feature-image
feature-image

The bantamweight division in the UFC is quickly becoming the talk of the town. Lately, high-profile fights and electrifying matchups are keeping fans on the edge of their seats. The UFC 288 main event fight between champion Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo is a prime example of this. Shortly after the fight, there was mayhem in the octagon after top bantamweight fighters Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili also entered the ring.

All this drama set the best stage for a title fight between O’Malley and Sterling. However, this is not the only exciting fight in the making for the bantamweight division. According to recent reports, another thrilling clash is in the works, sending shockwaves through the MMA community.

ADVERTISEMENT

Islam Makhachev reacts to his cousin’s upcoming fight reports

According to reports, the UFC is looking to schedule a bout between bantamweights Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov. Although the fight has not been officially confirmed by the UFC, the involvement of reliable sources has bolstered the credibility of this potential matchup. The reputable Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour Show has also confirmed this.

Recently, popular MMA-based Instagram page known as RedCornerMMA posted a picture regarding this development. The news spread like wildfire and even Islam Makhachev couldn’t resist sharing it on his own story.

ADVERTISEMENT

READ MORE: Ariel Helwani Blasts Jake Paul for “Sh*tting” on Nate Diaz’s Record During the Media-Only Press Conference: “Makes No Sense”

Moreover, the lightweight champion even gave a wild suggestion for his friend’s fight. “5 Rounds Main Event”, Makhachev wrote in his Instagram story. While 5-round fights are generally those which involve a title, fans often see non-title fights turn into 5-round battles by the agreement of both fighters. The most recent 5-round non-title fight was between Gilbert Burns and Belal Muhammad.

Recent performances of Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov

Not surprising considering his last name, Umar Nurmagomedov enjoys a perfect record of 16 wins and no losses. His last fight was against Raoni Barcelos, where Nurmagomedov won via KO. With four fights in UFC, Nurmagomedov stands at #11 in the bantamweight rankings.

article-image

Cory Sandhagen, on the other hand, is more seasoned when it comes to fighting in the UFC. He has been in the promotion for five years and has an MMA record of 16 wins and 4 losses. Sandhagen has faced MMA elites like Petr Yan, T.J. Dillashaw, and Aljamain Sterling. With 4 wins in his last 6 fights, Sandhagen stands at #4 in the UFC bantamweight rankings.

article-image

As fans eagerly await the official confirmation of this showdown, the bantamweight division continues to be an electrifying hotbed of talent and big fights.

Watch This Story – Why Is Henry Cejudo Called The Triple C?

ADVERTISEMENT

Share this with a friend:

Link Copied!

ADVERTISEMENT

Written by

author-image

Sushant Sharma

921 Articles

Sushant Sharma is a UFC Content Analyst at EssentiallySports. A senior writer with almost 1000 articles under his belt, Sushant is always scanning the MMA landscape for current trends and breaking news. His knowledge and expertise in the sport are well-reflected in the ‘Opinion’ pieces he churns out from time to time. Sushant’s impactful style of writing has earned him a mention from boxing champion turned MMA star Claressa Shields. He is a constant presence in the live coverage team, updating the fans with all the latest news from live events in real time. In his free time, Sushant trains in combat sports and powerlifting. He is an accomplished powerlifter with silver and bronze medals at the State level. You can reach out to him at

Know more

Edited by

editor-image

Sherjeel Malik

ADVERTISEMENT