Song Yadong Runs to Celebrate With Jon Jones After Shocking Knockout Win Over Umar Nurmagomedov

UFC Shanghai headliner Song Yadong dominates Umar Nurmagomedov in the main event to usher into bantamweight top five.

Song Yadong Runs to Celebrate With Jon Jones After Shocking Knockout Win Over Umar Nurmagomedov

Song Yadong celebrates with Jon Jones after win (via Instagram)

Song Yadong secured one of his biggest UFC wins by knocking out Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC Shanghai. The Chinese bantamweight finally appears to have gained momentum after years of inconsistent results. Yadong then jumped over the cage and celebrated with UFC legend Jon Jones, who was seated ringside.

Nurmagomedov found success with his wrestling early, but Yadong defended the takedowns and kept the fight competitive. In Round 2, Yadong timed a combination as the Dagestani star attempted another takedown. However, a lead uppercut from Yadong was followed by a right hand that landed just behind Nurmagomedov’s ear, ending the fight at 1:48.

Yadong immediately climbed out of the Octagon and headed toward Jones, who was seated cageside. The former two-division champion embraced Yadong as they celebrated the stunning knockout together. Jones appeared visibly stunned by the finish before sharing the memorable moment with the Chinese bantamweight contender.

Yadong’s preparation for Nurmagomedov was intense, with the Chinese bantamweight sharpening his wrestling before UFC Shanghai. He trained with RAF wrestling star Georgio Poullas, focusing on takedowns and defensive wrestling. Poullas later praised Yadong’s wrestling prowess after their session.

The victory gives Yadong a major boost as he builds strong winning momentum after a difficult start to 2026. The Chinese contender lost to Sean O’Malley at UFC 324, suffering a setback early in the year. However, Yadong responded impressively at UFC Macau by submitting former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo.

Before facing O’Malley, Yadong had already faced scrutiny over his bout with Henry Cejudo at UFC Seattle. An accidental eye poke from Yadong left Cejudo unable to continue after three rounds, ending the fight early. Yadong was awarded a unanimous technical decision victory, with all three judges scoring the fight in his favor.

Yadong’s controversy also connects to Jones, who faced years of criticism over repeated eye-poke incidents. Jones poked Alexander Gustafsson during their UFC 165 title fight before another incident against Glover Teixeira at UFC 172. His extended fingers toward opponents’ faces became a recurring issue throughout his UFC career.

Jon Jones is currently retired from MMA and has remained involved through coaching and training. He has been working with heavyweight contender Gable Steveson as Song Yadong continues training at Team Alpha Male. Their memorable Shanghai celebration could potentially lead to future training opportunities between the two fighters.

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Song Yadong calls for title shot after electric victory at UFC Shanghai

The UFC bantamweight division underwent a major shakeup at UFC 323 when Petr Yan defeated Merab Dvalishvili by unanimous decision. The victory saw Yan reclaim the 135-pound title and become a two-time UFC bantamweight champion. However, Yan has remained sidelined after undergoing lumbar surgery following his title victory.

Yan and Song Yadong have already shared the Octagon, meeting at UFC 299 in March 2024. Yan won that matchup by unanimous decision after three competitive rounds. The victory came during the Russian star’s recovery from a three-fight losing streak and halted Yadong’s title momentum at the time.

Song Yadong
Song Yadong (via BJ Penn)

Yadong was in high spirits after his UFC Shanghai knockout of Umar Nurmagomedov. He credited Urijah Faber for encouraging him to believe in himself before the fight.

Boxing coach Rudy Hernandez also prepared him for the uppercut that produced the knockout. Yadong used the win to make his case for a bantamweight title shot.

I think the UFC should give me the title shot. I feel like I can finish everyone. I can finish Petr, I can finish Merab. So, even the Sean fight was very close. If we rematch, I can finish him, too.

Song Yadong via UFC News

Yadong now has two clear paths after his stunning UFC Shanghai victory over Nurmagomedov. He could pursue a rematch with Sean O’Malley to avenge his UFC 324 loss.

Alternatively, ‘The Kung Fu Kid’ could target the winner of Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili’s UFC 333 trilogy. Either option could move Song Yadong closer to his first UFC title shot.

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