Is Umar Nurmagomedov going into his first UFC title struggle injured?
Based on DraftKings, the undefeated Dagestani is a greater than three-to-one favourite to defeat reigning and defending bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili when the 2 co-headline UFC 311 contained in the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles on January 18. Nevertheless, after Nurmagomedov’s newest admission, it may be value it to drop a couple of bucks on ‘The Machine’ to achieve his first title protection.
Throughout a current interview with the UFC, Nurmagomdeov revealed that he had damaged his arm whereas coaching.
“After I used to be in Dagestan, I punch my arm. I am going to point out the physician, you understand, and I present them. They [do] like not [an] MRI [but] [what do you call it] after they examine bone? They did X-ray and so they stated, ‘You broke [your arm].’ You recognize after that, after 20 days I am going once more even once I was damaged, I used to be operating. I need to nonetheless be in form, you understand.
“Even that time I try run, try to try to do shadow boxing, you know try to be in shape. And after 20 days I go again, and it’s become much better.”
Nurmagomedov didn’t elaborate on the extent of the harm, however even a hairline fracture takes six to eight weeks to heal.
Dvalishvili Insists Umar Nurmagomedov hasn’t earned his title shot
Nurmagomdeov, 18-0, earned his shot on the 135-pound crown with a dominant determination victory over Cory Sandhagen over the summer time. That skyrocketed him from the underside of the rankings to the No. 2 spot — a lot to the chagrin of Dvalishvili who has criticized the UFC for giving Nurmagomedov a title alternative regardless of his blatant lack of wins within the high 15.
“Umar is a skilled fighter, but it’s a huge challenge, and he hasn’t earned it like the rest of us,” Dvalishvili stated of his first challenger.
Dvalishvili claimed the bantamweight belt in September when he handily defeated ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley at UFC 306 inside Sphere in Las Vegas.
