Song Yadong Says Knocking Out Umar Nurmagomedov Was Best Moment of His Life
Song Yadong did not need time to decide what Saturday meant. After knocking out Umar Nurmagomedov in the UFC Shanghai main event, the Chinese bantamweight called the finish the best moment of his life.
He said so in a UFC on Paramount+ interview, with a home crowd still behind him.
“This is the best moment in my life right now. I knocked out Umar… I’m so proud for me.”
The stoppage came at 1:48 of Round 2 at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center, where Song closed UFC Fight Night 286 in front of his own people. He moved to 24-9-1 overall and 13-4-1 inside the UFC.
Nurmagomedov entered ranked No. 2 at bantamweight and left with the first knockout loss of his professional career. The former title challenger fell to 20-2 and 8-2 in the promotion, and a two-fight climb back toward gold ended on the canvas.
Song came in ranked No. 6 and as a sizable betting underdog. His last defeat was a close January decision against former champion Sean O’Malley at UFC 324.
He started climbing again in May by submitting former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo. Saturday was billed as a steeper test against a wrestler many saw as the next man for a title shot.
The first round followed that script. Nurmagomedov mixed kicks, entries, and a takedown, and he spent stretches of the round on top before Song scrambled back to his feet.
Round 2 lasted less than two minutes. Song stuffed an early shot, stayed in range, and timed a right uppercut as Nurmagomedov dipped to change levels.
The punch landed behind the ear and put him down immediately. Follow-up strikes ended the fight before Nurmagomedov could recover.
Song later said the opening had been built in camp. Team Alpha Male boxing coach Rudy Hernandez told him the uppercut would be there if Nurmagomedov shot from the left side.
“My boxing coach Rudy Hernandez, he already told me you’ll get the knockout tonight with an uppercut,” Song said. “We’ve been working on that, the uppercut. We knew he’s going to shoot from the left side, and we feinted the left uppercut and landed the right one.”
That confidence held even when the fight hit the mat. Song told UFC News Nurmagomedov’s wrestling never felt as heavy as its reputation, and he was smiling even from his back.
“I feel ready to go. I was smiling, even when I was on bottom, I was OK because I’m so confident. It’s not that crazy his wrestling. Actually I can defend, but on bottom, I can escape. One minute before the fight, Urijah (Faber) told me, ‘You’re so much better than him, just believe in yourself.'”
After the knockout, Song grabbed the microphone and turned the night into a title demand. He asked who was next, then made the request now hanging over the 135-pound division.
“Give me the title shot!”
He also said he wants to become the first male Chinese UFC champion. That goal carries more weight after he finished a leading contender on home soil.
Champion Petr Yan (20-5) meets former titleholder Merab Dvalishvili (21-5) in a trilogy at UFC 333 on Oct. 24 in Abu Dhabi. Song has already named the winner as the fight he wants.
“I think the UFC should give me the title shot,” Song said. “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.”
The UFC has not booked his next opponent, and official rankings had not yet been reshuffled after Shanghai. What changed on Saturday is the argument itself.
Nurmagomedov had been the fighter chasing a second run at gold. Song is now the one who knocked him out at home, collected a $100,000 performance bonus, and pushed himself into the middle of the bantamweight title picture.
Nurmagomedov did not hide from the result. In an Instagram post hours later, he said he was fine, thanked people who reached out, and vowed to study the mistakes that led to the finish and come back.
Song’s next step now sits with the matchmakers. With Yan and Dvalishvili already set for October, the most realistic path is a wait for that trilogy, or another ranked fight if the UFC wants one more test before a title meeting.