The last name ‘Nurmagomedov’ turns heads anywhere it’s brought up! With Khabib Nurmagomedov’s cousin starring in a UFC Fight Night, opinions were bound to flood it.

Yes, you heard it right! Umar Nurmagomedov, ‘The Eagle’s youngest cousin is set to put his perfect 16-0 record on the line against #4 Bantamweight Corey Sandhagen. Ahead of their bout, Khabib stirred the pot by posting a message for his cousin on his Instagram story.

The duo is paired up to headline the UFC Fight Night main card on Aug 5, in Nashville. Both contenders are coming into the fight with a win in their last match. With all the hype around the fight, Josh Thompson, an MMA veteran and analyst has joined in on the pre-fight analysis. Pitching in his opinions on the fighters, the analyst has made one thing clear to the #11 Bantamweight Umar Nurmagomedov – ‘The Sandman’ is not to be taken lightly!

MMA Veteran Josh Thompson has a word of caution for Umar Nurmagomedov

In an exclusive interview with WEIGHING IN, renowned MMA veteran Josh Thompson and seasoned referee ‘Big’ John McCarthy discussed the highly anticipated matchup between Umar Nurmagomedov and Cory Sandhagen. Thompson, sharing his insights, emphasized the significance of this fight.

The MMA icon acknowledged Sandhagen’s exceptional striking skills, referring to him as a “sniper” on his feet.

The American Bantamweight’s ability to make opponents miss, even by a small margin, poses a threat to Umar. Thompson cautioned Umar, saying, “…he makes you miss just by a little bit, so if Umar leaves himself out of position – he will pay for it.”

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Moreover, Thompson also shed light on Sandhagen’s grappling prowess, adding, “…let’s not sleep on Corey Sandhagen’s grappling game.” While Umar has made impressive improvements in defending submissions and maintaining ground control, Sandhagen’s well-rounded skill set demands attention. Thompson also highlighted Sandhagen’s proficiency in guard techniques, hook sweeps, and armbar triangles due to his elongated limbs, making him susceptible to takedowns.

The analyst offers an insightful piece of advice to the Russian Bantamweight

But aside from his concerns, the analyst had some excellent pointers for the Russian Bantamweight. He expressed confidence in Umar’s wrestling abilities, “He[Umar] is Leaps and Bounds since I’ve last trained with him…he’ll sometimes let you blow your arms up hanging out like in these Guillotines. Because he knows – ‘I’m good…’” foreseeing his dominance in that aspect of the fight.

READ MORE: “Holy Sh*t Khabibs Back”: Fans Back “Young Eagle” Umar Nurmagomedov as Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Cousin Set to Square Up Against Cory Sandhagen in August

Nevertheless, he cautioned Umar to be wary of leaving his neck vulnerable, as ‘The Sandman’ possesses the potential to capitalize on any positional errors.“…you can’t dip your head against him,” warned Thompson.

Sandhagen possesses an astute ability to read opponents’ rhythms and capitalize on their predictable movements. The analyst further emphasized that the American’s towering frame allows him to swiftly execute knee strikes. If Umar were to recklessly dip into one of these knees, the fight could swiftly come to a halt.

As fight night approaches, all eyes will be on Umar Nurmagomedov and ‘The Sandman’ as they enter the Octagon. Both fighters must heed the words of wisdom offered by Thompson if either wants to have a shot at the win. The outcome of this thrilling matchup will be revealed in due course, promising an exhilarating display of skill and determination from two formidable athletes.

Watch this story: Khabib Nurmagomedov Opens a New Gym Near UFC Fight Island