At UFC 324 in Las Vegas, Umar Nurmagomedov faced unexpected hurdles during his bantamweight bout with former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo. The fight did not go as Nurmagomedov anticipated, beginning with Figueiredo missing weight and continuing with his apparent unwillingness to engage aggressively throughout the contest.
Nurmagomedov’s Perspective on the Bout’s Difficulty
After the fight, Nurmagomedov expressed his surprise at the ease of the match compared to his preparation.
“I was expecting it was going to be more hard, and it was easier than my sparring partners,”
Nurmagomedov said in a post-fight media session at the T-Mobile Arena, mentioning other tough opponents like Manel Kape and Magomed Magomedov who had presented greater challenges in training. He emphasized his effort to maintain pressure, stating,
“I tried to do my best. I tried to fight like a killer, I tried to go ahead, but when your opponent’s not engaging, it’s a little hard to show a competitive fight.”
Analysis of Figueiredo’s Avoidant Strategy
Though Nurmagomedov secured a decision victory, the lack of active engagement from Figueiredo left the Dagestani fighter uncertain about his opponent’s approach.
“We’ll see what’s going to happen next. He’s a former champion, he’s a very tough guy. He’s not easy. I don’t know why he was not engaging. I really don’t know, but he’s a tough guy,”
Nurmagomedov said. He speculated on possible reasons, adding,
“Maybe he’s scared of tiring, maybe he’s not in shape, I really don’t know. We have what we have. We’ll see who’s going to be next.”
Future Plans and Desire for More Active Competition
With Ramadan approaching, Nurmagomedov confirmed he would not fight during the holy month and remains uncertain about his next opponent. He acknowledged that Petr Yan seems to be awaiting a rematch with Merab Dvalishvili, but indicated his willingness to face the winner of the Sean O’Malley versus Song Yadong matchup—who eventually was Sean O’Malley. Emphasizing his eagerness, Nurmagomedov stated,
“I just want to be active, I just want to fight.”
He continued,
“I don’t want to be the guy to sit down and wait, ‘when are they gonna give me a chance?’ No, I’m going to come to take the chance, fight again for the title. And I want to take it.”
Significance of the Bout and What Lies Ahead
While Nurmagomedov’s win at UFC 324 enhances his standing in the bantamweight division, the subdued nature of the fight raises questions about Figueiredo’s future strategy and condition. Nurmagomedov’s frustration reflects his ambition to compete at a high level consistently, signaling a readiness to challenge top contenders promptly after Ramadan. His remarks suggest that he is not willing to delay his ascent, positioning himself as an active and determined contender within the UFC.
