Song Yadong knocks out Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC Shanghai, seeks title shot

UFC president Dana White shared his reaction to Song Yadong knocking out Umar Nurmagomedov in the main event of UFC Shanghai.Song was a massive underdog against Nurmagomedov, but he pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the year in combat sports when he stopped the Russian in the second round with a vicious knockout.Dana […] The post Dana White Reacts to Song Yadong KOing Umar Nurmagomedov appeared first on HEAVY.

Was Song Yadong's win over Umar Nurmagomedov a fluke? One former UFC bantamweight champion has at least hinted that to be the case.

Like most of the MMA world, Sean O’Malley was shocked by what he witnessed in the UFC Shanghai main event. In the closing bout of this past Saturday’s UFC Fight Night card, Song Yadong not only pulled off a massive upset against one-time title challenger Umar Nurmagomedov, but he put the highly-touted bantamweight to sleep with a quick punch. Song picked up the biggest victory of his career, and possibly punched his ticket to a title shot against the winner of the Petr Yan vs. Merab Dvalishvili championship trilogy bout at UFC 333. O’Malley, who defeated Song earlier this year in a close decision at UFC 324 in January, shared his reaction to social media. View this post on Instagram “Song with an uppercut to the lips,” O’Malley said. “Bro, just how good is Sean O’Malley?” O’Malley picked up a big knockout win against Aiemann Zahabi at UFC White House, and believes should Yan defeat Dvalishvili again, “Sugar” should get the title shot. But if Dvalishvili becomes a two-time champ, O’Malley admits Song should get his day in court. “Bro, I want to see Song vs. Merab,” O’Malley said. “I’ve been saying for a couple of years, even before I fought Merab, I’m like, Song’s a problem for Merab. If Merab wins the title, Song vs. Merab.”

SHANGHAI, CHINA - AUGUST 29: Song Yadong of China reacts after a knockout victory against Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia in a bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center on August 29, 2026 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) Song Yadong is riding high. On Saturday, Song scored the biggest win of his career, knocking out Umar Nurmagomedov in the main event of UFC Shanghai. Not only was it a huge upset win for Song, but it also put him right back into the title mix at 135 pounds, and it all happened in his home country. So afterward, “The Kung Fu Kid” was understandably ecstatic about the win. “Amazing. I’m feeling amazing,” Song told UFC on Paramount+. “I feel like this is the best moment in my life, right now. I knocked out Umar. Everybody’s saying he’s the best fighter and he has very good grappling. Everyone’s saying he’s a future champion. See what happened? I knocked him out. I’m so proud of myself.” Song was a massive underdog heading into the fight, with many believing Nurmagomedov was the next bantamweight champion. However, Song stymied Nurmagomedov’s grappling game in the first round, and in the second round, flattened the Russian fighter with an uppercut timed perfectly when Nurmagomedov changed levels for another takedown. Song said this was the plan from the beginning. “Here I want to thank my team, Team Alpha Male, and Rudy Hernandez,” Song said. “Rudy is my boxing coach, and he told me before the fight, ‘You can finish this guy with an uppercut.’ There was an uppercut in my mind I’m looking for. There! [Laughs].” The win makes it two in a row for Song since losing a decision to Sean O’Malley in January, and puts him on the shortlist for the next bantamweight title shot. Champion Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili are set to settle their rivalry with a trilogy bout at UFC 333 in October, with O’Malley potentially waiting in the wings for the winner. Song now seems to be next in line, meaning he could get another crack at Yan, who won a decision over him in 2024, and Song would love that. “I like a rematch with Petr, because we fought back two years ago,” Song said. “I was too young; I was too rushed. But I feel like [I lost by] just a little bit. I can win that fight. So, if a rematch, I can also knock him out, I believe.”

Drama! Top Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Bantamweight contender Song Yadong scored the biggest win of his career when he knocked out former 135-pound title challenger Umar Nurmagomedov in the main event of UFC Shanghai yesterday (Sat., Aug. 29, 2026) inside SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai, China (watch highlights). While the second-round upset was […]

Song Yadong pulled off a massive upset Saturday, knocking out heavily favored Umar Nurmagomedov in the men's bantamweight main event of UFC Fight Night in Shanghai.

Usman Nurmagomedov and Song Yadong had a brief run-in at UFC Shanghai

Song Yadong almost got into it with two Nurmagomedovs at UFC Shanghai. On Saturday, Song fought Umar Nurmagomedov in the main event of UFC Shanghai, scoring a massive upset with a devastating second-round knockout. It was the biggest win of Song’s career and immediately puts him in the thick of the title conversation at 135 pounds, and so “Kung Fu Kid” was understandably ecstatic after the knockout, sprinting around the cage in excitement. But that excitement nearly led to an altercation with Umar’s brother, Usman Nurmagomedov. After Song knocked out Umar, Usman leaped over the fence to jump into the cage, ostensibly to check on his brother. In so doing, the younger Nurmagomedov ended up on a collision course with the celebrating Song. The PFL lightweight champion (and possibly soon-to-be-UFC fighter) shoved Song, and then appeared to nearly hit him with an elbow as the victorious fighter continued running around behind him. SONG YADONG JUST KNOCKED UMAR NURMAGOMEDOV OUT COLD 😱😱😱 #UFCShanghai 📺 @paramountplus pic.twitter.com/0xJt9yUjdc — UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) August 29, 2026 Afterward, fans were quick to jump on Usman’s reaction, but ultimately it appears no major altercation occurred, with coach and cousin Khabib Nurmagomedov even wiping the blood from Song’s cut when they spoke with each other after the bout. Respectful as always from Khabib, who wiped the blood from Song Yadong’s eye after watching him knock out Umar just moments before. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/lrMO5zT6Ru — BlockBet (@BlockBetGG) August 29, 2026

Yadong Song earned the biggest win of his career tonight in front of an arena full of supporters.

Yadong Song earned the biggest win of his career tonight in front of an arena full of supporters.

Song Yadong pulled off a stunning upset in the UFC Shanghai main event.

SHANGHAI, CHINA - AUGUST 29: (L-R) Song Yadong of China punches Umar Nurmagomedov of Russia in a bantamweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center on August 29, 2026 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC) Song Yadong destroyed Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC Shanghai and now he wants his title shot. The Chinese star scored the biggest win of his career to close out Saturday’s event, catching Nurmagomedov early in the second round with a right hand uppercut knockout punch to leave the one-time title challenger flat on the canvas. Watch the unreal finish below. Song Yadong just put Umar Nurmagomedov to SLEEP at #UFCShanghai! Does the bantamweight division have a new No. 1 contender?? pic.twitter.com/uYSfOzMPfr — MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) August 29, 2026 In his post-fight interview, Song didn’t mince words: “Give me the title shot!” It will be hard to argue against Song’s case after what he did to Nurmagomedov. Song, a longtime contender who was yet to defeat a ranked opponent in their prime, entered Saturday as a sizable underdog, and was down on the scorecards after an action-packed first round. Nurmagomedov mixed his striking and wrestling well, but Song escaped the opening frame without much damage and defended well against Nurmagomedov’s grappling. Song was rewarded for his preparation and fearlessness in Round 2, stuffing an early Nurmagomedov takedown and later perfectly timing an uppercut to catch Nurmagomedov as he changed levels. The blow caught Nurmagomedov square on the side of his jaw, rattling his skull, and instantly robbing him of his consciousness. The official time of the stoppage was 1:48 into Round 2. That’s two straight wins now for Song (24-9-1, 1 NC), while Nurmagomedov (20-2) sees a two-fight win streak snapped and his hopes of another title shot fall further out of reach. The UFC bantamweight title is set to be up for grabs at UFC 333 on Oct. 24, when champion Petr Yan meets Merab Dvalishvili in a trilogy bout, and Song is now in prime position to potentially serve as a backup or await the winner.

Song Yadong made a championship statement at UFC Shanghai

Song Yadong delivered perhaps the Upset of the Year when he left Umar Nurmagomedov cold in the UFC Shanghai main event.