Umar Nurmagomedov to debut at UFC 249 against Hunter Azure

Umar Nurmagomedov (pictured, red gloves) fights Hunter Azure in a bantamweight bout at UFC 249 in Brooklyn on April 18 | Ryan Loco, PFL

UFC 249 will be a family affair.

MMA Fighting confirmed with sources that Umar Nurmagomedov (12-0) is set to make his UFC debut against Hunter Azure (8-0) at the promotion’s April 18 pay-per-view event at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The bantamweight bout was also announced on the UFC’s official Russian Instagram page.

Umar is the cousin of UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov, who will be defending his title against Tony Ferguson in the main event of that same show.

The news comes a day after Nurmagomedov’s signing was officially announced. The 24-year-old Russian fought four times in 2019, most recently defeating Braian Gonzalez in November to capture the Gorilla Fighting Championship bantamweight title. Nurmagomedov also competed twice for the PFL.

Azure won a UFC contract on the Contender Series and then made a successful promotional debut with a unanimous decision win over Brad Katona at UFC Ottawa in September. His last three wins have all come by way of decision.

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