by UFC Tampa has its headliner.
Today (Thursday, October 17, 2024), Red Corner MMA reported that Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) No. 1 contender Umar Nurmagomedov will face No. 8-ranked Song Yadong in the final UFC main event of the year for UFC Tampa on 14. December at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida. It will be Nurmagomedov’s second consecutive headlining appearance.
MMAMania.com confirmed with sources close to the situation that this fight is indeed in the works.
BREAKING: Umar Nurmagomedov faces Song Yadong on December 14th 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 very surprising as it was suggested that Nurmagomedov was next in line to challenge Merab Dvalisvilli for the bantamweight championship, the undefeated Russian tweeted last week that he would not wait until after March 2025 for a title shot.
“If Merab avoids me, I won’t wait for him. And I will fight anyone the UFC suggests before Ramadan,” Nurmagomedov wrote on Oct. 11.
If Merab avoids me, I won’t wait for him. And I will fight anyone the UFC suggests before Ramadan
— Umar Nurmagomedov (@UNmgdv) October 11, 2024
Whether anyone dislikes Nurmagomedov or not, he must be commended for putting up a tough fight when the title is within his grasp.
Nonetheless, Nurmagomedov is coming off a commanding win over Cory Sandhagen at UFC Abu Dhabi in August. Meanwhile, Yadong suffered a disappointing loss to Petr Yan at UFC 299 in April.
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