News Umar Nurmagomedov vs Bekzat Almakhan is set for March 2

[markys00]

As Dana said - no one wants to fight Umar.

No secret.

Wtf is Cruz even doing these days?

Commentating?

 

[RichardHarrow]

This is fair.

UFC & Corey gave Umar the shot he asked for.
Umar lost it on his own
Now he owes the UFC
This seems like a great way to get even
UFC would have a difficult time matching up a 17-1 guy who offers huge risk and no reward to top 10 opponents
Umar steps up and this cancels his debt.

If Umar wins. > top 3-5 fight in July> title fight in Abu Dhabi October.

More guys should do this. When the UFC does you a solid and you pull out you should owe them a get back.

That’s a ridiculous summation. Get even ? This is a business where there is meritocracy and they need killers like Umar. The UFC doesn’t function on feelings. Do you think he pulled out because he wanted to ?

Brian Ortega is ranked yet hasn’t fought in almost two years.

Costa is still getting ranked opponents.

 

[Hdfi]

Umar should fight a top 10 wrestler. I wanna see him vs Cory.

 

[HuskySamoan]

As Dana said - no one wants to fight Umar.

No secret.

Wtf is Cruz even doing these days?

As bad as Bekzat vs Umar is, having a retiree who's been perpetually injured for a decade fight Umar is an even worse idea. Please step on your phone.

Bekzat isn't in the same stratosphere as Umar.

No, he isn't. He's been getting hurt every fight and he's a bit small for 135lbs while Umar is huge. Plus the dudes young and making his debut. Super weird matchmaking.

 

[HuskySamoan]

That’s a ridiculous summation. Get even ? This is a business where there is meritocracy and they need killers like Umar. The UFC doesn’t function on feelings. Do you think he pulled out because he wanted to ?

Brian Ortega is ranked yet hasn’t fought in almost two years.

Costa is still getting ranked opponents.

Sometimes I wonder with Dagestanis. While it seems nobody wants to fight them, they also seem to seldom take hard fights. They pull out and or get injured a ton too.

 

[Fatback96]

After the awesome wins Umar is coming off, I was expecting a ranked opponent at least, not some debuting fighter no matter how good they seem.

 

[Thesnake101]

A debutant with a padded record vs Umar who was previously booked vs a top 5 guy? Makes sense.

 

[d2s]

That’s a ridiculous summation. Get even ? This is a business where there is meritocracy and they need killers like Umar. The UFC doesn’t function on feelings. Do you think he pulled out because he wanted to ?

"The UFC doesn't function on feelings"..? Are you serious? They've proven to be one of the most spiteful, grudge-holding entities to ever exist. There's a laundry list of examples of them playing favourites or them icing and screwing fighters over lol.
2005 join date????????

 

[NoSmilez]

I have no idea who Bekzat is.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Taking the khabib route of fighting cans till it gets him a title shot, it's worked with khabib and islam so why not I guess.

 

[RichardHarrow]

I have no idea who Bekzat is.

It’s a ridiculous match up

 

[UFConFOX]

That’s a ridiculous summation. Get even ? This is a business where there is meritocracy and they need killers like Umar. The UFC doesn’t function on feelings. Do you think he pulled out because he wanted to ?

Brian Ortega is ranked yet hasn’t fought in almost two years.

Costa is still getting ranked opponents.

Do you think it matter why he pulled out considering it's his 5th bout cancellation in the last 3 years? You want a dream world where they roll out red carpets for guys that have fully cancelled or pulled out of 50% of their scheduled bouts over a 3 year period?

To summarily dismiss something as ridiculous - while completely oblivious to the set of facts above - is indeed triumphantly ridiculous lol

Umar is always saying he'll fight anyone. UFC is always saying it's hard to get these "killers" w/ great records but low exposure fights. Win-win.

I'm a huge Umar fan btw. But he needed this after what will amount to 1 fight since June of '22 (21 month).

 

[Xoleth]

Bekzat Almakhan seems legit.
If only his name was Bekzat Almakhanev, I would actually consider him the next UFC champion.

I have no idea who Bekzat is.

Two letters away from being the next UFC champion.

 

[StonedLemur]

I'll never understand the thinking behind these kinds of bookings.

Smh.

 

[numberonebspod]

Definitely a risky fight for Umar to accept. As we saw in Dvorak vs Urceg, there are a ton of talented guys at lower weight classes outside of the UFC. Would have absolutely loved to see a step up in competition for Umar, but still excited to see him fight.

Also, not familiar with Bekzat, but conceivably this could be a step up in competition despite it being against a UFC newcomer. Umar has looked great, but as of now his best win is against an aging Raoni Barcelos (granted it was pretty impressive) or Nate Maness.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Happy that he doesnt get the Sandhagen fight rebooked after all his pullout fuckeries

The dagestani flu runs in the family

 

[Dana's Conscience]

Opponent seems like a legit prospect but what a weird booking. Umar should be fighting a ranked opponent, not a debuting prospect.

While the UFC will jump on Dagestani contenders with personality like Khabib and Khamzat, they're fully resistent to the idea of guys like Evloev and Ankalaev becoming champion. I guess they've lumped Umar in with the latter group. Give him a debuting hammer rather than an opportunity to ascend the rankings.

 

[flektarn]

Weird booking. Almakhan seems to have good grappling and scrambles but...zero hands. Just watched two fights and the dude doesn't punch lmao. Mostly kicks. And then when he does punch he almost gets put away. A lot of his stuff is free on this org's youtube at least.

 

[rjmbrd]

Do you think it matter why he pulled out considering it's his 5th bout cancellation in the last 3 years? You want a dream world where they roll out red carpets for guys that have fully cancelled or pulled out of 50% of their scheduled bouts over a 3 year period?


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Thank you. Its absurd how many people post 'nobody wants to fight Umar' out of hand.

He was just booked with the #5 guy in the world, one of the biggest names in the division, and Umar pulled out.

If you get a big booking and can't make it to the show, and have a history of pulling out of fights, you are not going to keep getting rewarded with the same level of opportunity. Now he's getting a random fight.

 

[Rio Ferdinand]

Thats what happens when you pull out too often.

Who does he think he is? Paulo Costa? <45>