Daniel Cormier TV - Umar Nurmagomedov on beating Merab Dvalishvili in rematch, Mario Bautista

Summary

The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Detailed Episode Summary
Daniel Cormier TV - Umar Nurmagomedov on Beating Merab Dvalishvili in Rematch, Mario Bautista
Date: October 23, 2025
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd (iHeartPodcasts and The Volume)

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Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into Umar Nurmagomedov’s mindset and preparations ahead of his fight against Mario Bautista. Umar discusses his hand recovery after his first professional loss, reflects on that defeat, assesses his upcoming opponent, and considers the bantamweight division landscape. Daniel Cormier interviews Umar, blending technical fight talk with personal moments, camaraderie, and forward-looking career insights.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Umar Nurmagomedov’s Hand Injury and Recovery

• Hand Status: Umar reports a successful recovery after a broken hand suffered in his last fight.
  • “Nice. I can punch, wrestling, everything.” (Umar, 04:04)
• Recovery Process: He didn't rush the healing and avoided early contact, learning from others' mistakes.
  • “It was four months. I didn't punch anywhere. Nothing. I knew some guys who beginning early and they broke again. I didn't risk.” (Umar, 04:09)
• Details of Injury:
  • Injury occurred in the second round. He had pins and screws placed during surgery.
  • “They cut here… put screw inside.” (Umar, 04:27)

Coping with First Professional Loss

• Emotional Impact: Umar candidly describes coming back to the locker room to find everyone somber, comparing it to the atmosphere of a funeral.
  • “When I just came to room and everybody come to like somebody die, right. And I see this face I say hey, nothing happened. I'm gonna come back yeah, don't worry about me. I will be stronger and I will come back and smash this guy.” (Umar, 05:25)
• Attitude of Resilience: He quickly shifts the narrative to growth, revenge, and future title aspirations.
  • “My party now come back stronger and fight for the title again.” (Umar, 06:00)
• On Losing: Accepts things don’t always go to plan, emphasizing learning and moving forward.
  • “Life is not paradise right here. Sometimes going not like you expect.” (Umar, 05:40)

Reviewing the Fight and Judging

• Fight Scoring: Umar shares candid thoughts about the controversial decision, recognizing the judges’ role.
  • “I don't want to talk like they have to give it to me like that. I told you how they score.” (Umar, 06:49)
• Assessment: Umar felt he didn’t lose skill-for-skill, especially given the broken hand.
  • “If we're talking about skills fight like that, I don't think he beat me.” (Umar, 07:08)
• On Fighting with an Injury: “Very hard to fight…third round was very close.” (Umar, 07:27)

Thoughts on Mario Bautista as Upcoming Opponent

• Expectations: Umar and team discussed Bautista as a likely opponent after his recent win streak.
  • “After that fight, we text each other, me and Habib, and he said, this guy can be next because he have 8.8 win stack.” (Umar, 08:04)
• Strengths and Weaknesses:
  • Respects Bautista’s striking and movement but is unconvinced by his grappling or wrestling.
    • “He's good striker…very good striker. Not else. I don't say else. Something like special, you know, I don't see…” (Umar, 08:42)
  • Compares Bautista to Ricky Simon, expressing confidence in his own superiority and expecting a different outcome.

Bantamweight Division and Championship Path

• Umar’s Goals:
  • Remains fixated on the championship regardless of how many contenders he needs to pass.
    • “Even if after that fight, even if they will give it to give it to me 10 fights doesn't matter. They say I have to become champion. I want this and I will work for that. And it's gonna happen inshallah.” (Umar, 09:52)
• Division Analysis: Discusses current contenders, noting lack of clear alternatives if he defeats Bautista.
  • “Who else? So I think Petrie, I'm gonna already fight.” (Umar, 10:13)
  • Praises Merab Dvalishvili’s pressure and cardio but sees himself as a unique challenge for Merab.

On Earning a Title Shot Through Performance

• Finishes vs. Wins: While aware that flashy finishes help earn title shots, Umar is more focused on giving his best than forcing risks.
  • “Not because of something contender or something, you know, I have to show best performance because of I want this, you know, not because of they're gonna give me. I have to do some risk.” (Umar, 12:06)

Training Camp Dynamics

• Team Environment: Umar highlights the pressure and camaraderie training alongside elite names like Usman, Islam, and under Khabib’s coaching.
  • “He (Khabib) think about every single rounds, you know, he, he teach, he come to cage, do this, do this…he under pressure more than us.” (Umar, 13:19)
• Coaching vs. Fighting: Discusses how coaching can be harder due to emotional investment in many athletes.
  • “Coaching is harder than fighting.” (Interviewer, 13:21)

Lighter Moments: Playful Soccer Banter

• Sporting Camaraderie: Episode ends on a playful note with a soccer conversation—Umar jokes the host should play “goalkeeper,” leading to friendly banter about scoring and posting Instagram stories.
  • “If you score, I'm going to put in Instagram stories.” (Umar, 15:05)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Umar on Loss and Resilience:
  • "Hey, nothing happened. I'm gonna come back yeah, don't worry about me. I will be stronger and I will come back and smash this guy." (05:25)
• On Judges' Decision:
  • "Those were judges. I said, yes, what they say, he win. Okay. He win. Don't talk much." (06:49)
• On Division Landscape:
  • “Who else? So I think Petrie, I'm gonna already fight.” (10:13)
• On Team Pressure:
  • “He (Khabib)...under pressure more than us. More, more than we.” (13:19)
• Closing Soccer Banter:
  • “If you score, I'm going to put in Instagram stories.” (15:05)

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Key Timestamps

• Hand Injury & Recovery Discussed: 04:00–04:34
• Processing First Loss: 05:09–06:11
• Fight Scoring Reflection: 06:11–07:51
• Mario Bautista Analysis: 08:04–09:29
• Championship and Division Talk: 09:52–11:51
• Performance and Title Shot Requirements: 11:51–12:29
• Training Camp and Khabib’s Influence: 12:29–14:20
• Soccer Banter: 14:32–15:21

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Tone & Atmosphere

The entire episode is candid, supportive, and sometimes playful—marked by honest technical analysis and deep mutual respect between Umar Nurmagomedov and the host/interviewer. Moments of levity in the soccer exchange provide balance to the high-stakes fight talk.

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Summary

This episode offers an authentic window into Umar Nurmagomedov’s mental state and preparation ahead of a pivotal UFC bout, blending technical fight discussion, the journey of overcoming a first defeat, honest assessments of the division, and camaraderie within one of MMA’s most elite camps. The podcast is both rich in tactical insight for fight fans and uplifting in its focus on resilience, team spirit, and personal growth.

Transcript

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[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Guys, I'm joined by Umar Nurmega Medov as he gets ready to fight Mario Bautista this weekend.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

How everything been man?

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

You good champ?

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Yes, I'm good.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

How's your hand?

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Nice. I can punch, wrestling, everything.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

How long was the recovery on on your hand?

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

It was four months. I didn't punch anywhere. Nothing. I. I knew some guys who beginning early and they broke again. I didn't risk.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Yeah, look, see, look at mine.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Uhhuh.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

In the beginning I always break my hand. Let me see. Where's your score?

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

They cut here.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Oh, it was inside. Huh?

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

They it's this one. It was broke. This. This it will go down. They put back and put screw inside.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

How many. When did this happen in the fight?

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Second round.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Second round.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Yes.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Yeah. When you think back to that fight, have you re watched it? Have you re watched the fight directly that time? Two times since you fought him. It's only. You've only watched it twice that week.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

After fight that week?

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Two times.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Yes. I say everything what I I want to know and maybe if I will fight again they will give me to fight with him. Then I'm gonna do watch more, you know. And right now it's not make sense.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Yeah. How hard was it losing for the first time? Like what. How was that? How was dealing with loss for the first time in your career?

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

How is the list?

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Horrible. It's horrible of course but like how do you process it is the question right?

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Like when I just came to room and everybody come to like somebody die, right. And I see there's face I say hey, nothing happened. I'm gonna come back yeah, don't worry about me. I will be stronger and I will come back and smash this guy.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

I'm gonna take this revenge. I'm gonna, like, do everything, you know, and it was like just who came to after this fight to rooms. Right. And life is not paradise right here. Something sometimes going not like you expect.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

And I did. I, I, my, my, my party now come back stronger and fight for the title again.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Yeah. Did you think you had won that fight?

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

You. What do you think?

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

I thought it was. I thought he won three rounds. I thought he won three rounds. I thought you won the first two rounds. I thought the third round was very close. And I thought the last two rounds you could tell he was kind of building.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Last two rounds. Just give. I give just one.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Yeah. Did you think you won the third?

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

And I give just last part of the third.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

The end of the end of the third round. Yeah, the last part.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Not. Not third. Third round. He don't win.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

I don't think you thought you won the fight.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Yes. No, we don't talk about like, I win. I not win. Right. We talk about how they give. Right?

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

And I'm doing a battle with judges. They make decision. One of them, my friend told to me, those were judges. I said, yes, what they say, he win. Okay. He win. Don't talk much.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

I said, okay. I don't want to talk like they have to give it to me like that. I told you how they score.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

I think they score in the last two rounds because of last. Last minutes. Right. He take down. I get up like this. And he played a lot. He played a lot. But if we're talking about skills fight like that, I don't think he beat me.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

And I don't. I don't lose anything. Of course, with broken. Very hard to fight.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Very hard. And third round was very close.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Very close round.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

That's very close. And he was with title, right?

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

I think if I was with. With title, maybe judge is gonna give it to me, you know, depends on. And I hope next time I will not work anything.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

And I will fight inshallah. Much better.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

When you got the call that it was going to be Mario Bautista, was that who you. Who did you expect to see when you returned back to the Octagon? Like, did you have a specific opponent you might have wanted?

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

When. But when he beat Pachy Mix directly. Like after that fight, we text each other, me and Habib, and he said, this guy can be next because he have 8.8Winstack it's not bad, you know. And there's nobody else. Everybody was all busy or injured or they have fights.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

So when you get him and you start working on Mario Bautista, what did you see? A guy that wrestles well, a lot of pressure, likes to push you against the Octagon. Like, what did you see when you started to prepare for Mario Bautista?

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

He's good striker. I can tell this. He's very good striker. He have good movement. Not else. I don't say else. Something like special, you know, I don't see how, like, he's a good fighter. I can't tell he's. He's not good, but I don't know how is. He's grappling his jiu jitsu. I don't know how his wrestling skills. He fight with Ricky Simone?

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Yes, yes.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Ricky Simon too tired in third round. But if with more energy, I think he can beat him like he was. He was not bad. He take him down, try to hold him, you know. And I think I'm much better than Ricky Simon. And it's gonna be different game for him.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

You obviously have for a long time. Everybody's kind of thought you'd be a champion, right? So now it's about getting through this fight. When you look at Saturday night, right, you win, say you win against Mario Bautista. Are you expecting to fight for the championship afterwards? Or are you thinking it's gonna take two fights?

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Even if after that fight, even if they will give it to give it to me 10 fights doesn't matter. They say I have to become champion. I want this and I will work for that. And it's gonna happen inshallah. And other side. Like, who else? Okay, you know my. My division, right?

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

I know your division.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Who else? So I think Petrie, I'm gonna already fight.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

I've said this publicly. I've said this publicly to many people. The guys, they struggle. Everybody struggles with Merab, right? He's very, very good. I think. I don't know. I don't know how it's going to be hard for those guys to keep him off of him. I think you're the guy that can fight him. I think you and him fighting constantly would always be great fights. I think Petr Yan is going to be better than he was the first time they fought. I think it's. I think it's going to be hard for most guys to fight him because his cardio and his pace and his pressure is so heavy. But again, do you think, though, that you would get that next fight? Because now he just got done with Sandhagen, right. He's kind of fought so much in such a short period of time that I don't know who they would put in there with him if not the winner of this fight. Between you and Mario Bautista, I don't know too.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Who else? Nobody there. And if they will take some break and they will take like some time for recovery, rest, I don't want to wait them too long, you know, you see. And I want to fight again. Maybe it's going to be first two weeks in February or last week in January if UFC have some events I want to fight, maybe five round fight, you know, I don't want to wait too long. And we'll see, we'll see what's going to happen in the Saturday and what UFC want and how they going to fight. You know, a lot of, a lot of things and. But I don't see anybody else.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

A lot of times it takes like a special performance to earn that championship opportunity. Obviously, Corey Sanhagen got his. After getting a finish. Do you feel like you have to try and get a finish this weekend to just hammer home the idea that you're the next guy, or do you just need a win?

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Not because of something contender or something, you know, I have to show best performance because of I want this, you know, not because of they're gonna give me. I have to do some risk. Go ahead, do something crazy. Not because of that, you know, I have to show my best, best performance and I will try it.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Yeah. How's training camp been like with all these guys? I watched Usman's fight a couple weeks ago. He fought really well, Hard fight. But with Usman in camp Islam, in camp, you in camp Khabib must be a handful right now.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

He must be going crazy with all.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Of y' all in camp, huh?

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Of course it's a lot of pressure for him all the time. Like.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

No, I'm talking about just training you guys.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Yes, yes, he trained us. And you know, even if he, like, you know, he trained us, we have to be like, you know, under pressure. But he was too. You know, he decayed. He think about every single rounds, you know, he, he teach, he come to cage, do this, do this like brother, he under pressure more than us. More, more than we.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Coaching is harder than fighting.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Yes, yes, I think like that. Because through us have to do sparring. Not just three. There was like a lot of guys. Everybody he cornered, everybody he, he, he, he think about everyone, you know, nervous, and it was good camp. And a lot of pressure. But we have to do it. Yeah, we have to do it.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Yeah. Hey, what about that? What about Amru? Where's Amru at? Hey, this guy's good.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

He live. He live. He's good. He's good. And his fight canceled because of his opponent not cut weight 5 kilogram.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

He was 10 pounds of. 11 pounds of weight.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Yes, yes. Even that. He will ready to fight. Amru was ready to fight with him. And then he come back. He not kite two more seven kilogram, you know, and then cancel. Then cancel. He his opponent some injured. He took some injured pain or he can't move like that. He didn't cut, you know, he's good. I think he's his future.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

He's very good. And Usman fought well last time, too. You guys are doing great, man. It's good watching from a distance, watching. I'm excited to watch you compete this weekend. I'm excited to see what happens in the future. Thank you for coming again. Hey, Umar.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Yes?

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Listen, I'm playing soccer tonight.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Huh?

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

You know.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

No, soccer. I know soccer, but I don't know where you're playing.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

You got any tips for me? Should I play striker or defense?

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Goalkeeper.

[Podcast Host / Announcer]

No.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

He'S a good reflexes and goalkeeper. I'll be a striker. I'm like Messi.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Okay.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

I'm the best.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

I want to see where it's going to be happening.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

I'm playing at the United States Soccer Complex here.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

It's going to be online.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

I'll take some videos. Okay. When I score goals, you think I'll score?

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

If you score, I'm going to put in Instagram stories.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Yeah. Then get ready to post the story because I'm definitely scoring. Guys. Umar and Omega returns to the Octagon this weekend, taking on Mario Bautista, looking to get another opportunity to fight for UFC bantamweight championship. Umar, thank you again for checking in, man. You the man, boy.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Thank you.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

I miss you, buddy.

[Umar Nurmagomedov]

Thank you.

[Interviewer / Podcast Host]

Until next time. Peace.

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