Umar Nurmagomedov and Song Yadong bid to put themselves firmly in the UFC Bantamweight title conversation when they meet in Shanghai this weekend.
It's #3 vs #6 in the 135lb division and a statement performance is needed for either to put themselves firmly in the mix to face the winner of Petr Yan and Merab Dvalishvili's title rematch in October.
Umar Nurmagomedov v Song Yadong Tips Preview
Although a title shot isn't necessarily guaranteed for the winner, Nurmagomedov (20-1-0) and Song (23-9-1) will want to be in prime position once the title fight plays out.
Sean O'Malley's knockout win at the White House put him back in the mix, particularly for a rematch with now-champion Yan, whom he beat in a close fight in 2022.
With the American already losing twice to Dvalishvili in title fights, Nurmagomedov will also be looking for revenge on the Georgian should he win back the title, while a match-up with Yan would set up an all-Russian affair.
Song has lost to both Yan and O’Malley by unanimous decision and has yet to fight for the belt, but whatever happens here he is likely to need one more win to secure his shot.
Nurmagomedov is an elite grappler and technical kickboxer with an 8-1 UFC record.
As his surname suggests, the 30-year-old brings excellent chain wrestling, trips and body-lock takedowns, averaging 4.03 takedowns per 15 minutes compared to Song’s 0.82 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Not just a grappler, Nurmagomedov is sharp on his feet, using long kicks and straight punches to set up his level changes and takedowns.
Song is primarily a stand-up fighter, with fast hands and genuine KO power, boasting five knockout finishes so far from 12 UFC wins.
The 28-year-old has ever-improving grappling, including defensively, where he has a 73% takedown defence rate.
This includes against Olympic gold medallist Henry Cejudo and his most recent contest against Deiveson Figueiredo, where he was able to snatch a second-round guillotine finish in May.
Umar Nurmagomedov v Song Yadong Tale of the Tape
Umar Nurmagomedov | Song Yadong | |
Record: | 20-1 | 23-9 |
Age: | 30 | 28 |
Birthplace: | Kizilyurt, Dagestan, Russia | Harbin, Heilongjiang, China |
Height: | 5' 8" | 5' 8" |
Stance: | Orthodox | Orthodox |
Last Fight: | Won (UD) v Deiveson Figueiredo (Jan 26) | Won (R2, Sub) v Deiveson Figueiredo (May 26) |
KO%: | 10% (of wins) | 39% (of wins) |
Alias: | N/A | Kung Fu Kid |
Umar Nurmagomedov v Song Yadong Top Tip
Song Yadong to win @ 4/1
Ultimately the success Song can have in this fight will be determined by not only how well he defends takedowns, but whether he can break enough grappling pressure to implement his own game and win rounds.
Song may only be 28 years old but this is his ninth year in the UFC and is now an experienced campaigner who has improved the weaker areas of his game, particularly his takedown defence.
The Chinese fighter can often be tentative out of the gate, as shown in his last two flights against Deiveson Figueiredo and Sean O’Malley.
Banking the first round of a five-round contest in what is likely to go to a decision against a cardio heavy grappler will be vital as he looks to disrupt and derail Nurmagomedov’s gameplan down the stretch.
In this five-round contest Song’s best chance is to try and turn this into a scrap and bring out the kickboxer in Umar and look to steal close rounds, particularly in front of his home crowd.
The odds are inflated in what should be a close fight and while Nurmagomedov is a tough puzzle to solve, Song has all the tools and experience to make it a tough night at the office and cause an upset.
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
