The UFC octagon was at Etihad Enviornment in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. The battle card was headlined by a bantamweight battle between second-ranked Cory Sandhagen and undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov.
Sandhagen (17-4) entered the battle driving a three-fight successful streak. Nurmagomedov (17-0) hadn’t tasted defeat and had completed three of his 5 UFC opponents. Ranked tenth within the division, Nurmagomedov had the chance to choose up the largest win of his profession.
Sandhagen pressed ahead. They exchanged leg kicks and Nurmagomedov grabbed a leg and went for a single-leg takedown. He took Sandhagen’s again. Sandhagen escaped the place and circled free. Nurmagomedov linked with a left hand. Nurmagomedov seemed for an additional takedown however Sandhagen remained standing. Sandhagen switched stances they usually exchanged leg kicks. Sandhagen seemed snug. He delivered a tough leg kick after which went to the physique with a left hand. Nurmagomedov secured a takedown with 20 seconds left on the clock. MMAWeekly scored the spherical 10-9 for Sandhagen.
Nurmagomedov landed first within the second spherical with a kick to the physique. They exchanged legs kicks and Nurmagomedov seemed to get the battle to the bottom. He received behind Sandhagen however Sandhagen broke free and linked with a left hand. Sandhagen was dictating the tempo. They traded leg kicks. Sandhagen went to the physique and Nurmagomedov answered with a tough leg kick. Sandhagen linked with a counter left hand. Nurmagomedov caught a kick and took Sandhagen down. He trapped an arm. Sandhagen scrambled and stood. He turned and received free. Nurmagomedov tried to journey him however Sandhagen received to his ft. MMAWeekly scored the spherical 10-9 for Nurmagomedov.
Sandhagen pressed ahead within the third. Nurmagomedov checked a leg kick. The tempo slowed a bit. Each fighters continued to ship leg kicks. With two minutes remaining, Nurmagomedov took Sandhagen down. Sandhagen broke the grip and escaped the place. Nurmagomedov linked with a proper hand. Nurmagomedov landed to the physique with a proper hand. He landed a left hand to the physique and took Sandhagen down. He took Sandhagen’s again. Sandhagen rolled and the spherical ended. MMAWeekly scored the spherical 10-9 for Nurmagomedov.
Sandhagen inched ahead. Nurmagomedov landed a leg kick. Sandhagen responded with a jab. Nurmagomedov landed a leg kick and Sandhagen countered with a left hook. Sandhagen was extra aggressive within the fourth. Nurmagomedov linked with a proper hand. He adopted up with a mixture. Sandhagen responded with a left hand. Nurmagomedov answered with a counter mixture. Sandhagen went to the physique with a left hand. They exchanged kicks to the physique.
Sandhagen linked with an uppercut and Nurmagomedov responded with a mixture. Nurmagomedov modified ranges and took Sandhagen down late within the spherical. Sandhagen rolled and the spherical ended. MMAWeekly scored the spherical 10-9 for Nurmagomedov.
They exchanged leg kicks. Sandhagen briefly seemed for a takedown. Nurmagomedov moved away. Nurmagomedov linked with a counter left hand adopted by a physique kick. Nurmagomedov started urgent ahead. He took Sandhagen down. For the primary time within the battle, Nurmagomedov was capable of management Sandhagen on the bottom. Sandhagen delivered elbows from the underside. He tried to scramble however Nurmagomedov maintained prime place. He delivered a couple of quick punches earlier than the spherical ended. MMAWeekly scored the spherical 10-9 for Nurmagomedov.
The judges scored the battle for Nurmagomedov by way of unanimous determination. The scorecards learn 50-45, 49-46, and 49-46.
