SHANGHAI | Song Yadong pulled off one of the biggest upsets of his UFC career Saturday, knocking out heavily favored bantamweight contender Umar Nurmagomedov in the second round of UFC Shanghai.

Song ended the main event at 1:48 of Round 2, catching Nurmagomedov with a perfectly timed right uppercut as the Russian fighter attempted to change levels for a takedown. The knockout immediately sent shock waves through the bantamweight division.

Nurmagomedov entered the fight ranked No. 3 in the UFC bantamweight division, while Song was ranked No. 6. UFC listed Nurmagomedov as a significant betting favorite before the bout.

Song Turns the Fight Around in Round 2

Nurmagomedov appeared to have success early in the fight, using his wrestling to control portions of the opening round.

Song remained dangerous on the feet, however, and waited for an opening. That opportunity came early in the second round when Nurmagomedov attempted another takedown.

Song timed the exchange perfectly and landed the right uppercut, ending the fight immediately. UFC awarded Song a Performance of the Night bonus for the knockout.

The finish was especially significant because Nurmagomedov had built his reputation around elite grappling and had been viewed as one of the division’s top contenders.

A Major Upset for the Bantamweight Division

The result dramatically changes the UFC bantamweight picture.

Nurmagomedov had entered the fight looking to move closer to another title opportunity after previously challenging for the championship. A win over Song would have strengthened his position near the top of the division.

Instead, Song now has one of the biggest victories of his career and immediately placed himself in the title conversation.

After the knockout, Song made his intentions clear by calling for a championship opportunity. UFC had promoted the matchup as a fight between elite bantamweights seeking another step toward a title shot.

Nurmagomedov Suffers Another Career Loss

The defeat marks the second professional loss of Nurmagomedov’s career.

His first loss came against Merab Dvalishvili, who defeated him by unanimous decision in January 2025. Song is now the second fighter to defeat Umar as a professional.

That makes the result even more notable for a fighter who had previously been regarded as one of the most difficult matchups in the UFC bantamweight division.

The Viral 71-2 Claim Needs Context

The upset quickly generated attention on social media, including a viral claim that the Nurmagomedov family now has a combined professional record of 71-2 and that both losses came against Song Yadong.

The 71-2 figure can be reached by combining the professional records of Khabib Nurmagomedov, Usman Nurmagomedov and Umar Nurmagomedov, but the claim about both losses coming against Song is incorrect.

Both losses in that combined total belong to Umar.

His first loss came against Dvalishvili, while Song handed him his second defeat Saturday.

That distinction is important because the viral version of the statistic gives the impression that Song has defeated two members of the Nurmagomedov family. He has not.

Song Yadong Delivers a Career Defining Moment

The victory represents a major step forward for Song, who has spent years establishing himself as one of the UFC’s top bantamweights.

The 28 year old Chinese fighter had already earned attention with a win over former UFC champion Deiveson Figueiredo before entering Saturday’s main event. He now has a knockout victory over one of the division’s most highly regarded contenders.

Song also entered the fight with a unique connection to UFC Shanghai. He made his UFC debut in Shanghai nearly nine years ago and returned to the city as a top 10 bantamweight for the biggest fight of his career.

What the Upset Means for the UFC Title Picture

Song’s knockout could force the UFC to reconsider its next steps at 135 pounds.

A victory over a No. 3 ranked contender gives Song a strong case for another major fight, potentially putting him closer to a championship opportunity.

Nurmagomedov, meanwhile, will have to rebuild after suffering his second loss in three professional years.

The outcome also adds another layer of uncertainty to a bantamweight division already packed with contenders fighting for position.

A Night to Remember in Shanghai

UFC Shanghai produced a dramatic homecoming moment for Song, who celebrated one of the biggest victories of his career in front of the Shanghai crowd.

The UFC’s official coverage highlighted the knockout as one of the night’s defining moments, with Song earning a Performance of the Night bonus for stopping Nurmagomedov in the second round.

What began as a fight designed to determine which contender would move closer to a title shot ended with one of the division’s biggest surprises of the year.

Song Yadong did not simply beat Umar Nurmagomedov. He stopped him with a perfectly timed knockout and changed the UFC bantamweight picture in the process.