Daniel Cormier defends Usman Nurmagomedov after altercation at UFC Shanghai: ‘He did not attack Song Yadong’
Daniel Cormier understands Usman Nurmagomedov’s emotional reaction to Umar Nurmagomedov knockout loss
On August 29, 2026, in Shanghai, China, Song Yadong from China stunned the UFC Shanghai audience by knocking out Umar Nurmagomedov with a powerful uppercut. While the crowd erupted in celebration, tensions were high as Nurmagomedov's team, including his brother Usman, were nearby. Usman, known for his aggressive style, seemed to approach Song as he celebrated, leading to speculation of an elbow strike.
However, UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier, speaking on his YouTube channel, firmly denied these claims. "Usman Nurmagomedov jumped into the octagon after the fight, Khabib [Nurmagomedov] tried to stop him," Cormier stated. "Song Yadong is running in the direction of Usman. Usman reacts, like he reaches to stop him like they were going to make contact together.
He did not elbow him. He did not attack Song Yadong." Cormier acknowledged Usman's desire to get to his brother after witnessing the knockout, but clarified that such actions are prohibited. He explained that while it's natural to rush to protect a loved one, it's not allowed in the octagon. Cormier emphasized that Usman should take responsibility for his actions as entering the octagon during the chaos was against the rules.
The incident did not escalate further, and medical personnel quickly attended to Umar. UFC officials have yet to issue any official statement on the matter, but it appears that the situation was resolved without any further complications.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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