Umar Nurmagomedov, one of the most promising fighters in the UFC bantamweight division, has a current undefeated record of 16-0, with a 4-0 record within the UFC. The ‘Young Eagle,’ who is the cousin of former lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, believes his dominance has been a deterrent for potential opponents, leading him to vent his frustrations online. Nurmagomedov has competed once this year, winning by knockout in the first round against Raoni Barcelos at UFC Vegas 67 in January.
Earlier this week, Nurmagomedov declared no one wanted to face him and has now openly challenged former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo. He was originally scheduled to take on Cory Sandhagen in the main event of UFC Nashville on August 5, 2023, but a severe shoulder injury and required surgery benched him just a month before the bout. Now that he’s fully recovered, Nurmagomedov is eager to return to the octagon, but he hasn’t yet been matched with an opponent.
The bond between Umar Nurmagomedov and his brother, Usman, as well as their cousin Khabib, has been highlighted recently. After Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement in 2020, he has maintained an important role within the team he trained with and grew up alongside during his career. Along with current lightweight champ Islam Makhachev, Khabib shares a close relationship with both Umar and Usman.
Javier Mendez, the head coach of American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), shared a heartwarming tribute to the bond these three cousins share. Mendez welcomed Nurmagomedovs and Makhachev into AKA nearly a decade ago and remains close with many members of the team guided by Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. Recently, Mendez took to Instagram to share a video of “The Eagle” training with his cousins, Umar and Usman.
