Yahoo Sports Ali Abdelaziz: UFC 311's Umar Nurmagomedov 'only guy' who can pass Khabib's 29-0 record
Like Khabib Nurmagomedov, Dominance MMA manager Ali Abdelaziz sees Umar Nurmagomedov retiring undefeated.
Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) challenges bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) in the UFC 311 co-main event Jan. 18 from Inglewood, Calif. (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).
"The Young Eagle" is following in the footsteps of his cousin Khabib, who hung up his gloves as an undefeated UFC lightweight champion in 2020. Not only does Abdelaziz see Umar mirroring Khabib's success, but potentially surpassing him.
"There's no doubt in my mind Umar will be a champion at 135 pounds, and I believe Umar is going to be a champion for a long time," Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie. "I think Umar is the only guy who can really challenge Khabib's record. He can retire undefeated, 29-0, 30-0. Of course he has a tough opponent, but I believe Umar is better everywhere."
Many took issue with Nurmagomedov getting a shot at Dvalishvili after just one ranked win over Cory Sandhagen. Abdelaziz clarifies that Nurmagomedov was willing to fight anyone at anytime to strengthen his resume for a title shot.
"Umar is one of the best fighters I've ever seen," Abdelaziz said. "He is so good everywhere, and he's so humble and so nice. He was offered Merab in Madison Square Garden and he said yes. He was offered Merab in December and he said yes.
"He was offered Dec. 14, Song Yadong, he said yes. He was offered in January Song Yadong and he said yes. After that, the UFC came and said, 'Merab, Jan. 18,' and he said yes. He's been saying yes to everybody. He was willing to fight ranked, not ranked. He just wanted to fight."
UFC CEO Dana White revealed that after Dvalishvili continuously dismissed Nurmagomedov as a worthy title challenger, he stormed into the UFC Performance Institute and demanded to fight him. Abdelaziz thinks Dvalishvili had no choice.
"Obviously Merab did not want this fight, he didn't think Umar deserves it," Abdelaziz said. "I think Merab's just like, 'Everyone's pressuring me.' The UFC is pressuring him, media is pressuring him, fans are pressuring him, and he's a man. Sometimes you have to defend your turf. His turf is his title. He was pushed into this fight, he did not want this fight, he didn't think Umar deserves this fight.
"He said he stormed into the (PI), listen, at the end of the day, he was going to fight Umar regardless. There was nobody else. Fight him now, March, April, May. Maybe he said, 'You know what, this is what I want to do right now. I want to shut everybody up, and I want to fight Umar.' Merab is tough. He's a very tough guy. It's a very tough fight. He's on a 10-fight winning streak for a reason, but I believe Umar is going to beat him everywhere."
Related
Merab Dvalishvili says he was denied UFC P.I. entry because of Umar Nurmagomedov
Cory Sandhagen doesn't like Merab Dvalishvili's chances against Umar Nurmagomedov
Khabib: Umar Nurmagomedov will expose 'nervous' Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 311.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ali Abdelaziz: UFC 311's Umar Nurmagomedov 'only guy' who can pass Khabib's 29-0 record
