Let’s speak about dominance for a second, we could? Dominance can tackle any variety of types all through the world of sports activities. Some of the dominant groups ever to go well with up in NFL historical past known as Soldier Area its residence in 1985.
These memorable Chicago Bears had been actually a squad that bettors flocked to the pay window to fork over some hard-earned cash to wager on. All however as soon as within the common season that yr, the Bears’ stout protection that season, led by William “The Fridge” Perry, Dan Hampton, and 2024 Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame inductee Steve McMichael got here away victorious.
Their 15-1 report was finally parlayed right into a Tremendous Bowl victory the next January on the Superdome towards the New England Patriots. In basketball, the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls had been led by Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman and completed the common yr with a then-all-time greatest 72-10 mark. Like their gridiron counterparts from a decade earlier, Phil Jackson’s membership scored the title at yr’s finish.
Look Out for Umar Nurmagomedov
Dominance additionally runs rampant in MMA. All through the game’s historical past, there have been any variety of names that make followers assume “dominant,” reminiscent of the nice Ronda Rousey, Cris Cyborg, Conor McGregor, and “DC”, Daniel Cormier. One other such title that conjures up ideas of dominance is Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Why wouldn’t it? Khabib started his MMA profession 16 years in the past and by no means as soon as tasted defeat contained in the cage, scoring a UFC contract upon successful his sixteenth skilled struggle, with all roads resulting in the UFC Light-weight Championship in 2018 and a victory over Al Iaquinta in Brooklyn. Upon Khabib’s retirement in 2020, the Nurmagomedov legacy solely continued.
Enter Khabib’s cousin, Umar Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC.) Heading into Saturday evening’s UFC on ABC 7 primary occasion, the cousin of “The Eagle” was ranked No. 10 within the 135-lb. division towards No. 2 contender Cory Sandhagen (17-5 MMA, 10-4 UFC).
Umar Had Assist From the Household
Khabib cornered his cousin over the weekend. With the stakes as excessive as they had been for Umar Nurmagomedov over the weekend, Khabib serving as his cornerman proved to be useful. Not solely was Saturday’s primary occasion the primary such bout for Umar since becoming a member of the UFC’s lively roster in January of 2021, the victor of the headliner would even be elevated to No. 1 contender standing within the bantamweight division.
Briefly, though the principle occasion of the night went the complete marketed 25 minutes, this bout was one-way site visitors right through. Proper from the start, Nurmagomedov dumped Sandhagen, which might in the end show to be a recurring theme because the struggle would progress.
Sandhagen had a protracted evening contained in the cage over the weekend as a consequence of Nurmagomedov being the faster fighter and frequently touchdown punches. Over the course of the 25 minutes, Umar Nurmagomedov accomplished 5 takedowns, equaling a career-high, whereas Cory Sandhagen failed to complete both of his two takedowns.
Nurmagomedov’s Floor Recreation in Fifth Spherical Seals It
Because the struggle progressed to a fifth and closing spherical, Nurmagomedov knew he needed to put the struggle away as a contest. Upon touchdown a kick to the leg, he moved in on Sandhagen to try a vital takedown, which he secured. From there, he secured prime mount and finally again mount, peppering Sandhagen with floor and pound pictures within the contest’s closing moments.
Like we’ve seen all through the years with the Nurmagomedov household, any time the place they put an opponent down, there’s a very good probability that their opponent will keep down. Spherical 5 of the Cory Sandhagen/ Umar Nurmagomedov tilt this previous weekend was a main instance.
The ultimate interval of the headliner eliminated any doubt as to the result. Umar Nurmagomedov scored a unanimous determination from the arbiters (50-45, 49-46, 49-46.) In so doing, he’s now earned a shot on the UFC Bantamweight Championship at a later date.
An absolute stud 🤩@UNmgdv handed with flying colours in his first UFC primary occasion! #UFCAbuDhabi@AbuDhabiEvents | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/woAbfTUXdb
— UFC (@ufc) August 4, 2024
Umar Nurmagomedov Compliments Cory Sandhagen in Put up-Battle Interview
After the struggle, Nurmagomedov talked with the aforementioned Daniel Cormier about his adversary.
“He was extra powerful than I anticipated,” Nurmagomedov stated on the telecast. “These guys are actually powerful. He’s like iron. I feel I deserve right now’s win. I really feel like I beat him in each single spherical. I attempted to take him down, however he [has] good protection.”
Nurmagomedov now has time to relaxation up from his victory. The identification of his subsequent opponent is not going to be definitively identified till the center of subsequent month after the bantamweight title struggle pitting incumbent champion Sean O’Malley (18-1, 1 NC MMA, 10-1, 1 NC UFC) and No. 1 contender Merab Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) throughout Noche UFC on the Vegas Sphere.
FWIW, Dana instructed me Umar will meet the Sean O’Malley Merab Dvalishvili winner for the bantamweight title
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) August 3, 2024
Closing Ideas
Whoever it occurs to be, Umar Nurmagomedov’s adversary in his subsequent struggle goes to wish to lock himself within the movie room as quickly as he will get again to Vegas and get to work screening the footage of Nurmagomedov’s previous fights. The sooner he begins learning movie of this man, the faster he’ll be capable to spot his tendencies.
No sane betting man would even consider placing cash down towards Umar Nurmagomedov towards both O’Malley or Dvalishvili.
