Umar Nurmagomedov Dominates Cory Sandhagen To Strengthen UFC Title Contender Status

Umar Nurmagomedov put on a show against Cory Sandhagen winning their five-round bantamweight title eliminator via unanimous decision.

The bout took place at UFC Abu Dhabi in August 2024, but it was back in the spotlight before Nurmagomedov’s UFC Shanghai trip but the judges scored it 50-45, 49-46 and 49-46 for Nurmagomedov.

The result maintained his unblemished record and placed him as a prominent contender.

Nurmagomedov used his speed movement and grappling to his advantage throughout the fight.

He was able to get Sandhagen down repeatedly and controlled chunks of the bout from top position. Sandhagen's striking kept him safe every time he sought to create momentum.

Sandhagen was still dangerous with kicks punches and movement to create issues.

Nurmagomedov’s control and consistency, however made it tough for the American to turn the momentum of the fight.

It was a big win because Sandhagen came in as one of the more respected contender in the division.

Beating a seasoned opponent in a five round fight demonstrated Nurmagomedov could deal with the pressures of a title fight.

The Dagestani boxer then took a big opportunity while Sandhagen continued to fight around the top of the rankings.

But their battle continues to be a significant aspect of Nurmagomedov’s career for demonstrating his ability to blend technical strikes with grappling.

Fans looking back on the encounter will see why Nurmagomedov became one of the most watched competitors in the UFC bantamweight division.