January 7, 2025 9:20 pm ET
Coach Tim Welch doubts Umar Nurmagomedov would combat UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili severely injured.
Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) challenges Dvalishvili (18-4 MMA, 11-2 UFC) Jan. 18 within the UFC 311 co-headliner at Intuit Dome from Inglewood, Calif. (ESPN+ pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+).
Nurmagomedov let it slip that he lately fractured his arm and that each his supervisor and brother, Usman, suggested him towards combating Dvalishvili in January. Nevertheless, Nurmagomedov insisted on competing earlier than Ramadan begins, which Welch believes means he must be match sufficient to compete.
“They know they’re going to get the title shot finally,” Welch advised Submission Radio. “So I don’t assume he’s going to be that damage. I believe he’s in all probability going to be in all probability extra wholesome and extra prepared than individuals assume. And, yeah, it’s like I stated, for these title pictures, it’s like, for some individuals, you’ll get one title shot your entire profession, the remainder of your life.
“For Umar, together with his final identify, I really feel like even when he misplaced this Merab combat, he wins two extra, he’s again within the title image. So I don’t assume that’s the case. I don’t assume they’re like, ‘You’re going to get one shot at this title, Umar, and also you’re by no means going to get one once more, so it’s a must to take it even if you happen to’re injured.’ I believe he’s not that injured, they usually’re actually assured with this match.” Dvalishvili was by no means offered on Nurmagomedov being a worthy title contender, after the 29-year-old wanted only one ranked win over Cory Sandhagen to earn his shot.
Welch’s star fighter, Sean O’Malley, entered his previous title combat with Dvalishvili at UFC 306 with a hip harm. He lost his bantamweight title and underwent surgical procedure for a torn labrum in his left hip after the combat.
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