Cory Sandhagen vs Umar Nurmagomedov Preview & Picks
Umar Nurmagomedov is tipped to win this main event fight.
Nurmagomedov can take Cory Sandhagen to the mat and either force a submission or grind out a points win.
- Umar Nurmagomedov has a perfect 17-0 career record
- 15 of Umar Nurmagomedov’s 17 wins have been by submission or decision
- 7 of Umar Nurmagomedov’s 9 stoppage wins have been by submission
- Cory Sandhagen’s 4 career defeats have been by submission or decision
Cory Sandhagen Form
Cory Sandhagen is the #2 ranked contender in the bantamweight division with a 17-4 professional record (7 KOs, 3 Subs).
Sandhagen debuted in the UFC in January 2018 and quickly climbed the ladder with five consecutive victories.
That streak was halted when he was tapped out by Aljamain Sterling in the first round of their bantamweight title eliminator fight.
The 32-year-old American rebounded with a second-round knockout of Marlon Moraes, and backed that up with a 28-second stoppage of Frankie Edgar.
Sandhagen failed to make it three-in-a-row as he dropped a split decision to TJ Dillashaw, and in his next outing he lost an interim title fight with Petr Yan via unanimous decision.
He avoided a third straight loss by beating Song Yadong by doctor stoppage in his only outing of 2022, and backed that up in his two fights last year.
‘The Sandman’ edged a split decision win over Marlon Vera, before claiming a unanimous decision victory over Rob Font.
Umar Nurmagomedov Form
Umar Nurmagomedov is the #10 ranked bantamweight contender with a perfect career record of 17-0 (2 KOs, 7 Subs).
Nurmagomedov compiled a 12-0 record fighting while fighting in his native Russia and on a couple of PFL cards.
He finally signed with the UFC in 2021 and made an immediate impact with a couple of submission victories.
The 28-year-old Russian marked his debut with a second-round submission of Sergey Morozov, and then tapped out Brian Kelleher in the first round of his sophomore outing.
Nurmagomedov made it three-in-a-row inside the Octagon by register a unanimous decision win over Nate Maness, before knocking out Raoni Barcelos in his only outing of 2023.
He has fought once already this year, taking his perfect record to 17-0 with a points win over Bekzat Almakhan in March.