Denied! Nurmagomedov Vs. Yadong Booked For UFC Tampa’s Headliner
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UFC Tampa has its (real) headliner ...
No. 1-ranked Bantamweight contender, Umar Nurmagomedov, will fight No. 8-seeded Song Yadong in UFC’s final main event of 2024, which will take place inside Amalie Arena on Dec. 14, according to Red Corner MMA.
Timing is apparently everything, for better or worse.
It will mark Nurmagomedov’s second consecutive headlining spot. MMAmania.com confirmed with sources close to the situation that the pivotal 135-pound showdown is indeed in the works.
BREAKING: Umar Nurmagomedov will face Song Yadong on December 14 in Tampa, Florida. Do you think Umar will get a title shot if he beats Yadong?
Follow @RedCorner.MMA for breaking news and exclusive content pic.twitter.com/hvGjSXS9ex
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) October 17, 2024
While the fight is somewhat surprising because it was indicated that Nurmagomedov was next in line to challenge division champion, Merab Dvalisvilli, the undefeated Russian did tweet last week that he was not going to wait until after March 2025 for a title shot.
If Merab is going to avoid me, I won't wait for him. And I'll fight with anyone UFC suggests before ramadan
— Umar Nurmagomedov (@UNmgdv) October 11, 2024
“If Merab is going to avoid me, I won’t wait for him,” Nurmagomedov wrote earlier this month. “And I’ll fight with anyone UFC suggests before Ramadan.”
Nurmagomedov should be commended for taking a tough fight when he has a title shot within grasp — it’s a slippery slope. Nevertheless, Nurmagomedov is coming off a dominant win over Cory Sandhagen at UFC Abu Dhabi in Aug. Meanwhile, Yadong is coming off a disappointing loss to Petr Yan at UFC 299 in April.
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