It’s the first Saturday in the month of August. Among other things, it means that summer’s winding down, your number of weekends left to make a beach trip are dwindling, and that there are only three Saturdays left until the 2024-25 college football season kicks off, highlighted by a game between Florida State and Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland.
There will be plenty of time to watch pigskin action as the fall progresses, but this Saturday belongs to MMA‘s top promotion and its second matinee event of the summer. Yas Island, the host venue to the UFC‘s Fight Island stints between July of 2020 and January of 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, is the setting for UFC on ABC 7 from Etihad Arena
Live coverage of UFC on ABC 7 begins Saturday at 12 noon ET/ 9 am PT with a bit of a change. Due to the telecast of this year’s Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony from Canton, OH on ESPN proper, Saturday’s undercard will be seen on ESPN2, with the mothership joining for the main card at 3 pm ET/ noon PT, in addition to airing on your local ABC station.
Bantamweights Collide in UFC on ABC 7 Main Event
All told, absent any 11th-hour postponements between now and Saturday afternoon, the final version of UFC on ABC 7 features a full 13-fight card, including a key fixture in the 135-lb. class in the UFC on ABC 7 main event. No. 2 contender Cory Sandhagen (17-4 MMA, 10-3 UFC) takes on No. 10 contender Umar Nurmagomedov (17-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC,) in an elimination battle for the UFC Bantamweight Championship, with the winner facing the survivor of the Sept. 14 Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili fight.
These two contestants enter this main attraction on a tear, having combined for a 34-4 record thus far. As with all UFC main events, Saturday afternoon’s headliner will be an advertised maximum of five rounds at five minutes per round to close the show.
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UFC on ABC 7 Main Event Fighter Comparison and Betting Odds
Heading into the UFC on ABC 7 main event on Saturday, Cory Sandhagen is the taller gladiator at 5-foot-11, compared to the 5-foot-8 frame of Umar Nurmagomedov. “Sandman” owns a one-inch reach advantage (70 inches to 69 inches), as well as a one-inch leg reach advantage (40 inches to 39 inches) over Nurmagomedov.
Currently, the oddsmakers have Umar Nurmagomedov installed as a -325 favorite on the money line, while Cory Sandhagen counters as a +260 underdog. If you plan on betting on this or any other fight happening this weekend, please wager responsibly.
Sandhagen Finally Faces Nurmagomedov a Year Later
Cory Sandhagen enters the UFC on ABC 7 main event having gone 3-2 in his last five fights. At present, he’s on a three-fight winning streak.
Last time out, he scored a unanimous decision win over Rob Font (20-8 MMA, 10-7 UFC) on Aug. 5, 2023 during UFC Nashville on ESPN. Font was a replacement for Sandhagen’s opponent this weekend, Umar Nurmagomedov, who withdrew from that night’s card amid a shoulder injury.
Two months ago, the No. 2 contender at bantamweight mentioned to Farah Hannoun of USA Today’s MMA Junkie that the top ranking for the 135-lb. division was on the line for the originally-scheduled scrap last year.
“Obviously, the first time that I went to dinner with the UFC, they offered me Umar, and I was like, ‘That’s a little bit down in the rankings,'” Sandhagen began. “They were like, ‘Well, it’ll be a No. 1 contender fight.’ I was, like, ‘Okay, then, absolutely.’ Obviously, that one got scrapped, and then this go-around, they relayed to me, I don’t want to say the exact quote, but it was something along the lines of ‘Look, I don’t know how you won’t be next after Merab if you win this fight.'”
Will Sandhagen get the title shot? Tune in and find out.
Nurmagomedov Seeks to Remain Undefeated
In the other corner, Umar Nurmagomedov has yet to lose as a professional. Back in March, he notched his 17th consecutive win thanks to a unanimous decision over Bekzat Almakhan (11-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) during UFC Vegas 87 at the Apex.
Nurmagomedov’s cousin, the great Khabib, who retired in 2020 with a 29-0 career record, serves as his cornerman on Saturday, which was discussed in Umar’s media availability ahead of his initial UFC main event.
“We’re lucky to have a coach like Khabib and it’s really tough to train with him,” Nurmagomedov mentioned, “but, you know, iron sharpens iron, sharpening iron. We’re becoming strong and I think it’s very good for us.”
Umar Nurmagomedov has taken after his cousin quite a bit, right down to the undefeated record. Coming into this weekend, the two cousins have combined to go 46-0 in MMA. Saturday’s UFC on ABC 7 main event is the most critical bout in his career. Only time will tell if he’ll thrive on Aug. 3.
Analysis, Film Study, and Prediction
Stylistically, the UFC on ABC 7 main event looks to favor Umar Nurmagomedov, an International Master in Sport in Combat Sambo, compared to Cory Sandhagen’s brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Sandhagen’s Kicking Game is Brutal
There are MMA fights that sometimes play out like the final drives of football games. One kick can change the dynamic of the entire contest. Just look at the tape of Sandhagen’s fight vs. Marlon Moraes in October of 2020, during the second stint on Fight Island.
During the second round of a scheduled five, Sandhagen landed a front kick to Moraes’ body, following it up with a question mark kick. About a minute into the round, he unloaded on a spinning heel kick to the head, knocking him down right away. A burst of ground and pound shots ended the contest.
Look for Sandhagen to pepper Nurmagomedov with kicks. If he lands a crisp kick on the button, the UFC on ABC 7 main event is a wrap.
Umar Nurmagomedov Has One-Punch Power
In the other corner, Umar Nurmagomedov can put any opponent away with just one blow, like he did vs. Raoni Barcelos on Jan. 14. Late in the first round, Nurmagomedov kept Barcelos guessing by mixing his stance to throw leg kicks and punches.
Following a left-handed punch, Nurmagomedov absorbed a kick before the fighters exchanged strikes. Nurmagomedov proved to be superior on this night, landing a left hook to floor Barcelos. If Nurmagomedov can land a crisp left hook, he’ll move up to 18-0.
Final Thoughts
If you don’t have plans made for Saturday afternoon quite yet, you do now. Stay inside and watch what’s sure to be an amazing five rounds (or less) of action.
Prediction: Umar Nurmagomedov by First-Round TKO.
