Umar Nurmagomedov vs Cory Sandhagen Prediction: Who will turn out to be stronger?

Prediction for the MMA match which will take place on August 4. Who will turn out to be stronger? Check the team conditions! Several betting options are available.

Umar Nurmagomedov has no losses in his career so far, and has fought five fights in the UFC (three of them early wins). He would have fought someone at least from the top 5, but until now he could not find an opponent of this level. There was a chance to meet with Corey Sandhagen last year, but Umar got injured during training and withdrew.

Surprisingly, Nurmagomedov is an obscenely big favourite to face the number two ranked fighter, despite the fact that his last fight was extremely unconvincing. In March, he faced Kazakhstani UFC debutant Bekzat Almakhan and won on points, laying his opponent down in parlour, while being knocked down by a punch and knockdown in the first round.

The Dagestani is not known as a brilliant finisher, but if he wins early, he does it, as a rule, with submissions. However, he is also quite good in the stand-up, although he is cautious if his opponents are good punchers. Corey Sandhagen is definitely the strongest opposition of Umar's career, and so far none of Nurmagomedov's top fighters have tested him in the cage.

Cory Sandhagen is no longer the guy who pleases everyone with his unconventional standup and can't do anything in the parterre.

His last fight, for example, he took at the expense of wrestling, dragging Rob Font on the ground for all five rounds. And the starting point was his loss to Petr Yan in a fight for the interim title in 2021, after which Corey won three fights in a row - beating Song Yadong and beating Marlon Vera and Rob Font on points.

We believe that this is the fight where you can take a risk and bet on the underdog - the difference in odds is huge, and the skill level is roughly similar, although, of course, the guys fight differently.

Sandhagen will have to defend against endless take-downs, clinch and fight back with his incredible knees, but he could surprise in the stand-up. Umar, on the other hand, will likely run away from punches on the ground, not taking exchanges. But he still won't be able to avoid the stand-up completely, and as the previous fight showed, Nurmagomedov's technique and defence are not flawless. Corey is not Bekzat Almakhan, and he won't forgive mistakes.

We shouldn't forget the fact that the fight will be a five-round fight, and it will be a novelty for Umar (Sandhagen has five such long fights).