This year, the first-ever pay-per-view will be headlined by Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan. But the co-main event is just as thrilling, featuring the much-anticipated bantamweight title clash between Merab Dvalishvili and Umar Nurmagomedov. Ahead of the fight, the young eagle predicts that the winner of this showdown will face former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley next.
Umar Nurmagomedov recently sat down with MMA Junkie to promote his upcoming fight, discussing various topics, including his rivalry with Sean O’Malley. When asked about what lies ahead after the bout, he predicted that O’Malley is the next opponent for both him and Merab Dvalishvili, with the winner surely facing him next.
Umar also shared his thoughts on O’Malley’s strategy, suggesting that Suga might prefer Merab next, viewing him as an easier challenge compared to facing him.
He said, “I think they’re gonna do this match. Whoever wins this fight I think O’Malley is next, I think like that. And he wants Merab to win not because of the rematch he thinks Merab is more easy than me. With Merab he has some chance. With me, he knows.”
Umar Nurmagomedov expects Sean O'Malley to face the #UFC311 winner.
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) January 10, 2025
"With Merab, he has some chance. With me, he knows."
(via @MikeBohn) pic.twitter.com/Jp117aITRV
It’ll be exciting to see who comes out on top in this matchup and who gets to challenge for the next big bantamweight fight after UFC 311. The stakes are high, and the future of the division is about to get even more interesting.
Umar Nurmagomedov Wants To Take Khabib’s Moniker After UFC 311
During a video, head coach Javier Mendez brought up Khabib’s remark that Umar Nurmagomedov is no longer the “Young Eagle,” asking for his thoughts on the matter. Umar explained that the title isn’t tied to age but to represent the new generation and wants Khabib’s moniker.
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He, in jest, called Khabib the ‘old eagle,’ highlighting their brotherly relationship and the symbolic passing of the torch. Umar believes that after his upcoming fight on January 18th, he will rightfully take on the name “Eagle,” dropping the “young” from the title.
It’ll be wild to see if Umar actually takes on the “Eagle” nickname and runs with it like his brother did. But, with Khabib being the face of that legacy, fans might not be ready to let it go just yet. Fans have to see how it all plays out—will Umar make the name his own, or will Khabib’s shadow be too big to escape?
