“Go out there and make it. Go out there and put on a show on Saturday that makes people go, ‘Damn! One of these fighters should be fighting for the title next.” – This was Dana White’s condition to Umar Nurmagomedov ahead of UFC 321. ‘Young Eagle’ put the CEO on the spot at the pre-fight presser, asking for his bout against Mario Bautista to be a title eliminator. So, three days removed from the event, what’s the verdict? Has Umar done enough for another shot at the title?

The fight was far from a dominant display as Mario Bautista showed grit and composure, even managing to drop Nurmagomedov before ultimately falling short on the judges’ scorecards. Reflecting on his performance, Umar Nurmagomedov admitted that he had “underestimated” his opponent, saying, “Today, I understand I’m an amateur in this game.” Though the Russian phenom’s honesty earned him respect, many observers pointed out that his showing didn’t quite live up to the lofty promise he made to the UFC Bossman.

Chael Sonnen reminds Umar Nurmagomedov of his UFC 321 promise

Chael Sonnen did not find Umar Nurmagomedov’s performance at UFC 321 impressive. Despite a dominant win on the scorecards, Sonnen felt the Dagestani lacked urgency and failed to push the action forward. According to him, the ‘Young Eagle’ even seemed hesitant to close the show when the opportunity was there.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Sonnen admitted, “I felt like he did everything right. But sometimes you can, and then you just come out with… was that pleasant to watch? Did you like that? And Umar wasn’t positive. Umar himself went to the post-fight press conference, and he wasn’t positive and frankly, I’m not either.”

While Nurmagomedov walked away with a clean (30-27 x 3) unanimous decision, the performance didn’t leave the impression many expected. And it certainly did not live up to the title fight condition Dana White had asked for. Instead, it was Mario Bautista’s resilience and composure that drew attention, as fans and critics never expected the Glendale, Arizona native to hold his own so well against the ‘Young Eagle.’ Even Sonnen suggested that the No. 9-ranked contender came out earning more respect than before. Sonnen admitted, “I don’t know. He sure looked good, and Bautista is a hard guy to beat, let alone to beat for 15 straight dominant minutes.”

It might not have been the statement win Umar Nurmagomedov was hoping for, but a win is still a win, and it officially marks his return to action. A title shot? Only Dana White knows. With this victory, ‘Young Eagle’  improves to 19-1, yet Khabib Nurmagomedov’s dream of seeing the Nurmagomedov family reach a combined 100-0 record now seems further out of reach.

Chael Sonnen explains what sets ‘Young Eagle’ apart from Khabib Nurmagomedov

When Umar Nurmagomedov first stormed onto the UFC scene, everyone expected him to be a carbon copy of his older cousin, the undefeated Khabib Nurmagomedov. Even “The Eagle” himself once dreamed of seeing a combined record of “100-0” when including his cousins Usman and Umar, who together carried the Nurmagomedov legacy forward.

But that vision took a hit when Merab Dvalishvili handed Umar Nurmagomedov his first professional loss at the start of the year, shattering Khabib’s hopes of an unblemished family legacy. The defeat exposed areas where the Russian star still lags behind his cousin, reminding fans that raw talent alone doesn’t guarantee Khabib-level dominance.

Now, with Nurmagomedov returning to the win column at UFC 321, questions remain about his conditioning. His cardio once again became a talking point in the final round, suggesting that the ‘Young Eagle’ is still not on the same level as ‘The Eagle.’

Even The ‘American Gangster,’ weighed in on the matter, highlighting the key difference between the two cousins ‘discipline.’ “I was on a redeye with Khabib out to Florida. We checked in at the desk at the same time, which was past 1 in the morning. I came down at 5 in the morning to get coffee, and Khabib was coming back with one of his athletes, and they were drenched in sweat and both had plastics on. It was the day of the weigh-in, and Khabib was helping somebody cut the weight.”

Sonnen recounted the impression Khabib’s discipline made on him, and he applauded Umar for being honest about how he’s not as dedicated. At the post-event presser, the bantamweight star had recollected how Khabib would still go for a run after a long day to make sure he did not miss practice. Something the others could never do.

With Usman rising in the PFL and Umar finding his rhythm in the UFC, the Nurmagomedov legacy continues. What’s your take on Umar’s level in the UFC, and do you think the “Young Eagle” can carry forward Khabib Nurmagomedov’s legacy? Share your thoughts below.