Top UFC bantamweight contender Cory Sandhagen plans on surprising a few people this weekend in Abu Dhabi.

Sandhagen, for years one of the top 135-pounders on the UFC roster, will seek to establish himself as next in line for a title shot once champion Sean O’Malley and his next challenger, Merab Dvalishvili, sort out their business.

To do so, he will have to add the first-ever ‘L’ to Umar Nurmagomedov’s record this weekend; a fighter who has been successful in each of his 17 career bouts (with five of those occurring in the UFC).

And ahead of the fight Sandhagen told the media, including The Mac Life, that he can’t help feel that fans have already counted him out of what he views as a very winnable fight.

“Stylistically, [Umar is] a really tough fight,” Sandhagen said on Wednesday in the UAE. “I had to work in a lot of overtime hours in order to make sure I was prepared for this fight. But the rankings, him coming up, the odds, the bettors, I couldn’t honestly give a sh*t less.

“I’m focused on what I’m going to do Saturday, and that’s executing underneath the lights, and I can’t wait for that peace because it’s weird that people are counting me out for this one, but I just can’t wait to prove all those people wrong.”

Sandhagen, considered by many to be among the most technically complete fighters in the division, is also keen to show off how his defensive wrestling fares against what is expected to be a grapple-heavy approach from his opponent.

“[It’s] just another element that I get to show to people, and man I’m excited for this one just to show how great I am because Umar is going to bring out the best in me, and he already has in this camp, and I’m pumped for it. I can’t wait to watch myself fight.”