Like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Dominance MMA supervisor Ali Abdelaziz sees Umar Nurmagomedov retiring undefeated.
Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) challenges bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) within the UFC 311 co-main occasion Jan. 18 from Inglewood, Calif. (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).
“The Younger Eagle” is following within the footsteps of his cousin Khabib, who hung up his gloves as an undefeated UFC light-weight champion in 2020. Not solely does Abdelaziz see Umar mirroring Khabib’s success, however doubtlessly surpassing him.
“There’s little question in my thoughts Umar will probably be a champion at 135 kilos, and I imagine Umar goes to be a champion for a very long time,” Abdelaziz advised MMA Junkie. “I believe Umar is the one man who can actually problem Khabib’s file. He can retire undefeated, 29-0, 30-0. In fact he has a troublesome opponent, however I imagine Umar is healthier in all places.”
Many took problem with Nurmagomedov getting a shot at Dvalishvili after only one ranked win over Cory Sandhagen. Abdelaziz clarifies that Nurmagomedov was prepared to struggle anybody at anytime to strengthen his resume for a title shot.
“Umar is without doubt one of the greatest fighters I’ve ever seen,” Abdelaziz stated. “He’s so good in all places, and he’s so humble and so good. He was provided Merab in Madison Sq. Backyard and he stated sure. He was provided Merab in December and he stated sure.
“He was provided Dec. 14, Music Yadong, he stated sure. He was provided in January Music Yadong and he stated sure. After that, the UFC got here and stated, ‘Merab, Jan. 18,’ and he stated sure. He’s been saying sure to all people. He was prepared to struggle ranked, not ranked. He simply wished to struggle.”
UFC CEO Dana White revealed that after Dvalishvili constantly dismissed Nurmagomedov as a worthy title challenger, he stormed into the UFC Efficiency Institute and demanded to struggle him. Abdelaziz thinks Dvalishvili had no alternative.
“Clearly Merab didn’t need this struggle, he didn’t assume Umar deserves it,” Abdelaziz stated. “I believe Merab’s similar to, ‘Everybody’s pressuring me.’ The UFC is pressuring him, media is pressuring him, followers are pressuring him, and he’s a person. Typically it’s important to defend your turf. His turf is his title. He was pushed into this struggle, he didn’t need this struggle, he didn’t assume Umar deserves this struggle.
“He stated he stormed into the (PI), pay attention, on the finish of the day, he was going to struggle Umar regardless. There was no person else. Struggle him now, March, April, Might. Perhaps he stated, ‘You already know what, that is what I need to do proper now. I need to shut all people up, and I need to struggle Umar.’ Merab is hard. He’s a really robust man. It’s a really robust struggle. He’s on a 10-fight successful streak for a purpose, however I imagine Umar goes to beat him in all places.”
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