Tag: Umar Nurmagomedov

Cormier Names Which UFC Prospect Impressed The Most In 2021 Debut

Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier has named Umar Nurmagomedov as the 2021 UFC debutant who impressed him the most.

Umar, the cousin of former undefeated UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, made his first appearance in the Oc…

Daniel Cormier

Former two-division UFC champion Daniel Cormier has named Umar Nurmagomedov as the 2021 UFC debutant who impressed him the most.

Umar, the cousin of former undefeated UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, made his first appearance in the Octagon in the promotion’s second card of the year. Before establishing his name on MMA’s biggest stage, the 25-year-old had built an unblemished 12-0 record that included six submission triumphs.

At UFC Fight Night: Chiesa vs. Magny on Abu Dhabi’s Fight Island, Nurmagomedov returned to action for the first time since 2019, squaring off against Kazakhstan’s Sergey Morozov, who was also debuting that night. With “The Eagle” in his corner, the Russian prospect got off to the perfect start in the UFC, submitting Morozov with a second-round rear-naked choke.

Cormier Chooses Umar Over Garry & Pimblett

For color commentator Cormier, who trained at American Kickboxing Academy alongside Khabib and the UFC’s large Dagestani contingent, Umar made the biggest splash out of any debuting UFC prospect in 2021. That’s despite a host of exciting new talents making themselves known in the Octagon across the last 12 months.

Among them are Ireland’s Ian Garry and England’s Paddy Pimblett. While Garry, tipped by many to be the next Conor McGregor, delivered a highlight-reel knockout against Jordan Williams at Madison Square Garden in November, Pimblett delivered on his promise to finish Luigi Vendramini inside one round two months prior.

But despite both men finishing their opponents inside the opening frame, the pair experienced early adversity and perhaps displayed less sound defense than Nurmagomedov.

Speaking on a recent episode of DC & RC, Cormier cited the less-clean nature of Pimblett and Garry’s debuts as his reason for choosing the Russian.

“He (Pimblett) got hurt. Great performance, but he got hurt. I think I’m gonna do Ian Garry, was Ian Garry hurt? I think Ian Garry got hurt… I’m tapping out, only because they got hurt a little, but still, very impressed by Paddy, and very, very impressed by Ian Garry.

“This guy, this guy right here (Umar Nurmagomedov). That’s the guy that had the most impressive debut for a prospect. But I forgot about it. Like John said on ABC, it seems so far away. But you remember, Ryan. You remember Umar Nurmagomedov, right? Yes. Him taking the guy down, and choking him out; the whole thing, right? ‘I made my debut better than Khabib,’ that’s the performance. That’s the one. And guess what? He was clean. That’s the performance for me that I’m gonna say was the most elite prospect debut in the UFC.” (h/t Sportskeeda)

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKRjRF9r4yS/

Having not appeared since his debut victory in January, Umar looked set for the chance to continue his rise up the bantamweight ladder in the first quarter of 2022. The 25-year-old was booked to face UK prospect Jack Shore on the March 19 UFC Fight Night card. The event is expected to signal the promotion’s return to London, England.

However, Nurmagomedov has been forced to withdraw and has been replaced by his compatriot Timur Valiev. With that in mind, the wait for the highly-touted prospect’s return goes on.

Which UFC prospect impressed you the most in their debut this year?

Continue Reading Cormier Names Which UFC Prospect Impressed The Most In 2021 Debut at MMA News.

Javier Mendez Expects Umar Nurmagomedov To Become Eventual UFC Champion

Nurmagomedov family gracie comparisonJavier Mendez expects another Nurmagomedov to become champion. Khabib Nurmagomedov recently retired following his lightweight title defense in October and despite UFC president Dana White’s best efforts, it looks like it will remain that way. However, American Kickboxing Academy head coach Mendez believes “The Eagle’s” cousin in Umar Nurmagomedov could very well be the next […]

Nurmagomedov family gracie comparison

Javier Mendez expects another Nurmagomedov to become champion.

Khabib Nurmagomedov recently retired following his lightweight title defense in October and despite UFC president Dana White’s best efforts, it looks like it will remain that way.

However, American Kickboxing Academy head coach Mendez believes “The Eagle’s” cousin in Umar Nurmagomedov could very well be the next UFC champion within two years in the bantamweight division.

“I’ve been saying it, in five or six fights, I expect him to be fighting for a title, and I believe we’re seeing a new champion, 100 percent,” Mendez told MMA Junkie. “He still has some improvements to make, but he’s going to make them. And yeah, you will be seeing him with the strap in five or six fights from now.”

The younger Nurmagomedov signed with the UFC in early 2020 but only made his highly-anticipated debut last month due to a number of reasons including the COVID-19 pandemic.

He comfortably defeated Sergey Morozov via second-round submission to enjoy a successful UFC debut.

“It was really nice to finally see him get this opportunity after so many things have happened,” Mendez added. “It was nice for him to do it as the same date as Khabib – Jan. 20 is the same date Khabib entered (the UFC), and the choke was the same as Khabib’s choke, so all those combined, it was an incredible experience.

“He came in not a Khabib prodigy, he came in as Umar. He’s just himself, and he showed what great talent he has and diversity in different techniques. But father’s plan is still best plan for Team Eagle, and he showed that, too. He also showed these guys can strike, too.”

Perhaps we could see him collide with fellow Russian and current bantamweight champion Petr Yan in a few years?

What do you think of Nurmagomedov’s potential?

Umar Nurmagomedov Out Of UFC 254 After Being Hospitalised

Umar Nurmagomedov has been ruled out of UFC 254Umar Nurmagomedov has been ruled out of UFC 254 after the Russian Bantamweight was hospitalised with illness, less than one week from his UFC debut in Abu Dhabi. (H/T MMA Junkie) Nurmagomedov is currently 12-0 in MMA and was set to make his UFC debut against former M-1 Global bantamweight champion Sergei Morozov, who was […]

Umar Nurmagomedov has been ruled out of UFC 254

Umar Nurmagomedov has been ruled out of UFC 254 after the Russian Bantamweight was hospitalised with illness, less than one week from his UFC debut in Abu Dhabi. (H/T MMA Junkie)

Nurmagomedov is currently 12-0 in MMA and was set to make his UFC debut against former M-1 Global bantamweight champion Sergei Morozov, who was also awaiting his UFC debut. The bout was supposed to take place on the prelims of UFC 254, which is headlined by Umar’s cousin, Khabib Nurmagomedov who fights Justin Gaetjhe.

The news was initially reported by Russian news agency TASS that Nurmagomedov had been hospitalized with “severe flu, fever and vomiting,” the news was late confirmed by the UFC Lightweight Champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov on Instagram, Khabib said that his cousins symptoms were the result of a staph infection.

Posting to his 21.8 million followers on Instagram, Khabib wrote: “The last few days, Umar has been in a hotel with a high fever, which was caused by a staphylococcal infection. But despite this, he and our entire team were determined that he would perform on October 24th. This morning, before our flight to Abu Dhabi, he got worse and was hospitalized in Dubai. Get well brother, so it was meant to be.”

This is now the third time that Umar Nurmagomedov has missed out on his debut booking with the UFC. He was first booked to fight Hunter Azure at UFC 249 but similar to his cousin Khabib he was unable to make the fight due to Covid-19 restrictions. He was then supposed to fight Nathaniel Wood at UFC on ESPN 14 but pulled out of the fight after the death of his uncle and coach, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov.

Khabib will now have to defend his Lightweight title on a card without his cousin. The Eagle will be hoping to go 29-0 when he takes on the Interim Lightweight Champion Justin Gaethje at UFC 254 on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi.

Do you think Umar Nurmagomedov will be a threat to the UFC’s bantamweight division when he makes debut?

Two Khabib Nurmagomedov Teammates Cancel UFC Debuts Following Abdulmanap’s Death

NurmagomedovTwo highly-regarded teammates of Khabib Nurmagomedov will no longer be making their debuts on Fight Island this month. Bantamweight Umar Nurmagomedov — the younger cousin of Khabib — and flyweight Tagir Ulanbekov were set to make their promotional bows with against Nathaniel Wood on July 25 and Aleksander Doskalchuk on July 18 respectively. Nurmagomedov Teammates […]

Nurmagomedov

Two highly-regarded teammates of Khabib Nurmagomedov will no longer be making their debuts on Fight Island this month.

Bantamweight Umar Nurmagomedov — the younger cousin of Khabib — and flyweight Tagir Ulanbekov were set to make their promotional bows with against Nathaniel Wood on July 25 and Aleksander Doskalchuk on July 18 respectively.

Nurmagomedov Teammates Cancel Departure To Fight Island

However, following the death of Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov on Friday, that will no longer be the case as they have cancelled their departure to Fight Island in Abu Dhabi.

The news was reported by RT Sport’s Dennis Geyko.

“JUST IN: Khabib teammates Umar Numagomedov and Tagir Ulanbekov have both cancelled their departure to #UFCFightIsland following news of Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov’s death. Unclear if they will now make their UFC debuts”

It only further highlights just how revered the senior Nurmagomedov was, having been a major figure in the rise of Dagestani mixed martial arts and many fighters hailing from the region.

As for their opponents, Doskalchuk will now face Canadian Malcolm Gordon who proceeded to sign with the UFC soon after.

There is no word if Wood will receive a new opponent as of yet.

What do you make of the news?

Chael Sonnen: The Nurmagomedov’s May Be The Next Gracie Family

Nurmagomedov family gracie comparisonFormer middleweight title challenger turned podcaster and pundit Chael Sonnnen has compared the Nurmagomedov family to ju jitsu and mixed martial arts pioneers the Gracies. Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has recently been joined in the UFC by two of his relatives. Cousins Abubakar and Umar Nurmagomedov have both signed with the promotion bringing even more […]

Nurmagomedov family gracie comparison

Former middleweight title challenger turned podcaster and pundit Chael Sonnnen has compared the Nurmagomedov family to ju jitsu and mixed martial arts pioneers the Gracies.

Lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has recently been joined in the UFC by two of his relatives. Cousins Abubakar and Umar Nurmagomedov have both signed with the promotion bringing even more strength to the family name. So much strength that Sonnen has begun comparing them to MMA royalty, the Gracies.

The legendary Gracie family were pivotal during the early beginnings of MMA in the 1990’s. Royce Gracie showed the world how a smaller man can out grapple and submit much bigger opponents. He and his family quickly started a revolution that brings us to MMA as we see it today. Gracie family members still have an impact on the sport with fighters consistently coming through and appearing on the biggest and best promotions.

Speaking on his podcast, Sonnen offers the Nurmagomedov family high praise when comparing them to the pioneers of MMA and ju jitsu, he said.

“It seems to me that the Nurmagomedov’s, in many ways might be the next Gracies. I don’t believe that anyone will ever surpass the Gracie family in the ultimate hierarchy of mixed martial arts. They just did too much and they just did it at the right time. Yeah, they’re were a lot of them and they’re still coming through. They’re still coming! Second and third generations are still coming through. I don’t believe anyone will ever surpass them even if they have the numbers on their side.”

“Let’s look at what the
next best thing may be. If you’re talking about power in numbers, if you’re
talking about bloodline. It would seem the Nurmagomedovs are right there in
line to be number two for MMA family royalty.”

Do you believe the Nurmagomedov family is second strongest family name in MMA history?

Umar Nurmagomedov, Cousin Of Khabib Joins UFC 249 Line-up

Umar NurmagomedovUndefeated bantamweight prospect Umar Nurmagomedov will make his early anticipated promotional debut against Hunter Azure at UFC 249. The 24-year-old will join the card headlined by his cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov who puts his lightweight title on the line against Tony Ferguson. UFC 249 takes place April 18 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Debutant […]

Umar Nurmagomedov

Undefeated bantamweight prospect Umar Nurmagomedov will make his
early anticipated promotional debut against Hunter Azure at UFC 249.

The 24-year-old will join the card headlined by his cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov who puts his lightweight title on the line against Tony Ferguson. UFC 249 takes place April 18 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Debutant Nurmagomedov becomes the third member of his family to make it to the UFC. The 12-0 Russian joins the roster alongside Khabib and another cousin, Abubakar Nurmagomedov. He last fought at Gorilla Fighting 20 in the headline bout against Braian Gonzalez. In the fight Nurmagomedov looked sensational picking up the rear-naked-choke submission inside one round. He also holds notable wins over Saidyokub Kakharamonov and Sidemar Honorio under the PFL banner.

Despite having family ties to the UFC Nurmagomedov has not been given an easy ride for his first fight in the company. He’ll face another undefeated prospect in Hunter Azure. The 8-0 fighter earned his way into the worlds premier fighting promotion on Dana White’s Contender Series in July 2019. He picked up a unanimous decision win over Chris Ocon and impressed the UFC President whilst doing so. In his UFC debut Azure faced Ultimate Fighter winner Brad Katona. Azure caused one of the shocks of the night back in September by upsetting Katona and picking up another unanimous decision verdict at UFC Vancouver.

UFC 249 CARD

Khabib Nurmagomedov (C) vs. Tony Ferguson – for lightweight title
Jessica Andrade vs. Rose Namajunas
Uriah Hall vs. Ronaldo Souza
Ben Rothwell vs. Gian Villante
Ottman Azaitar vs. Khama Worthy
Calvin Kattar vs. Jeremy Stephens
Shamil Abdurakhimov vs. Ciryl Gane
Sijara Eubanks vs. Sarah Moras
Lyman Good vs. Belal Muhammad
Hunter Azure vs. Umar Nurmagomedov

Do you think Umar Nurmagomedov can replicate his cousins success
inside the UFC octagon?