Umar Nurmagomedov Breaks Silence After UFC Shanghai KO Loss
Umar Nurmagomedov issued a statement after his first career KO loss to Song Yadong at UFC Shanghai, vowing to return.
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Umar Nurmagomedov released a statement on social media after suffering the first knockout loss of his career to Song Yadong in the UFC Shanghai main event.
"Everything is fine with me. Alhamdulillah. Thank you so much to everyone who writes. I will work on the mistakes. And I will be back," Nurmagomedov wrote in Russian, translated by Instagram.
Song Yadong stopped Nurmagomedov in the second round Saturday in Shanghai, China, ending a fight most had circled as a springboard to another bantamweight title shot. Nurmagomedov, ranked in the top three at 135 pounds, walked in as the heavy favorite and left with his first stoppage loss as a pro. His record now sits at 20-2, with both defeats coming against the top of the division: a decision loss to champion Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311 and now the knockout to Song.
What This Means for the Bantamweight Title Picture
Song Yadong just took Nurmagomedov's spot in line for a shot at Dvalishvili's belt. Nurmagomedov had rattled off two straight wins since the UFC 311 title fight, building momentum for another crack at gold. That path is gone for now. A statement win over a ranked contender, on the level of what got him here, is likely the minimum needed to get back into the picture, and given how one-sided the finish looked, oddsmakers and matchmakers alike will want to see it before treating him as a title threat again.
Betting markets had Nurmagomedov as the clear favorite going into UFC Shanghai, which makes the result one of the bigger upsets of the year at 135 pounds. Bettors who back him going forward should expect his price to soften considerably in his next outing until he proves the chin and the loss were a one-off rather than a pattern against the division's harder hitters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who beat Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC Shanghai?
Song Yadong knocked out Umar Nurmagomedov in the second round of the UFC Shanghai main event, handing Nurmagomedov the first stoppage loss of his career.
What did Umar Nurmagomedov say after losing to Song Yadong?
Umar Nurmagomedov posted a statement saying he was fine, thanking supporters, and vowing to fix his mistakes and return, writing that he would be back.
What is Umar Nurmagomedov's record after UFC Shanghai?
Umar Nurmagomedov fell to 20-2 after the knockout loss to Song Yadong, with his only other defeat coming against bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311.
