With UFC 311 just days away, Umar Nurmagomedov, one of the event’s co-main eventers sparked concern across the MMA community after revealing that he had recently sustained a serious injury. The Dagestani, who is the cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov, disclosed that he had suffered a fractured arm and had been advised against competing on January 18.
The news quickly went viral, with fans and analysts alike wondering if Nurmagomedov would be fit enough to face the champ. Given the high stakes—this is arguably the most important fight of his career—the timing of the injury raised major questions. However, in a bid to address growing concerns, Umar took to social media to provide an update on his recovery. Let’s see what the Dagestani had to say!
Umar Nurmagomedov clears the air over his injury ahead of UFC 311
In November of last year, Umar Nurmagomedov revealed in a tweet that he was dealing with an injury. He brought it up again during a recent interview with ESPN, but the 29-year-old fighter explained that he had fully recovered by the time his training camp for the fight against Merab Dvalishvili began. Referring to his cousin’s famous catchphrase, the unbeaten contender declared himself in “perfect” condition to step into the Octagon and aim to become the 15th undefeated fighter to capture a world title.
The injury occurred several months ago during a training session in Dagestan. Reports indicate that ‘Young Eagle’ sustained the setback during a rigorous sparring session when he threw a punch that ended up fracturing a bone in his hand. He recently sat down for a chat with Shak MMA and shared an honest update about his injury. According to the undefeated fighter, he is ready to take the belt away from Merab Dvalishvili.
He said, “It was just after when I came to the US. It was six or seven weeks ago. Right now I am healthy nothing like. I can do whatever I want. I can fight, I can like grapple and did great prepared like no preparing like very perfect and now I just have to cut weight and go to fight now. I’m very good now.”
Luckily for the fans, ‘Young Eagle’ is ready and roaring to take on the champion at UFC 311. The Dagestani camp is known for its intense training sessions, and one cannot sustain it if they are not fully fit. But Chael Sonnen doesn’t quite feel so. Before addressing the controversy around Nurmagomedov’s injury, Sonnen made a noteworthy point about his significance in UFC history.
He emphasized that the Dagestani is part of one of MMA’s first true fighting dynasties since the Gracie family, marking a new chapter in the sport’s legacy. However, he is not sure whether the challenger is a hundred percent fit or not.
Chael Sonnen shares his honest opinion on Umar’s injury
Can any fighter, no matter how talented or dominant, realistically compete with a broken or recovering arm? History has shown us that iconic athletes have had to step away from the sport due to serious injuries. No matter what their position is in the promotion. So where does that leave Umar Nurmagomedov? This is the question on everyone’s mind as speculation grows about his preparedness for UFC 311.
The 29-year-old is without a doubt one of the most talented fighters in the division at the moment. However, his injury update has raised doubts in the minds of many out there. One of the prominent voices questioning the injury claims is Chael Sonnen, who tackled the topic directly in his recent YouTube video.
The former UFC fighter did not mince his words and said, “They cannot put damaged goods in an unarmed fight. They have now taken this interview down. This interview that I am telling you about—that existed when I went to bed last night. It does not exist anymore. It is gone.” The Dagestani phenom has since assured fans that his recovery is complete. And that he is ready to become the new bantamweight champion.
Will Umar Nurmagomedov be able to bring out the best in the most important fight of his career? Or will his injury hinder his performance at UFC 311? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
