Trainer [autotag]Tim Welch[/autotag] he thinks [autotag]Sean O’Malley[/autotag] taking [autotag]Umar Nurmagomedov[/autotag] would lift him to even greater heights.
Nurmagomedov (18-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) overcame Cory Sandhagen to become the No. 1 contender Saturday in the UFC on ABC 7 headliner. O’Malley (17-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) puts on his title bantamweight match against Merab Dvalishvili (17-4 MMA, 10-2 UFC) on September 14 in the main fight of UFC 306.
Welch sees a potential fight with Nurmagomedov as a career changer for his star student.
“Umar is well rounded. He shoots a lot, he trains with the Nurmagomedovs, it’s definitely a serious problem,” Welch said. Send radio. “For Sean, he always wants the biggest fights that will bring the most attention and the biggest challenge.
“Right now, Merab. Two undefeated guys and having the name Nurmagomedov, it’s a huge, huge challenge and something that Sean would be excited about, because if he knocked out Umar, that would put him on another level again.”
Welch was impressed with Nurmagomedov’s performance. Although Sandhagen has shown toughness in numerous grappling matches, Nurmagomedov has also managed to find success on the feet.
“It was the first time he fought someone in the top 10 and he faced Cory Sadhagen, who is a monster,” Welch said. “He’s an experienced striker, a grappling specialist and I was a little surprised at how good Umar’s timing was,” Welch said. “His timing on the takedowns was really good, and he was getting into the double legs. He was getting into the simple legs, high crotch.
“Cory defended him from the beginning and when you defend someone’s shots like that early on, it can break people mentally. it was a big victory for him, a big statement in his hometown too. Now he’s (18-0) and will likely move into the top three at bantamweight. This was definitely surprising to him, and it just goes to show how. skilled he is.”
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For more information on the card, visit the MMA Junkie events hub to UFC on ABC 7.
This article was originally published on MMA Junkie: Sean O’Malley coach: Knocking out Umar Nurmagomedov would ‘just put him on another level again’
