Sean O’Malley’s coach, Tim Welch, doubts Umar Nurmagomedov would challenge the bantamweight guard seriously injured. Nurmagomedov fights for the UFC 135-pound title, challenging Merab Dvalishvili atop the UFC 311 PPV main card. However, a possible injury update has fans and pundits in a frenzy recently.
Umar Nurmogomedov continued dissing the champion for angling at a Ramadan date for a return. However, Nurmagomedov let it slip he had an arm injury. “Young Eagle” also said both manager Ali Abdelaziz and his brother had advised him against fighting. Coach Tim Welch believes the title challenger is fitter than he is letting on, given he wants to fight before the Ramadan phase.
They [Team Khabib] know they’re going to get the title shot eventually, …So, I don’t think he’s going to be that hurt. I think he’s probably going to be probably more healthy and more ready than people think…And, yeah, it’s like I said, for these title shots, it’s like, for some people, you’ll get one title shot your whole career, the rest of your life.
Tim Welch to Denis Shkuratov for the ‘Submission Radio’ Show
Team Red Hawk MMA’s Welch and his starfighter, Sean O’Malley, entered their last title billing on an injury. “Suga” fought with an injured hip labrum at this year’s annual Noche UFC PPV and lost to Dvalishvili. So, Tim Welch knows the extent of grinding through injury and how a fighter really allows it.
Even many in the MMA fan clique and analysts/oddsmakers think that Nurmagomedov hooked the champion in with the injury bait. If real, Welch thought Dvalishvili should just wing it and target the broken arm. However, he does not think the title challenger would lose his stake in gold due to an injury.
Tim Welch says Umar Nurmagomedov’s title chances down the line not at risk here due to injury
Merab Dvalishvili was never sold on Nurmagomedov being a worthy title contender. The Georgian and his team wanted ‘Young Eagle’ to log more effort before a title track. Dvalishvili himself put on a 10-fight streak before a crack at gold. Meanwhile, the 29-year-old needed just one fight night ranked win over Cory Sandhagen to earn his shot.
Umar Nurmagomedov won’t be out of the running against Merab Dvalishvili at any odds (Source: X)But it’s not a chance Umar Nurmagomedov plans to squander off after UFC on ABC 7. Hence, the Dagestani fighter said he was ready when the brass came calling. To that end, Welch does not consider Khabib Nurmagomedov’s cousin at much risk here even if he loses out on the UFC 311 title fight.
For Umar, with his last name, I feel like even if he lost this Merab fight, he wins two more, he’s back in the title picture. So I don’t think that’s the case. … I think he’s not that injured, and they’re really confident with this match.
Tim Welch further to Denis Shkuratov for the ‘Submission Radio’ Show for SBNation Network
Despite a significant push from the brass side, the challenger catches flak for riding on his cousin’s coattails. Khabib, a Hall of Famer and a legendary undefeated lightweight, still holds quite the gravitas in the combat sports world. Welch said that’s not necessarily a bad thing for the younger cousin as big names always receives title shots.
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