Usman Nurmagomedov Denies Attacking Song Yadong After Brother’s KO Loss

PFL champion Usman Nurmagomedov reveals first statement after his controversial actions at UFC Shanghai.

Usman Nurmagomedov Denies Attacking Song Yadong After Brother’s KO Loss

Usman Nurmagomedov defends his actions at UFC Shanghai (via CBS Sports, MiddleEasy)

Usman Nurmagomedov has dominated headlines since his actions following UFC Shanghai’s main event. The PFL champion rushed into the Octagon after his brother Umar Nurmagomedov suffered a knockout loss to Song Yadong. The incident drew major scrutiny, with Usman now clarifying his position on the post-fight collision.

The fight marked Umar’s first career knockout loss after Yadong stunned him at UFC Shanghai. The Chinaman landed a perfectly timed right uppercut behind Umar’s ear, leaving the bantamweight unconscious on the canvas. He followed with additional punches before referee Marc Goddard intervened and stopped the contest at 1:48 of the second round.

Corner footage showed Usman reacting instantly, running onto the Octagon stage before doctors and officials arrived. Yadong was celebrating by running around the cage when he got near Usman, leading to a collision where the PFL champion almost landed an elbow. Usman has now clarified his actions after receiving major backlash.

There are far worse things; you don’t need to think long—just look at what is happening in the world. And as for the claim that I supposedly wanted to hit his opponent. If I had wanted to, I would have hit him. You spiteful, petty, and envious people—your problem is that you have never known, nor will you ever know, family love and understanding. If you don’t know what a brother means to a brother, then it is not me you should pity, but yourselves.

Usman Nurmagomedov via Instagram

Usman was not the only one with a heartbreaking reaction, as Khabib Nurmagomedov appeared disappointed and tried to stop him. Abubakar Nurmagomedov started crying in the corner and put his head down after the loss. Later, Usman, Khabib, and Umar were seen watching the knockout replay on the jumbotron with disappointment.

The incident comes amid major rumors that Usman may move to the UFC. The Dagestani champion has completed his current contract and is now a free agent, leaving his next destination open. In his final contractual fight, Usman knocked out Archie Colgan at PFL New York, further extending his undefeated professional record to 22-0.

Usman has also taken aim at the UFC lightweight division, calling out stars including Ilia Topuria and Arman Tsarukyan. The PFL champion has positioned himself as a potential threat to the division’s top names if he joins the UFC. Usman also revealed that he previously turned down a UFC contract worth $2 million per fight.

Usman’s reaction is not unprecedented, with Sean Strickland and Chris Curtis involved in a similar Tuff-N-Uff 145 incident. Luis Hernandez taunted their corner after beating Miles Hunsinger, prompting them to enter the cage. Strickland struck Hernandez and received a six-month suspension and $5,000 fine, while Curtis was fined $2,500.

While Usman Nurmagomedov’s actions can be understood as a brother protecting Umar, the incident still carries implications. UFC CEO Dana White has typically maintained a zero-tolerance approach toward such conduct. With the Dagestani star now a free agent, the controversy could factor into his potential move to the UFC.

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UFC Hall of Famer defends Usman Nurmagomedov’s actions at UFC Shanghai

Umar Nurmagomedov has been in the UFC since January 2021 and established himself as a top bantamweight contender. He scored notable wins over Cory Sandhagen and Raoni Barcelos during his run. Umar entered UFC Shanghai on a two-fight winning streak after defeating Mario Bautista and Deiveson Figueiredo.

‘The Young Eagle’ suffered his first professional defeat at UFC 311, losing a unanimous decision to Merab Dvalishvili in their title fight. However, UFC Shanghai marked a far more dramatic setback, as Song Yadong knocked Umar unconscious in the second round, with his toes visibly curling.

Usman Nurmagomedov
Usman Nurmagomedov (via MMA Fighting)

Daniel Cormier has been closely associated with Team Khabib for years, working alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov and his fighters. His connection with the team has remained strong since Khabib’s retirement. That longstanding relationship made Cormier’s recent defense of Usman Nurmagomedov’s actions at UFC Shanghai notable.

Song Yadong was running in the direction of Usman. Usman reacts, he reached to stop him. He did not elbow him. Let’s stop making conspiracy theories. What he did was try to get to his brother.

Daniel Cormier via his YouTube channel

Cormier has often faced criticism over his close ties to Dagestani fighters, especially Khabib Nurmagomedov. The UFC Hall of Famer has defended the team on several occasions during his commentary career. His latest defense of Usman continues that long-standing association.

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