Michael Bisping praises Cory Sandhagen for being "willing to risk it all" against Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC Abu Dhabi
No.2-ranked bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen is set to take on Umar Nurmagomedov, who is eight spots below him on the divisional ladder, in the main event of UFC Abu Dhabi. Michael Bisping, for one, is impressed by 'Sandman's' daring move.
As 'The Count' sees it, the winner of Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov will emerge as the No. 1 contender and will next be in line for a title shot after Merab Dvalishvili takes on reigning champion Sean O'Malley.
While both Sandhagen and Nurmagomedov stand to gain much with a win, the former middleweight champion is convinced that 'Sandman' deserves credit for risking it all against a dangerous contender in hopes of landing a title fight.
During a recent interview with TNT Sports, Bisping hyped up the fight, saying:
"When it comes to contenders, Cory Sandhagen is right there. He has proven himself as the worthy guy, but he has got to continue fighting to establish himself and get that shot. There is no one better, no one hungrier, there is no one undeniable than Umar Nurmagomedov."
According to Bisping, the American has been worthy of a title shot ever since his win against Marlon Vera at UFC on ESPN 43.
While Bisping feels for Sandhagen being forced to get through another dangerous contender for the title fight opportunity, he is also impressed with 'Sandman's' resolve to go up against a well-rounded fighter. The UFC Hall of Famer added:
"Credit to this guy, kudos to him, because he is willing to do it. He is willing to risk it all to go up against Umar Nurmagomedov. It's a sensational fight."
Catch Michael Bisping's comments below (0:50 to 3:11):
Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov: Fight odds
While Cory Sandhagen is the higher-ranked fighter, the undefeated Umar Nurmagomedov is the betting favorite for UFC Abu Dhabi.
According to Bet Online, the opening odds for the fight had the Dagestani as a -400 prohibitive favorite over 'Sandman', a +330 underdog.
However, the current odds on the UFC's official website have placed Nurmagomedov as a -265 favorite against Sandhagen (+215 underdog).
According to the odds, a $100 bet on the Russian has a payout potential of $137.74, while a successful wager of the same amount on the Colorado native will result in a more lucrative payout of $315.