Last night at UFC Abu Dhabi, undefeated sensation Umar Nurmagomedov showcased his skills, defeating #2 ranked bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen. This victory significantly elevated Nurmagomedov’s position as a top contender in the division.
Despite Sandhagen’s experience and higher ranking, the ‘Young Eagle’ delivered a dominant five-round performance, securing a unanimous decision victory. This triumph would not have been possible without the unwavering support of Umar’s coach and cousin, Khabib Nurmagomedov, who was by his side throughout training and cornered him during the fight.
However, Khabib’s influence extended beyond pre-fight preparation. As revealed by Umar in a post-fight press conference shared on the MMA Fighting Instagram page, Khabib also provided crucial advice during the fight. “After the third round,” Umar recounted, “Khabib cornered me and He (Khabib), ‘Now is the beginning of rounds and you have to be strongest, don’t show weakness. You have to be strong. Go ahead and take this victory, press him, push him, don’t lose any second.”‘
Since his retirement in 2020, following the passing of his father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, the undefeated Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov (29-0) has dedicated himself to supporting his team. This includes his cousins Umar and Usman Nurmagomedov and teammate Islam Makhachev.
This Instagram post from MMA Fighting captured the attention of fans who admire coach Khabib Nurmagomedov’s game-planning abilities. It generated excitement among fans as it highlighted Khabib’s profound understanding of MMA, sparking enthusiastic discussions in the comment section.
Fans react to Khabib Nurmagomedov ’s advice to his cousin
Fans in the comments recalled that Khabib Nurmagomedov’s words, “You have to be strong. Go ahead and take this victory, press him..” echoed a similar line spoken by Duke Evers, Rocky Balboa’s trainer, during the climatic fight against Ivan Drago in Rocky 4. A fan commented sarcastically, “Oh wow, bro pulled out an Instagram quote instead of giving him actual fighting advice.” Another person had the same take on the advice as they wrote, “Very interesting advice😂😂😂 🤡.”
However, some UFC viewers praised Khabib’s wisdom, comparing him to a Star Wars character, as one of them commented, “Khabib is a tree of knowledge. Literally, master Yoda of the UFC.” Meanwhile, not only Khabib’s fans were appreciative, but Cory Sandhagen’s supporters also expressed their respect for the Nurmagomedov cousins.
A social media user commented, “And he really did that as a Cory fan respect to Umar for showing up those last couple of rounds.” This sentiment was echoed by another Sandhagen fan who, despite wanting a victory for their idol, acknowledged the quality of the fight, saying, “Wanted Cory to win, but this was a great fight, nonetheless.”
Some people also saw Umar Nurmagomedov as the next bantamweight champion. One fan commented, “Umar is going to be champion by this time next year.” Meanwhile, another person went further, claiming that Umar would surpass Khabib’s achievements, including his undefeated record, division championship, title defense record, and longest title reign. The fan stated, “He will be better than Khabib in this division.”