Umar Nurmagomedov wants to set the record straight—that he’s not someone who regularly pulls out of fights.
The cousin of Khabib and bearing the legendary Nurmagomedov surname, Umar continued to maintain his unbeaten professional record with a unanimous decision win over Bekzat Almakhan at UFC Vegas 87 this Saturday night at the UFC Apex in Paradise, Nevada, marking his return to the Octagon after more than a year.
Following the fight, Umar voiced his vexation at those who had pointed fighters at him for his inactivity, as well as pulling out of the Cory Sandhagen matchup which was set to take place at UFC Nashville in August last year.
Umar Nurmagomedov wants to prove his critics wrong
In the post fight press conference at UFC Vegas 87, Umar said that it has been only twice that he withdrew from fights and that too for his own reasons, and insisted that he’s ready to take on “The Sandman” again.
“Everybody talks about my pullouts,” said Umar. “In my life, I pulled out because of me, my health – two times. First time, I was sick. My face was very big, some stuff, and I didn’t sleep all night. I was very sick. I didn’t remember something worse than that time in my life. I didn’t fight, but it was the fight with Sergey Morozov. Later, I fought with him. Second time because of me, my health, I pulled out because of my shoulder. I injured my shoulder and I did surgery. I will fight with Cory Sandhagen again, I hope. It’s two times I pulled out because of me.”
“Other when coronavirus came, my uncle passed away, when my opponents pulled out. They’re going to count everything and say, ‘Umar pulled out eight times.’ No, it’s not true. I pulled out two times. One time I fought with this same guy again. I don’t think someone is scared. I think everyone who comes to do this job goes inside and tries to damage each other. Everyone is brave. I just want to fight,” he added. [H/T MMA Junkie]
Umar Nurmagomedov’s withdrawal from UFC Nashville was made public in mid-July, following which Sandhagen was booked against Rob Font for the catchweight 140 pound main event. “The Sandma” had emerged victorious with a unanimous decision.
SHARE
