Tag: Umar Nurmagomedov

UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi Odds: Current Favorites For Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov, Vera vs. Figueiredo, Ferguson vs. Chiesa, & More

UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for Saturday’s lineup. The upcoming event takes place on Saturday, August 3, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The main card begins at 3 PM ET/12 PM PT, […]

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UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov is almost upon us, and MMA News is here to keep you updated with the current odds for Saturday’s lineup.

The upcoming event takes place on Saturday, August 3, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The main card begins at 3 PM ET/12 PM PT, with the preliminary card starting at 12 PM ET/9 AM PT.

Topping the lineup will be former interim bantamweight title challenger Cory Sandhagen, who is tasked with getting the better of undefeated Dagestani Umar Nurmagomedov if he’s to successfully defend his spot in the top five and stake his claim for shot at the undisputed gold.

Before they go to battle, the co-main event will see another unbeaten name in action as Sharabutdin Magomedov meets Micha? Oleksiejczuk on short notice, while Marlon Vera looks to revive his bantamweight championship ambitions at the expense of ex-flyweight kingpin Deiveson Figueiredo.

Also set to make the walk on Saturday will be the likes of lightweight veteran Tony Ferguson, strawweight submission specialist Mackenzie Dern, and rising light heavyweight contender Azamat Murzakanov.

UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov Betting Odds

Listed below are the latest betting odds for Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in Abu Dhabi (as of 8/2), courtesy of DraftKings.

Main Card:

  • Cory Sandhagen (-270) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (+340)
  • Sharabutdin Magomedov (-238) vs. Micha? Oleksiejczuk (+195)
  • Marlon Vera (+120) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (-142)
  • Tony Ferguson (+440) vs. Michael Chiesa (-600)
  • Mackenzie Dern (-118) vs. Loopy Godinez (-102)
  • Joel Álvarez (-166) vs. Elves Brener (+140)

Preliminary Card:

  • Azamat Murzakanov (-218) vs. Alonzo Menifield (+180)
  • Mohammad Yahya (+310) vs. Kaue Fernandes (-395)
  • Shamil Gaziev (-270) vs. Don’Tale Mayes (+220)
  • Guram Kutateladze (-230) vs. Jordan Vucenic (+190)
  • Victoria Dudakova (-175) vs. Sam Hughes (+145)
  • Jai Herbert (-130) vs. Rolando Berdoya (+110)
  • Sedriques Dumas (-130) vs. Denis Tiuliulin (+190)

Continue Reading UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi Odds: Current Favorites For Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov, Vera vs. Figueiredo, Ferguson vs. Chiesa, & More at MMA News.

Cory Sandhagen Dismisses Phobia Surrounding The ‘Nurmagomedov’ Name: ‘No One’s Seen Me Defensively Wrestle!’

Cory Sandhagen recently shrugged off any apprehensions typically linked with the ‘Nurmagomedov’ name in the MMA world as he gears up for his bout against Umar Nurmagomedov. Sandhagen is set to clash with Umar in a high-stakes bantamweight showdown in the main event of UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi, which is slated to take place […]

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Cory Sandhagen recently shrugged off any apprehensions typically linked with the ‘Nurmagomedov’ name in the MMA world as he gears up for his bout against Umar Nurmagomedov.

Sandhagen is set to clash with Umar in a high-stakes bantamweight showdown in the main event of UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi, which is slated to take place this weekend at the Etihad Arena on Yas Island, United Arab Emirates.

With divisional champion Sean O’Malley set to defend his title against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 306 next month, the victor of Saturday night’s bout could end up in line to challenge the winner of that highly anticipated showdown.

Both fighters were initially scheduled to face off at UFC Fight Night Nashville in August 2023. However, Nurmagomedov was forced to withdraw just weeks before the event due to a shoulder injury. Consequently, Sandhagen took on late-replacement Rob Font in a catchweight matchup and emerged victorious.

Umar enters the fight surrounded by considerable hype, thanks to his ties to the legendary Nurmagomedov family. As a cousin of UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov and the elder brother of Bellator lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov, the 28-year-old Dagestani is also renowned for his exceptional grappling and submission skills.

Despite this formidable lineage and the reputation it carries, “The Sandman” remains unfazed by any accompanying stigma…

Sandhagen Brims With Confidence In His Preparation for Umar

In a recent media session leading up to his August 3 fight, Sandhagen offered insights into his matchup with Umar. The former UFC interim title challenger revealed that he has dedicated extensive effort to preparing for this bout and is confident that his hard work will yield significant rewards on fight night.

“I had to work a lot of overtime hours to make sure that I was prepared for this fight,” Sandhagen said. “But yeah, I mean, the rankings, him coming up, the odds, the bettors—I could honestly give a sh*t or less. I’m focused on what I’m going to do on Saturday and that’s executing under the lights, and I can’t wait for that. It’s weird that people are counting me out for this one.”

“The Sandman” further brushed off concerns about Nurmagomedov’s reputation for dominance, emphasizing instead that he matches his opponent’s wrestling prowess.

“No one’s seen me defensively wrestle, almost ever, you know, except for the situation with [Aljamain] Sterling. That’s what we’ll call that loss—a situation. The situation with Sterling was, what, four years ago? I was two years into my career then; I’m six or seven years into my career now, and still no one’s really seen it. So it’s just another element that I get to show to people.”

Sandhagen has long been a fixture among the elite in the UFC’s bantamweight division, fueled by his relentless quest for a title. Currently on a three-fight winning streak, the 32-year-old Colorado native has delivered standout performances against Song Yadong, Marlon Vera, and Rob Font.

Continue Reading Cory Sandhagen Dismisses Phobia Surrounding The ‘Nurmagomedov’ Name: ‘No One’s Seen Me Defensively Wrestle!’ at MMA News.

Umar Nurmagomedov Reacts To Sean O’Malley Predicting He’d Withdraw From UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi Return: ‘They Hope I Will Pull Out’ 

UFC bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov believes he knows the reason behind Sean O’Malley’s recent remarks. Nurmagomedov, who currently occupies the #10 spot at 135 pounds, is in Abu Dhabi this week ahead of a major assignment. The undefeated Dagestani will feature in his maiden UFC main event opposite a top-five contender and former interim title […]

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UFC bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov believes he knows the reason behind Sean O’Malley’s recent remarks.

Nurmagomedov, who currently occupies the #10 spot at 135 pounds, is in Abu Dhabi this week ahead of a major assignment. The undefeated Dagestani will feature in his maiden UFC main event opposite a top-five contender and former interim title challenger in Cory Sandhagen.

The pair were originally set to collide in Nashville last August, but a dislocated shoulder in training forced Nurmagomedov out. While “The Sandman” defeated replacement opponent Rob Font before heading for surgery to repair a torn tricep, the Russian escaped a scare in his successful return opposite debutant Bekzat Almakhan this past March.

Nurmagomedov will now face a major step up in competition in his pursuit of O’Malley’s gold, and the champion appears to have one eye on the highly touted contender’s rise. Most recently, “Sugar” predicted that the 28-year-old would likely withdraw from Saturday’s UFC Fight Night in the Middle East.

“I’ll tune in…if it happens,” O’Malley told MMA Fighting. “We know Umar likes to pull out if something happens. I’ll be surprised if the fight happens.”

Nurmagomedov: O’Malley ‘Praying’ I Don’t Earn A Title Shot

During a recent interview with MMA Junkie, Nurmagomedov looked ahead to the biggest fight of his blossoming UFC career thus far.

The Dagestani confirmed he’s been assured that a victory over Sandhagen will put him next in line for a championship opportunity, facing the winner of O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili’s upcoming Sphere showdown.

Nurmagomedov is sure that neither man wants to face him, and he used the champ’s prediction that he’ll withdraw from the August 3 event as evidence.

“I think they pray,” Nurmagomedov said. “They hope I will pull out and will not take this opportunity to fight for the title. They wish this.

“For me it doesn’t matter who wins (out of O’Malley and Dvalishvili). It’s a very hard fight for both,” Nurmagomedov continued. “One is a wrestling, one is a striker weight height. He is tall. Stylistically, for me, personally it’s very difficult to say who is going to win. I don’t know.”

Having made it to fight week for his rearranged battle with “The Sandman,” Nurmagomedov will look to complete the walk this Saturday at Etihad Arena and have his hand raised for his sixth Octagon triumph.

And should he impress, the Russian looks set to have the opportunity to become the UFC”s latest American Kickboxing Academy standout and Nurmagomedov to win gold.

Continue Reading Umar Nurmagomedov Reacts To Sean O’Malley Predicting He’d Withdraw From UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi Return: ‘They Hope I Will Pull Out’  at MMA News.

Henry Cejudo Reveals Top 5 Names To Watch In 2023

Former UFC Flyweight and Bantamweight Champion Henry Cejudo recently shared his thoughts on UFC fighters worth keeping an eye on in 2023. The former Olympic gold medalist is preparing for a 2023 comeback. The rumored bout is a showdown with current UFC…

Former UFC Flyweight and Bantamweight Champion Henry Cejudo recently shared his thoughts on UFC fighters worth keeping an eye on in 2023. The former Olympic gold medalist is preparing for a 2023 comeback. The rumored bout is a showdown with current UFC Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling. A date has not been set yet for the…

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Raul Rosas Jr. Predicts Who Will Be UFC Bantamweight Champion When He Reaches The Title

Rising UFC bantamweight Raul Rosas Jr. has long expressed his title ambitions, and he expects to achieve them at the expense of another highly touted prospect down the line. Rosas Jr. broke on to the scene in 2022 as the youngest fighter to ever sign a contract with the mixed martial arts leader. And he […]

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Rising UFC bantamweight Raul Rosas Jr. has long expressed his title ambitions, and he expects to achieve them at the expense of another highly touted prospect down the line.

Rosas Jr. broke on to the scene in 2022 as the youngest fighter to ever sign a contract with the mixed martial arts leader. And he followed success on Dana White’s Contender Series with an Octagon debut win that very same year, submitting Jay Perrin at UFC 282.

Although his sophomore outing didn’t quite go to plan courtesy of Christian Rodriguez’s own talents and planned rise toward contention, “El Niño Problema” has since returned to winning ways with a 54-second knockout of Terrence Mitchell last September and second-round submission of Ricky Turcios at the UFC Fight Night in Louisville last month.

All the while, the now-19-year-old bantamweight has vowed to make a quick ascent to the throne that will leave him as the promotion’s youngest-ever champion, surpassing Jon Jones in that regard.

Rosas Jr. no doubt has some major challenges ahead of him if he’s to achieve that goal, and judging by who he expects to be holding the gold at the time, that includes the final step…

Rosas Jr. Predicts Nurmagomedov Showdown For The Title

During an interview with MMA Crazy at UFC X during International Fight Week in Las Vegas, Rosas Jr. reiterated his lofty ambitions on MMA’s biggest stage, the next step toward which he hopes comes at the Sphere this fall.

When asked what he expects the state of the title picture to look like upon his arrival down the line, the Mexican-American prospect named Umar Nurmagomedov as the man he believes will have the crown in his possession.

“I see myself winning my next fight at the Sphere, and it’s just going to get me closer to the belt,” Rosas Jr. said. “Depending on how often I can fight and who I can fight, I think I can get it done pretty soon. … Probably (against) Umar Nurmagomedov. I think he’ll have the belt when I get there.”

Despite that prediction, however, he seemingly isn’t expecting the Dagestani to reach the throne soon. When asked about his upcoming showdown with Cory Sandhagen in Abu Dhabi next month, Rosas Jr. backed “The Sandman” to stall Nurmagomedov’s rise.

“He’s a beast, but Cory Sandhagen’s a beast too,” Rosas Jr. said. “I’m going to have to go with Cory Sandhagen.”

Nurmagomedov is currently unbeaten at 17-0 in his professional career, with five of this wins coming under the UFC banner. After most recently escaping a scare against newcomer Bekzat Almakhan, “The Young Eagle” has the chance to stake his claim for a first title shot.

To do so, the Russian standout must get past a former interim title challenger and top five contender in Sandhagen, whom he’ll share the Octagon with for a five-round UFC Fight Night headliner in Abu Dhabi on August 3.

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Umar Nurmagomedov’s UFC Return Booked For January 14th

Unbeaten UFC bantamweight Umar Nurmagomedov will return at the beginning of 2023 against Raoni Barcelos on January 14th. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto was the first to report the news of Nurmagomedov’s return. Umar, the cousin of Khabib and brother …

Unbeaten UFC bantamweight Umar Nurmagomedov will return at the beginning of 2023 against Raoni Barcelos on January 14th. ESPN’s Brett Okamoto was the first to report the news of Nurmagomedov’s return. Umar, the cousin of Khabib and brother of Bellator Lightweight Champion Usman Nurmagomedov, is 3-0 so far in the UFC. He most recently defeated…

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