UFC Abu Dhabi paths to victory: How can Cory Sandhagen or Umar Nurmagomedov depart because the No. 1 contender?

Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov are lastly going to combat.

This Saturday, Sandhagen and Nurmagomedov face off in the primary occasion of UFC Abu Dhabi, with a bantamweight title shot presumably on the road. It was a matchup that was imagined to happen a yr in the past, however now it’s lastly right here, and the stakes are large. So how can every man depart Abu Dhabi as the subsequent in line to problem for the bantamweight title?

Let’s have a look.

Photograph by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC by way of Getty Pictures

Paths to Victory for Cory Sandhagen at UFC Abu Dhabi

Cory Sandhagen is kind of probably essentially the most well-rounded fighter within the UFC’s bantamweight division. A various striker who makes use of his size and selection on the ft, together with frequent stance switches, to maintain his opponents guessing, however in current outings we’ve seen Sandhagen lean on his wrestling sport extra. In opposition to Chito Vera and Rob Font, Sandhagen used his wrestling to arrange his hanging and visa versa, taking the combat to the ground and controlling the motion when he wasn’t outworking his opponents on the ft.

In opposition to Nurmagomedov although, it’s unlikely we see a lot of that offensive wrestling sport from Sandhagen. Umar is an distinctive floor fighter and so the plan for Sandhagen should start and finish with maintaining issues standing. On the ft, Sandhagen’s size and selection give him a transparent edge over the restricted Nurmagomedov, and thankfully for Sandhagen, a few of his model is already well-built to help this objective.

Sandhagen already is excellent at sustaining his vary, dissuading strain along with his footwork, angles, and stance-switches. That footwork is essential because it’s considerably harder for Nurmagomedov to complete takedowns in open house, particularly if he’s capturing from distant. Sandhagen wants to keep up the vary, keep off the fence, and keep lively down the middle with jabs and teeps. Make Nurmagomedov pay for making an attempt to shut the space and by no means give him simple takedowns. That’s the Sandhagen gameplan in a nutshell.

Photograph by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC by way of Getty Pictures

Paths to victory for Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC Abu Dhabi

Nurmagomedov is probably essentially the most hyped prospect in all of MMA. Making his UFC debut in 2021, and carrying the burden of expectation that comes from sharing a final identify with one of many biggest fighters of all time, Nurmagomedov has performed nothing to dissuade the hype surrounding him. In reality, the largest obstacle for Nurmagomedov to stand up the ranks has been a scarcity of individuals prepared to combat him. That adjustments on Saturday.

One of many huge promoting factors behind Nurmagomedov is the concept he’s each a world-class grappler and may strike. That’s a bit reductive, however it’s not far off. Nurmagomedov is an distinctive wrestler and grappler, as his cousin Khabib and youthful brother Usman are, nevertheless, his hanging is a bit overblown.

That’s to not say Nurmagomedov doesn’t have palms. He has some actual flash to his sport, particularly along with his kicks, and he carries extra pure energy than many of the different fighters from the Workforce Khabib combat camp. However he’s nonetheless restricted on the ft (he principally by no means makes use of his left hand), and has some unhealthy tendencies, particularly defensively. However in the end, it hasn’t mattered but as his grappling capability is a superb coverup for every other shortcomings.

Nurmagomedov is elite at snatching a leg at any time when he’s in hassle, or when the chance presents itself, and from there he’s very like Khabib in his capability to run the pipe, chain strategies, and transfer opponents to the fence or sneak to the again. It’s a multilayered grappling assault and one he can provoke out of virtually nowhere. The grappling is the Nurmagomedov’s huge gun and the way he wins this combat.

Prediction

Cory Sandhagen is kind of probably essentially the most troublesome model matchup within the bantamweight division for Umar Nurmagomedov. Together with his expertise, well-rounded abilities, and superior hanging, he presents an enormous leap up in competitors for Nurmagomedov. It’s like going from driving go-karts to driving a Formulation 1 automotive.

However Nurmagomedov is Max Verstappen.

Sandhagen is well-rounded, however he’s by no means been an elite defensive wrestler, and for pretty much as good as he could also be on the bottom, Nurmagomedov is healthier. That is going to be a popping out occasion for the highly-touted Dagestani as he punches his ticket to a bantamweight title shot.

Umar Nurmagomedov def. Cory Sandhagen by way of submission (rear-naked choke) — Spherical 3, 2:20