Bantamweight is considered arguably the most stacked division in the UFC at the moment. Among the seasoned veterans and returning champs, young Umar Nurmagomedov managed to carve a place for himself not only because he carries the legacy of his cousin former lightweight champion Khabib ‘The Eagle’ Nurmagomedov, but also owing to his dominating run so far.
The AKA prospect was expected to face his first major opponent against former title challenger Cory Sandhagen in the next installment of UFC Nashville. Unfortunately, a last-minute ‘freak’ injury took Umar out of the bout, creating uncertainty about the main event. However, Bantamweight being the stacked division it is, managed to find another high-profile opponent for Cory within a short span of time.
Rob Font replaces Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC Nashville vs Cory Sandhagen
Rob Font has risen to the occasion and accepted the challenge to replace the injured Umar Nurmagomedov, stepping into the octagon to face former UFC bantamweight title challenger, Cory Sandhagen. Interestingly, Font himself was initially slated to fight Song Yadong at UFC 292 in Boston. Unfortunately, that matchup encountered its own setbacks when Yadong withdrew from the bout for undisclosed reasons.
However, Font’s disappointment soon turned into an unexpected opportunity when the UFC approached him to take on Cory Sandhagen as the new headliner for the Fight Night event in Nashville.
Our NEW #UFCNashville main event and it's a beauty š„@CorySandhagen will now face @RobSFont in Music City! pic.twitter.com/ge5T2uTQtM
— UFC (@ufc) July 20, 2023
Both fighters have their sights set on climbing up the bantamweight rankings, with Cory Sandhagen holding the No. 4 spot and Font ranked at No. 7. The stakes are quite high for these contenders, as a victory in this competitive 135-pound division could potentially propel them closer to a coveted title shot.
Umar Nurmagomedov injury update
UFC’s No. 11-ranked bantamweight contender, Umar Nurmagomedov, delivered the unfortunate news to his fans through his official Instagram page. He revealed that he has suffered a serious shoulder injury, which will require surgery and render him medically unfit to compete in the upcoming main event at UFC Nashville. The scheduled event was set to take place at Bridgestone Arena on Saturday, August 5, 2023.
āThings happen and injuries are just a part of sports life,ā Nurmagomedov said. āPraise be to Allah in any situation. Of course Iām upset, but I have no complaints. Ambitions and goals are the same. Giving my shoulder a break and will come back stronger.ā
At the age of 27, Nurmagomedov continues to impress with his undefeated record of 16-0. His most recent triumph was a knockout victory over Raoni Barcelos at UFC Vegas 67 earlier this year. This impressive win against the Brazilian marked his third finish in four fights since joining the UFC at UFC Fight Island 8 in 2021.
Does this new matchup carry the same level of hype compared to the initial lineup? What do you think? Let us know below!
