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 struggle.

This Saturday, Sandhagen and Nurmagomedov face off in the principle 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 following in line to problem for the bantamweight title?

Let’s have a look.

Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC by way of Getty Photographs

Paths to Victory for Cory Sandhagen at UFC Abu Dhabi

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

Towards 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 conserving issues standing. On the toes, Sandhagen’s size and selection give him a transparent edge over the restricted Nurmagomedov, and fortuitously for Sandhagen, a few of his model is already well-built to help this aim.

Sandhagen already is excellent at sustaining his vary, dissuading strain together with his footwork, angles, and stance-switches. That footwork is vital because it’s considerably tougher for Nurmagomedov to complete takedowns in open house, particularly if he’s capturing from far-off. 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 attempting to shut the space and by no means give him simple takedowns. That’s the Sandhagen gameplan in a nutshell.

Picture by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC by way of Getty Photographs

Paths to victory for Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC Abu Dhabi

Nurmagomedov is maybe probably 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 best fighters of all time, Nurmagomedov has finished nothing to dissuade the hype surrounding him. In actual fact, the largest obstacle for Nurmagomedov to stand up the ranks has been an absence of individuals keen to struggle him. That modifications 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, nonetheless, 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 together with his kicks, and he carries extra pure energy than many of the different fighters from the Staff Khabib struggle camp. However he’s nonetheless restricted on the toes (he principally by no means makes use of his left hand), and has some dangerous tendencies, particularly defensively. However finally, it hasn’t mattered but as his grappling means is a superb coverup for every other shortcomings.

Nurmagomedov is elite at snatching a leg every time he’s in bother, or when the chance presents itself, and from there he’s very like Khabib in his means 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 just about nowhere. The grappling is the Nurmagomedov’s huge gun and the way he wins this struggle.

Prediction

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

However Nurmagomedov is Max Verstappen.

Sandhagen is well-rounded, however he’s by no means been an elite defensive wrestler, and for nearly as good as he could also be on the bottom, Nurmagomedov is best. That is going to be a popping out get together 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