SUMMARY
- UFC bantamweight prospect Umar Nurmagomedov is set for an exciting return.
- Nurmagomedov's last fight came against Raoni Barcelos in January 2023.
UFC Vegas 87 is shaping up to be quite an exciting fight card. With a heavyweight clash between Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Shamil Gaziev in the main event, fans can expect some fireworks this Saturday. Aside from that, former flyweight title contender Alex Perez is also returning to the UFC to take on undefeated prospect, Muhammad Mokaev. But, perhaps the most talented fighter on the card is Umar Nurmagomedov.
Umar is one of the most highly-rated fighters in the UFC. Hailing from Dagestan, Umar is a ferocious wrestler. However, that is not a surprise, as he is close to the former UFC lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov. Not just that, Umar also trained with Khabib’s late father, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov. But, the 28-year-old has also broken the Dagestani stereotype.
Getting ready pic.twitter.com/v18y0eCZhP
— Umar Nurmagomedov (@UNmgdv) February 9, 2024
Although he has killer grappling skills, Nurmagomedov also possesses great striking skills. It was very evident during his last fight against Raoni Barcelos in January 2023. Usman rocked Barcelos with a body kick and then finished him off with some brutal punches. Over a year after that, he is set to return to the Octagon to take on Bekzat Almakhan this Saturday.
UFC Vegas 87: Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Bekzat Almakhan stats
Stats | Umar Nurmagomedov | Bekzat Almakhan |
---|---|---|
Wins | 16 | 14 |
Losses | 0 | 1 |
Height | 5 ft 7 in | 5 ft 6 in |
Division | Bantamweight | Bantamweight |
Reach | 68.9 in | 68.2 in |
Age | 28 | 26 |
Nurmagomedov vs. Almakhan: Fight breakdown and prediction
As per UFC stats, Umar Nurmagomedov is averaging 4.85 strikes per minute. He also has a striking accuracy of 70%, which is much higher than some of the best strikers in the company. He also absorbs less than 1 strike per minute, as his absorption rate is 0.73 strikes on average. On the other hand, he also averages 4.28 takedowns per 15 minutes. Not only that, Umar also holds a 100% takedown defense and attempts 0.95 submissions per fight as well.
Bekzat Almakhan, Nurmagomedov’s opponent, is set to make his UFC debut with the fight. While not many would have accepted Umar as their first fight in the UFC, Almakhan has chosen to stand up to the challenge. As per topology, he holds an MMA record of 16-1. He has 12 KOs, 1 submission, and 1 decision win in his career. However, his only loss has come via submission. It will be something that Nurmagomedov would like to explore, who already has seven submission wins in his career.
On paper, Umar Nurmagomedov is a massive favorite to win the clash. While he has been inactive for over a year, Umar is in the prime of his fighting career, and it will be hard for Bekzat Almakhan to match the former for skill to skill. It will also be the Kazakhstani fighter’s first UFC outing, and it will be hard for him to hold his nerves against such an elite opponent. So fans can expect Umar to continue his unbeaten run.