Sidekick Boxing

Coach Regrets Not Knowing: Umar Nurmagomedov’s Broken Hand at UFC 311

Javier Mendez expresses regret over not knowing about Umar Nurmagomedov's broken hand during UFC 311, citing it as a crucial factor in the fight

Umar Nurmagomedov’s UFC 311 title fight against bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili ended in a unanimous decision loss, but a crucial detail about the fight has come to light. Nurmagomedov suffered a broken hand in Round 1, a fact he kept hidden from his team throughout the bout. His coach, Javier Mendez, expressed regret over not being informed of the injury, revealing how it affected their game plan.

According to Mendez, had they known about the broken hand, they would have altered their approach to the fight. “If he had told me he broke his hand, I would have changed the game plan,” Mendez explained in an interview with Submission Radio. He emphasized that he, along with Khabib Nurmagomedov, would have devised a different strategy to accommodate the injury, possibly focusing more on kicks and distance rather than engaging in close-quarters exchanges that relied on Nurmagomedov’s broken hand.

Javier Mendez expresses regret over not knowing about Umar Nurmagomedov's broken hand during UFC 311, citing it as a crucial factor in the fight
Javier Mendez expresses regret over not knowing about Umar Nurmagomedov’s broken hand during UFC 311, citing it as a crucial factor in the fight

Mendez admitted to being puzzled by Nurmagomedov’s decision to continue throwing punches with the injured hand, leading him to believe that Merab Dvalishvili was simply tougher than expected. The lack of communication left the team in the dark, and Mendez now regrets not being able to provide the necessary adjustments during the fight.

Ironically, Dvalishvili himself was dealing with adversity. His coach, John Wood, revealed that Dvalishvili had suffered multiple injuries leading up to the fight, including severe leg gashes requiring 27 stitches and a pinched nerve in his back. Despite these challenges, Dvalishvili triumphed, leaving Nurmagomedov’s broken hand as one of the key untold stories of UFC 311.

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