Is Umar Nurmagomedov Favored for Being Khabib Nurmagomedov’s Cousin?

Dagestan has produced some exceptional fighters for Dana White’s promotion. One of the most famous among them all is Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Retiring with an enviable 29-0 unbeaten record, ‘The Eagle’ next concentrated on building a legacy lineup of fighters from Dagestan. While Islam Makhachev seems to be the best product after Nurmagomedov right now, Khabib’s family members too, are coming up steadily.

For example, Umar Nurmagomedov has a lot of hype behind him, but the big question remains: Is Umar worth all the hype? 

Umar Nurmagomedov Makes Case to Carry Khabib's Legacy

For a long time now, Umar has faced criticism for carrying the Nurmagomedov surname. Critics have repeatedly accused him of getting everything dished out due to his uncle. But a closer look at his career trajectory reveals that it might not be true. Surely, Umar did botch his chance to become the UFC bantamweight champion against Merab Dvalishvili. 

However, if we put that one fight aside, Khabib’s cousin has won 20 of his 21 rounds. Additionally, his takedown dominance can also be fathomed from the fact that Umar secured a 34-0 takedown record, excluding the one time he met ‘The Machine.’ 

Surely, the above stats do look quite rosy, but there are significant areas where improvements are heavily required. Initially, the 30-year-old fighter had very little problem finishing off his opponents.

Umar Nurmagomedov's Submission Attempts on Decline

Gradually, as he's climbed up the ranks, his submission attempts have significantly decreased. All of his last five fights have gone to decision.  The surprising part? Umar failed to go for a single submission attempt in his last 25 rounds! Surely, the stats don't paint a very bright picture. 

All of that can change in his upcoming bout against Song Yadong. Yadong has been around in the UFC for nine years and not once has he been finished.

Thus, if Umar can do the impossible, then the noises around favoritism will diminish. If the fight goes the other way, the 30-year-old will have some really unpleasant questions to answer.