Is Umar Nurmagomedov going into his first UFC title struggle injured?
In keeping with 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 dollars 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’m going to indicate the physician, , and I present them. They [do] like not [an] MRI [but] [what do you call it] once they verify bone? They did X-ray and so they mentioned, ‘You broke [your arm].’ You recognize after that, after 20 days I’m going once more even after I was damaged, I used to be working. I wish to nonetheless be in form, .
“Even that point I strive run, attempt to attempt to do shadow boxing, attempt to be in form. And after 20 days I’m going once more, and it’s develop into significantly 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 resolution 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 prime 15.
“Umar is a talented fighter, nevertheless it’s an enormous problem, and he hasn’t earned it like the remainder of us,” Dvalishvili mentioned 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.