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Demetrious Johnson Picks Umar Nurmagomedov for UFC 324, Cautions Overtraining in Dagestani Camp

Johnson says the camp’s grueling routines can lead to fatigue that costs fights.

Overview

  • Speaking on the Jaxxon Podcast, Johnson predicted a grappling-centric bout with Umar Nurmagomedov taking down Deiveson Figueiredo and getting the nod.
  • He argued that Dagestani fighters sometimes lose because they overtrain and arrive on fight night prone to gassing out.
  • Nurmagomedov vs. Figueiredo is set for bantamweight at UFC 324 in Las Vegas on Jan. 24, with the fighters listed at 19-1 and 25-5 respectively.
  • Nurmagomedov’s lone defeat came against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311 when he suffered a broken hand, and he rebounded by outpointing Mario Bautista at UFC 321, while Figueiredo is 4-2 since moving up and is coming off a split decision win over Montel Jackson.
  • Coverage also cites Khabib Nurmagomedov’s emphasis on sleep for recovery and notes that some Dagestani athletes have shown fatigue or weight-cut issues, as both fighters discuss potential paths toward Petr Yan after UFC 324.