Song Yadong says Umar Nurmagomedov faces a big problem after KO

Song Yadong believes Umar Nurmagomedov faces a major obstacle in his bid to become UFC champion after knocking him out at UFC Shanghai on August 29. Yadong stopped Nurmagomedov in the second round of their main event and said the Russian fighter may find it difficult to recover from such a heavy defeat.

Nurmagomedov controlled much of the opening round with wrestling and grappling. Yadong, however, became more confident as the fight progressed. He felt Nurmagomedov’s strength was not overwhelming and said he could escape from the Russian’s control, including when Nurmagomedov was on top of him.

The decisive sequence came when Nurmagomedov lowered his head while attempting a takedown. Yadong had identified that movement before the bout and was prepared to attack when it appeared. He connected with an uppercut near Nurmagomedov’s ear, sending him to the canvas, then landed further punches before the referee stopped the contest.

Yadong said he recognised the same opening each time Nurmagomedov tried to shoot. His plan was to intercept the movement with a powerful strike, and he believed his punching power gave him the tools to finish the fight once the opportunity arrived. He also said he was smiling during the contest because he felt he could defeat Nurmagomedov comfortably.

The loss has raised questions about Nurmagomedov’s route back to a UFC bantamweight title challenge. Yadong’s assessment was that the knockout creates a serious problem for the 30-year-old, although the defeat does not formally end his championship ambitions. He is expected to address the technical error that exposed him during his takedown attempts.

Nurmagomedov responded to the defeat with a message to his supporters, insisting that his journey would continue until he wins. A return to title contention would likely require him to rebuild his position with major victories, but Yadong’s victory has placed the focus on how the former contender responds to his first defeat by knockout.