Umar Nurmagomedov is ready to prove his legitimacy.
UFC Abu Dhabi makes for a welcome and exciting return to the once-labeled “Fight Island.” The Bantamweight division will be displayed at the highest level with big main events this month and the next, featuring top contenders and a title fight. First things first, and that will be Nurmagomedov’s first main event against perennial top contender, Cory Sandhagen.
Nurmagomedov, 28, has claimed he’ll get the next title shot against the winner of the champion, Sean O’Malley, and top contender, Merab Dvalishvili, at Noche UFC next month (Sat., Sept. 14, 2024). For the undefeated 18-0 Dagestani, he just wants to see what he believes could be a better representative of the sport atop the mountain.
“I’m ashamed we have Sean O’Malley champion,” Nurmagomedov told Daniel Cormier. “Men have to be different. Men, it’s about different things. It’s not just about you make some funny stuff when you’re almost 18. You have to be good example for young generation. You have to do something like men. Not like clown. When Sean Strickland look at this guy and say he look like clown and he (O’Malley) say, ‘Rich clown.’ And what? Life about money? No. Man have to be with manners. Strong guy like gentlemens. Not clown, doing some TikToks, something likes music and dance. It’s not about men. Womans can do this.”
Nurmagomedov’s clash with Sandhagen will be his first time fighting a ranked opponent. He last earned a unanimous decision win when he fought Bekzat Almakhan in March 2024.
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC Abu Dhabi fight card right here, starting with the ESPN/ESPN+ “Prelims” matches, which are scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. ET, then the remaining main card balance on ABC/ESPN (simulcast on ESPN+) at 3 p.m. ET.
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