’Malley vs. Dvalishvili on Sept. 14.
So as to add to that, he extremely doubts Dvalishvili would simply abandon his title shot in a worst-case situation if O’Malley is unable to compete at UFC 306.
“It’s solely a month away so it actually is dependent upon my well being,” Nurmagomedov mentioned. “Out of my 17 fights, I’ve by no means gotten as a lot harm as I received throughout this combat. It’s actually type of quickly nevertheless it is dependent upon the well being. I don’t suppose any of them are going to fall out.
“It is a combat that Merab’s been ready for, for a extremely very long time, so even when it does occur that O’Malley pulls out, I feel Merab is simply going to attend for his title shot and anticipate O’Malley to get higher and combat him.”
