Umar Nurmagomedov could use this "problematic" non-wrestling weapon against Merab Dvalishvili that gets easily overlooked, says American UFC legend

As UFC bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili prepares to defend his title for the first time, an undefeated challenger, Umar Nurmagomedov, stands in his way. The two will face off at UFC 311 on Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, in what promises to be a thrilling showdown.

Dvalishvili enters the fight after an impressive win over Sean O'Malley at UFC 306, but Nurmagomedov is a dangerous opponent, known for his undefeated streak.

Ahead of the fight, former two-division champion Henry Cejudo offered insight into how Nurmagomedov might approach the bout. Cejudo highlighted a potentially "problematic" weapon that could give the undefeated contender an edge: his lead leg teep kick.

While many expect Nurmagomedov to rely on his wrestling, Cejudo pointed out that the lead leg kick—especially when delivered from a southpaw stance—could prove crucial in disrupting Dvalishvili’s rhythm.

Cejudo explained that Nurmagomedov could use this weapon to set up head strikes or to create distance, making it harder for Dvalishvili to initiate his wrestling game:

"Some people tend to overlook it, that lead leg teep. To eventually go to the head. But it's not just that, he's also going southpaw with it and then going to the head. And then he'll fake up top boom boom to eventually drop his opponents to get the eventual finish."

Cejudo added:

"Could this be one of the keys for Umar Nurmagomedov against Merab Dvalishvili? Everybody's thinking he might come in and wrestle. But who knows, he may use that lead leg that could be the key in order for, one, maybe set it up to get the knockout or, two, just fence him odd and stop him from wrestling. "

Check out Henry Cejudo's breakdown below:

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Umar Nurmagomedov names his toughest fight to date

Umar Nurmagomedov doesn’t believe Merab Dvalishvili is the toughest challenge for him in the bantamweight division.

Speaking to ESPN’s Brett Okamoto, Nurmagomedov discussed his upcoming fight and reflected on his previous battle with Cory Sandhagen. Nurmagomedov secured his title shot by defeating Sandhagen by unanimous decision on Aug. 3, 2024, and he made it clear that he considered that fight to be the toughest test of his career:

"It's going to be cocky if I say [Dvalishvili] is easy money. I think he's not. Hes a good fighter. Hardest challenge in my division I think is Cory [Sandhagen]. This fight was hardest in my life."

Check out Umar Nurmagomedov's comments below (8:11):