Umar Nurmagomedov released his first public statement following his second-round knockout loss to Song Yadong at UFC Shanghai, according to MMA Fighting. The 20-2 bantamweight was on a two-fight win streak and had been working toward another championship opportunity, but instead was knocked out cold by the Chinese fighter in the main event on Saturday.

Team Nurmagomedov Urges Support and Resilience

Team Nurmagomedov, which includes Khabib Nurmagomedov and Usman Nurmagomedov, quickly released a message on Instagram after the fight, according to Bloody Elbow; the Nurmagomedov MMA School account wrote: ‘The result cannot be changed today the opponent won. Everything happened according to the will of the Almighty, and there is wisdom in that. Alhamdulillah in any situation: we accept what is prescribed, draw conclusions and continue to work.’

Umar’s defeat to Song marked his second professional loss, with the first occurring at UFC 311 when he challenged Merab Dvalishvili for the bantamweight title. Dvalishvili won a hard-fought decision, but Umar bounced back with wins over Deiveson Figueiredo and Mario Bautista before the recent setback.

Nurmagomedov’s Personal Response

In his own statement, Nurmagomedov said: ‘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,’ according to MMA Fighting. The fighter, from Dagestan, is now facing uncertainty in the bantamweight division, as a win over Song would have placed him in the running to face the winner of the upcoming UFC 333 title trilogy between Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili.

Instead, Song’s victory has put the Chinese fighter in the contender line for the title shot on Oct. 24 in Abu Dhabi, a spot Umar had hoped to secure following his previous wins. The loss has also added to the debate over whether Umar can still reach the top of the bantamweight division.

Background and Future Implications

Umar Nurmagomedov had been seen as a rising star in the bantamweight division, with a background of strong performances and a family legacy in MMA. After his failed title bid in 2025, Umar had planned to face the winner of Petr Yan’s title defense at UFC 333, but that opportunity has now been taken by Song Yadong.

Umar Nurmagomedov has now suffered two defeats in his last four fights, according to Bloody Elbow. He previously fell to Merab Dvalishvili and now to Song. The loss has shifted his trajectory, and the next steps for the Dagestani fighter remain uncertain.

Despite the setback, the Nurmagomedov camp has remained supportive, urging fans and the fighter himself to stay positive and continue training. The family has a history of overcoming adversity in the sport, and Umar is now tasked with finding his path forward in a highly competitive division.