Umar Nurmagomedov (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
The next contender for the UFC men’s bantamweight title can be decided on Saturday at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
In the main event of UFC on ABC, No. 2 ranked Cory Sandhagen will take on undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov. The latter is the cousin of former UFC lightweight champion and all-time great Khabib Nurmagomedov.
The landmark 135-pound bout will round out one of the best Fight Night cards of the year. Here’s a look at the event viewing information.
Things start much earlier this weekend.
Main Card (ABC / ESPN+) – 3 p.m. ET
- Badambaro: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov
- Average weight: Shara Magomedov vs. Michał Oleksiejczuk
- Badambaro: Marlon Vera vs. Deiveson Figueiredo
- Heavy weight: Tony Ferguson vs. Michael Chiesa
- Women’s strawweight: Mackenzie Dern vs. Loopy Godinez
- Lightweight Boxer: Joel Álvarez vs. Elves Brenner
Preliminary Card (ESPN2 / ESPN+) – Noon ET
- Light heavyweight: Alonzo Menifield vs. Azamat Murzakanov
- Lightweight Boxer: Mohammad Yahya vs Kauê Fernandes
- Heavy weight: Shamil Gaziev vs. Don’Tale Mayes
- Lightweight Boxer: Guram Kutateladze vs. Jordan Vucenic
- Women’s strawweight: Victoria Dudakova vs. Sam Hughes
- Lightweight Boxer: Jai Herbert vs. Rolando Bedoya
- Average weight: Cedriques Dumas vs. Denis Tiuliulin
Sandhagen enters the match on a three-game winning streak. In his last two fights, he won decisions over Rob Font and Marlon Vera. In September 2022, Sandhagen suspended Song Yadong due to an ugly track.
A fourth straight win would likely lead to a title shot for Sandhagen.
Nurmagomedov enters the fight undefeated at 17-0. However, Sandhagen represents a major step for the 28-year-old Russian. Nurmagomedov has proven himself capable of winning in the Octagon either way.
His first two UFC wins came via submission, but in January 2023, Nurmagomedov scored a shocking first-round KO over Raoni Barcelos that raised his stock even further.
In September, champion Sean O’Malley will defend his title against Merab Dvalishvili at Noche UFC at the Las Vegas Sphere. Barring a result that leads to an immediate rematch, the winner of Sandhagen-Nurmagomedov could be next for the man who holds the title after Noche UFC.
Shara Magomedov will have his biggest test in the co-main event when he takes on Michał Oleksiejczuk. Magomedov has the style and look of a future star, but he needs to be able to fight past opponents like Oleksiejczuk if he hopes to climb the middleweight ranks.
Also, Vera returns to the Octagon for another high-stakes bantamweight bout. Deiveson Figueiredo will look to remain undefeated at 135 pounds to extend Vera’s losing streak. Most recently, Vera unsuccessfully contested the title in March, but was soundly defeated by O’Malley in a highly anticipated rematch.
Tony Ferguson will face Michael Chiesa in an attempt to avoid extending the longest losing streak in UFC history. Ferguson has lost an incredible seven games in a row and you have to wonder if eight would be enough.
Stay tuned for more matchweek coverage as we head into the action in Abu Dhabi.
