Umar Nurmagomedov absorbed the first knockout loss of his career this past week, falling to massive underdog Song Yadong in their UFC Shanghai main event. Javier Mendez, who trains Umar at AKA, pointed to a specific mistake that opened the door for Song's finishing shot. Umar himself isn't wallowing in it, sending a defiant message afterward that made clear he's already looking forward instead of back. Henry Cejudo pushed back hard on the result too, arguing that Umar beats Song nine times out of ten if they run it back.
Sources (12)
We summarise the day's news in our own words. Full credit to the outlets below for the original reporting, click through to read their work.
- Caio Borralho says Khamzat Chimaev doesn't deserve UFC title shot (Sherdog)
- UFC stars recall the wildest places USADA testers tracked them down (Sherdog)
- Arman Tsarukyan: Why the UFC won’t make Ilia Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett next (Bloody Elbow)
- UFC hopeful says his ‘-ov’ surname made Nathaniel Wood turn him down (Sherdog)
- Arman Tsarukyan Explains Why UFC Would Not Make Ilia Topuria vs. Paddy Pimblett (LowKick MMA)
- Jiri Prochazka teases ‘new challenge’ as UFC return takes shape (Sherdog)
- Javier Mendez spots Umar Nurmagomedov’s crucial mistake in KO loss (Sherdog)
- Dana White saw Ian Garry as too passive; Javier Mendez saw ‘genius’ (Sherdog)
- Umar Nurmagomedov sends defiant message after first knockout loss (Sherdog)
- Lucky shot? Henry Cejudo argues that Umar Nurmagomedov defeats Song Yadong ‘9 out of 10 times’ (MMA Mania)
- Caio Borralho Calls for Fight at UFC 334 (Yahoo Sports)
- Khamzat Chimaev names 4 UFC targets, Caio Borralho answers the call (Sherdog)
Split from that day's roundup, so the sources listed are the full set behind the whole edition rather than this story alone.
This story ran in the September 1, 2026 edition of the daily show.