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Islam Makhachev Drops a Wild Suggestion as Umar Nurmagomedov vs Cory Sandhagen Rumors Gain Traction

Published 05/16/2023, 1:10 PM EDT

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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.

Islam Makhachev reacts to his cousin’s upcoming fight reports

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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Written by:

Sushant Sharma

920Articles

One take at a time

Sushant Sharma is a UFC writer at EssentiallySports who has a keen understanding of the complex commercial nature of the sport. With a degree in Commerce from a prestigious institute, Sushant has a unique perspective on the multi-million-dollar industry that surrounds the UFC. He is an avid fan of the sport and has been following it closely since 2016.
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Edited by:

Sherjeel Malik