UFC visits the kingdom of Abu Dhabi on Saturday for one of two events in 2024. This one particularly comes in the form of UFC on ABC 7 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island. Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov fight at the top bill for a pivotal bantamweight fight. If they win, itโs an easy path to Sean OโMalleyโs 135-pound gold. The only deterrent to that is title challenger Merab Dvalishvili.
Should he defeat Umar Nurmagomedov after Saturdayโsย UFC on ABC 7, Cory Sandhagen hopes to align for a title shot rightfully. The 32-year-old isnโt really settling for a backup role yet. He wants more of a hands-on cluck at the gold. To that end, he plans to attend the Noche UFC (UFC 306) PPV and root for โSuga.โ
Yeah, Iโm definitely rooting for OโMalley, …Thatโs definitely the bigger fight. Thatโs a fight that people have been asking for forever. I think that me and him go into a cage and itโs just going to be fireworks. Itโs going to be so technical and so skilled…Thatโs what the fans want to see really, really bad.
Cory Sandhagen to MMA Junkieโs Farah Hannoun, ahed of UFC on ABC 7 Media Day
His motivations are obviously stemming from self-preservation; as it should. He is expecting to face Sean OโMalley after the September 14 Sphere event. The โSandmanโ knows the neo-fandom OโMalley commands. In addition, he won theย 2024 ESPY for Best UFC Fighter Award. Despite not being the best pound-for-pound or having the biggest reigns, a brand-value champ does not get any bigger.
OโMalley is a slight betting underdog against Merab Dvalishvili across all major online sportsbooks. Sandhagen, who feels heโs often overlooked between his hidden talents amid boxing, kickboxing, and taekwondo skills, thinks the same for โSuga.โ OโMalley is a Quintet: Ultra Submissions Graplling and Grappling Industries alum. As such, Sandhagen thinks heโd be unstoppable in all facets of the game.
Umar Nurmagomedov not sold Merab Dvalishvili passes Sean OโMalley for guard
When UFC on ABC 7 rolls in, it strings up the fate of the 135-pound division altogether. With four top standouts gunning for gold, itโs all 135lber for himself. Umar Nurmagomedov believes he has some of the divisionโs best grappling and wrestling skills. However, to be the best, he aims to snatch gold from the best. To him, thatโs Sean OโMalley.
OโMalley and Merab Dalishvili square off next at the Noche UFC (UFC 306) headliner. Top-ranked title contender Dvalishvili averages nearly seven takedowns every 15 minutes. It is a likely strategy heโll employ again against a striker. He enters this bout riding a ten-fight winning streak. But Nurmagomedov is keeping a line open for anything to happen.
I donโt know why Cejudo showed a very bad fightโฆ think he went down because of age, three years without a fight…Right now, Merab is doing very well…His wrestling is very good. You donโt know when heโs going for a takedown or when heโs going to punch youโฆIf Merab loses, heโs never going to fight for the title againโฆhe’s 34 or 35โฆ
Umar Nurmagomedov during UFC on ABC 7 Media Day; H/T: MMAFighting on SBN
Title challengers do not get more gloated right now. Umar thinks Merab Dvalishvili would have faced a different monster with โprimeโ Henry Cejudo compared to the version that came at UFC 298. More to it, he considers the same fate awaits the Georgian. There might be a case where this is one of his last opportunities at gold. Hence, Umar means to pry away his or Cory Sandhagenโs chances at the belt.