Umar Nurmagomedov hopes beating Bekzat Almakhan puts him above 'old guys' like Rob Font in UFC rankings

Umar Nurmagomedov takes issue with the placement of some of the UFC bantamweights in the rankings.

Nurmagomedov (16-0 MMA, 4-0 UFC) has struggled to land a ranked opponent for his next matchup until Cory Sandhagen accepted to fight him in the UFC on ESPN 50 headliner last August. However, unfortunately for Nurmagomedov, he was forced to pull out due to injury.

He now draws Bekzat Almakhan (17-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 238 main card (ESPN+) at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Although Almakhan is a newcomer, Nurmagomedov hopes a win can propel him to the top 10 so people can start accepting to fight him.

“I hope I will advance up in like, the top 10,” Nurmagomedov said in an interview with the UFC. “All these guys talk about, ‘I’m 13, he’s 12, I don’t want to fight with him because he doesn’t deserve.’ I hope UFC is going to put me like No. 8 or 7.

“Because all these guys who are in this position, they are old guys who didn’t win their last couple fights. They don’t deserve. For example, Rob Font is No. 8 or No. 9. He lose like, a couple of fights. He has to go home. Not go home, like, go away. Maybe top 15, but not top eight. He not deserve.”

With Merab Dvalishvili declared No. 1 contender, Sandhagen said he’s open to rebooking the fight with Nurmagomedov if he looks impressive.

“If it’s going to be Cory Sandhagen next fight, I think it’s going to be contender fight I hope,” Nurmagomedov said. “I don’t want to look past my opponent. This Saturday I have to first win, and then we’re going to talk.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 238.