Watch Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Cory Sandhagen full fight video highlights from their UFC Abu Dhabi main event showdown Saturday night, courtesy of multiple outlets.
Nurmagomedov vs. Sandhagen took place Aug. 3 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Umar Nurmagomedov (18-0) and Cory Sandhagen (21-5) squared off in the main card clash. The fight aired live on pay-per-view on ABC.
Catch all the video highlights below.
Make that 18 wins in a row!
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) August 3, 2024
Umar Nurmagomedov beats Cory Sandhagen at #UFCAbuDhabi @VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/JKAY2EwUc4
Coach Khabib! #UFCAbuDhabi
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) August 3, 2024
Umar Nurmagomedov getting solid advice before the final round! @VisitAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/XoCKqZptPV
Umar agresivo en pie y piso! #UFCAbuDhabi @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/JjNT736agy
— UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) August 3, 2024
Tantean el suelo! #UFCAbuDhabi @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/qyczmt2SXQ
— UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) August 3, 2024
Cory Sandhagen coming out to Voodoo Child #UFCAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/w82zpJ6FVI
— Corey B ⚜️ (@CoreyBElite) August 3, 2024
Aquí viene @UNmgdv #UFCAbuDhabi @InAbuDhabi | #InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/NvC1qBc8a9
— UFC Español (@UFCEspanol) August 3, 2024
Coming up next… @CorySandhagenX vs @UNmgdv
— UFC (@ufc) August 3, 2024
[ Live NEXT on @ABC & @ESPN ]#InAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi | #UFCAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/VU2MhYE2oz
Your headliners have made their way to #UFCAbuDhabi @CorySandhagenX vs @UNmgdv #InAbuDhabi | @InAbuDhabi | @VisitAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/89UgCxzwv6
— UFC (@ufc) August 3, 2024
For more on Nurmagomedov vs. Sandhagen, check out the live blog below.
Round 1
Umar giving a lot of space to start. Very cautious as he’s out in southpaw. Cory takes the center and switches stances. Low kicks from both early to test the waters.
Cory goes for another and Umar grabs single. Cory defends but Umar snaps him down and mat wrestles to the back. Cory gets to the fence and manages to clear the leg and get to space! Good effort from Cory.
Cory with another low kick. He’s holding that center and keeping range. Umar looking a little uncomfortable but Cory not putting much offense out yet.
Umar kicking back now and gets another single. Another snap down attempt but Cory defends this time. Still holding in the center with Cory on one leg. He’s trying to run the pipe and Cory defends. Then gets an elbow in the way and breaks.
Cory with a kick up the middle. Switches stances, giving looks. Neither man landing much though. They trade low kicks. Umar falls over when trying to step in but he’s up. Umar looking nervous in there right now. Moment too big?
Umar lands a left. Cory very settled in but catches a left hand. Umar showing a lot of speed in there but Cory lands a good calf kick. Umar can’t find a comfort zone yet but lands a good right hand. Cory lands a pair of kicks to the leg. Umar goes up top and lands. Small cut opens up.
Less than a minute and Cory tries to open up. Umar changes levels and finishes a double. Cory tries to roll through but they get into a weird spot and end in a scramble.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Sandhagen.
Round 2
That round is a toss up. I’m going to assume Sandhagen gets it because he stuffed takedowns and the optics help him there. But really, that is a 10-10 in a world where we allowed those. Super close.
Cory back to the center. Umar kicks and gets on a single. Cory defending and sprawling this one as Umar tries to work through and he slides by to the back! Cory gets to the fence immediately though to start fighting hands and he gets out.
Cory lands a sharp left as Umar steps in blindly with a jab. Slip and fire. Umar takes it well. Low kick from Umar. Exchange from both men inside. Cory lands a calf kick of his own. Umar and Cory jab. This is so close on both ends of things.
Exchange of kicks. Umar trying to catch those low kicks but can’t. Lands one of his own though. Cory managing distance well but still not enough offense to make anything clear. From either man.
Umar jabbing and throwing switch lead kick now. A couple times. He’s contending at this long range. Cory lands a kick to the body. Cory waiting a bit now and letting Umar score some shots here. But Umar isn’t shooting anymore.
Low kicks on both ends. Umar goes up top and Cory blocks. Another kick from Umar. Kicks are the name of the game on both sides. Cory kicks and Umar rushes in and grabs the body lock. Immediately to the back and Umar drags him down with a heel kick.
Cory trying to scramble but Umar working. This is an insane scramble. Umar almost on the neck. Almost a twister. They move so fast and Cory manages to free himself. Umar goes for a trip and Cory falls but pops right back up as the round ends.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Nurmagomedov., 19-19 overall.
Round 3
That round felt like an Umar round but again, these are close. Scores could be all over the place. Cory’s corner likes what they see. Umar’s corner does as well, telling him to not be afraid to stand in there with him.
Cory to the middle and Umar looking more settled down now. Both men kicking again and now Umar is switching stances. More kicks from both to the body and legs.
The margins between these two men are so small. Contesting in all phases and it’s dead even. Neither landing much other than the occasional kick. The footwork battle is hard to win.
Just touching from both sides. Again the kicks are the offense and occasional jabs. Not a lot happening this round honestly. Both men have respect and patience. Halfway point and nothing is happening that matters all that much.
Cory really keeping a llong range but as he steps in Umar gets on the hips and slides to the back. Cory breaks the grip and runs out. He’s fighting the hands so well. But Umar lands a good right hand after the break.
Both men kicking. 60 seconds and I have no idea who is winning. Umar lands to the body when Cory kicks. Umar lands a left. He’s getting the better of the exchanges now and gets a takedown at the end! He’s on the back and Cory fighting the hands and trying to clear the foot. He can’t quite before the horn though.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Nurmagomedov, 29-28 Nurmagomedov.
Round 4
Both corners are showing a lot of urgency. They know this is close. Two rounds will make the difference.
Cory coming out to the center yet again. His corner wants aggression but Umar is has a decent counter game going when Cory comes in. But Cory heeds the call and he’s more in Umar’s face this round. Eats a left hand though.
Umar sliding well, finding the end of range and then countering when Cory gets frisky. Both men doing exceptional with defensive range. Umar lands a good combo as Cory steps in.
Cory to the body nicely with a right hand. But his next salvo eats a combo. Then another. Then another. Umar has found a 3 punch sequence when Cory steps in, finishing with his right hook.
A 1-2 from Umar lands. He’s starting to pull away on the feet. Small work in tight spaces. Cory loops a lead hook but Umar counters. He’s feeling confident with those now. Cory lands a good hook to the body. 2 minutes.
The kicks have dropped off both ways. Now we’re boxing. Good uppercut from Cory but good return hook from Umar. He’s working in there. And Cory’s offense is slowing down. He’s not as keen to press the issue as he eats another 3-punches.
Cory blocking plenty of shots but taking just as many when he comes in. Umar goes high with a kick. Cory sits on a punch and Umar blasts a clean double in. Cory turns and tries to get to the fence. Umar fighting that off and Cory rolls. Umar stays with him and he’s in top scramble position as the round ends with Cory rolling onto a single leg.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Nurmagomedov, 39-37 Nurmagomedov overall.
Round 5
Cory looking a little frustrated heading to the corner and his coaches tell him he needs to get going. Real urgency. A lot of urgency for Umar as well though. They want pedal down. This round could determine the winner. Who knows?
Umar on the jab to start. He’s happy to give ground and let Cory walk into counters. Cory bouncing and vibing now. His corner told him to make things ugly and he’s certainly trying to make a fist fight happen.
Umar not brawling with him, keeping range and putting offense out. And Cory grabs a single but Umar shucks it off with ease.
Umar to the body. Cory returns. Cory bouncing and tries another single but Umar walks out of it. Cory overreaches and Umar tags him in response. Good kick from Umar to the leg as well. He’s just out-striking Cory this whole fight. Did not see that coming.
Umar is really settling in now. He’s completely confident in striking in there and he’s coming forward now. And lightning quick he’s on a single as Cory moves. Cory turns again and then tries to roll through as Umar stays on that back. Very weird scramble here and Umar finally gets on top!
Cory tried to get a triangle but Umar pushed through and he’s in top position now. Cory trying to scramble but Umar staying here for now.
Cory does create a scramble but turns to his back and Umar on it immediately. Cory keeps the scramble going and he’s good enough to keep the scramble alive but he’s not winning them. Umar just a little ahead. And Umar ends this scramble in top half now.
Cory keeps trying to move and Umar staying on him, with punches now. 30 seconds left and Umar has deliver a gem. No quit in Cory as he keeps moving but he can’t create space and Umar Nurmagomedov has done it. Exceptional work from this young man.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Nurmagomedov, 49-46 Nurmagomedov overall.