Umar Nurmagomedov has taken valuable lessons from his recent loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311. Despite entering the fight as the favorite and putting in solid early performances, a broken left hand hindered his capabilities and ultimately led to a unanimous decision defeat. Reflecting on his experience, the 29-year-old fighter emphasized the importance of resilience. “Not everything is going to be how you want but you can’t give up,” he remarked, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of competition.
As he prepares to return to the Octagon for the first time since that defeat, Nurmagomedov faces Mario Bautista at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi. The stakes are high for Nurmagomedov (18-1), who views this matchup as a critical opportunity to bounce back and reclaim his title aspirations. With Bautista riding an impressive eight-fight win streak, a victory for Nurmagomedov could potentially secure him an immediate rematch for the bantamweight title.
“Dvalishvili has nearly cleaned out the division,” Nurmagomedov stated. “If Mario Bautista wins this fight, he will be 9-0 in his last nine contests, while other top fighters only have one or two-fight win streaks.” Given the competitive landscape of the bantamweight division, Nurmagomedov believes this fight will be captivating for fans and essential for his journey back to the championship.
Despite Bautista’s record, Nurmagomedov enters the bout as a significant favorite, showcasing his confidence in his readiness. Now fully healed, he aims to address the shortcomings revealed in his last fight—specifically, the disparity in endurance between him and Dvalishvili. Nurmagomedov clarified that his performance was affected more by the injury than fatigue.
Acknowledging Bautista as a formidable opponent, Nurmagomedov recognized his skills as a striker. “I need to show a very good performance but I will not risk too much. I want to display better skills in striking and take him down for a submission if the opportunity arises,” Nurmagomedov stated, underscoring his preparation for the fight.
With the motivation to extract a victory and ultimately challenge for the title again, Umar Nurmagomedov remains focused on his path back to the UFC bantamweight championship—an endeavor that embodies both his dedication and the thrilling unpredictability of mixed martial arts.