The bantamweight division is constantly shifting. Recent fights have breathed new life into the division. Cory Sandhagen is one of the best in the division and remains just one win away from a title shot. Sandhagen thinks he’s identified his next opponent, the Dagestani fighter Umar Nurmagomedov‘s biggest weakness.Â
Demetrious Johnson recently interviewed Cory Sandhangen. ‘Sandman’ revealed that he had analyzed footage from Umar Nurmagomedov‘s last fight. He noticed the undefeated Dagestani was very tired after the final bell. Sandhagen believed this could give him an edge in their upcoming 5-round fight.
I do really want to fight Umar [Nurmagomedov] in a five round fight also just because, I don’t know if you watched his last [fight], but he was [breathing heavily]…He was working hard though, so I’ll give him that…But [he] definitely was huffing and puffing during the [post-fight] interview, so I think there’s a vulnerability there that I can capitalize on.
Cory Sandhagen via Mighty YT
Sandhagen gave props to Nurmagomedov for working hard. But the implication of this was that Nurmagomedov struggled to maintain that pace. Sandhagen thinks that his cardio was more elite than the Dagestani phenom. Nurmagomedov is the cousin of retired UFC lightweight king Khabib Nurmagomedov. He has 17 professional fights with no losses. However, he’s yet to be truly tested by an elite-level opponent like Sandhagen.
Cory Sandhagen believes he can take advantage of Umar Nurmagomedov’s cardio 👀
“I do really want to fight Umar in a 5 round fight also just because, I don’t know if you watched his last [fight] but he was *breathing heavily*…
[He] definitely was huffing and puffing during the… pic.twitter.com/urRP6nL2fW
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 7, 2024
The duo were supposed to fight earlier, but Nurmagomedov suffered an injury. Cory Sandhagen boasts a 17-4 professional record. The battle-tested ‘Sandman’ has been in the trenches against the divisions’ best. He’s experienced deep waters against Petr Yan, Marlon Vera, and TJ Dillashaw in 5 round fights. Sandhagen knows what it takes to go 25 hard minutes. Their August 3 fight in Abu Dhabi could determine the next bantamweight title challenger.Â
Cory Sandhagen believes he will break the Nurmagomedov family’s winning streak
The Nurmagomedov name carries immense weight and an undefeated aura in the world of MMA. This was started by the legend Khabib Nurmagomedov, and the Nurmagomedov clan remains undefeated still. However, Cory Sandhagen plans to change that story by becoming the first to blemish their spotless UFC record.
Cory Sandhagen wants to be the first to defeat Umar Nurmagomedov (via MMA Fighting/ Sports Illustrated)Snadhagen revealed in a recent interview that he had figured out the trick to give Umar and the Nurmagomedov clan their first loss. Sandhagen showcased immense respect for the Nurmagomedov family’s combat sambo stylings honed under Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. However, he believed this would be the end of their undefeated streak.
The Nurmagomedov family has zero losses, I was really excited for the challenge to actually go out and figure out that problem because he does have a super unique style…I had the answer to the problem.
Cory Sandhagen via Mighty YT
The Nurmagomedov clan, hailing from the famed wrestling hotbed of Dagestan, has produced two UFC standouts – lightweight Khabib and rising bantamweight contender Umar. Their combined octagon record? An impeccable 46-0. Usman Nurmagomedov also boasts an undefeated 17-0 record. However, he fights in the PFL-Bellator promotion. Only time will tell if Sandhagen’s solution will finally put a stop to Nurmagomedov’s undefeated run.
