<p>Fresh off a controversial yet pivotal victory over former two-division champion Henry Cejudo at UFC Fight Night 252 main event, Song Yadong has solidified his position as a legitimate contender in the UFC bantamweight division. The win, though marred by an unfortunate eye poke that led to a technical decision, proved that Song can hang with the best. With momentum on his side and his sights set on gold, a logical next step emerges: a showdown with #3-ranked Umar Nurmagomedov.</p>

Song Yadong (22-8-1, 1 NC) is a well-rounded striker with knockout power, sharp combinations, and relentless aggression. His ability to finish fights and push the pace makes him a dangerous opponent for anyone in the division. Meanwhile, Umar Nurmagomedov (18-1) is an elite grappler with suffocating wrestling, slick submissions, and a high fight IQ. Despite suffering his first professional loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311, Umar remains one of the most dangerous fighters in the bantamweight division.

A fight between Song and Umar would be a classic striker vs. grappler showdown, with Song’s powerful striking facing off against Umar’s relentless pressure and ground control. The stakes would be high and whoever wins could find themselves one fight away from a title shot.

Song Yadong’s Last Five Fights:

1. ✅ Win – vs. Henry Cejudo (Technical Decision) – UFC Fight Night 252, Feb 22, 2025
2. ❌ Loss – vs. Petr Yan (Unanimous Decision) – UFC 299, Mar 9, 2024
3. ✅ Win – vs. Chris Gutiérrez (Unanimous Decision) – UFC Fight Night, Dec 9, 2023
4. ✅ Win – vs. Ricky Simón (TKO, Round 5) – UFC on ESPN, Apr 29, 2023
5. ❌ Loss – vs. Cory Sandhagen (TKO, Doctor Stoppage) – UFC Fight Night, Sep 17, 2022

Umar Nurmagomedov’s Last Five Fights:

1. ❌ Loss – vs. Merab Dvalishvili (Unanimous Decision) – UFC 311, Jan 18, 2025
2. ✅ Win – vs. Cory Sandhagen (Unanimous Decision) – UFC on ABC, Aug 3, 2024
3. ✅ Win – vs. Bekzat Almakhan (Unanimous Decision) – UFC Fight Night, Mar 2, 2024
4. ✅ Win – vs. Raoni Barcelos (KO, Round 1) – UFC Fight Night, Jan 14, 2023
5. ✅ Win – vs. Nate Maness (Unanimous Decision) – UFC on ESPN, Jun 25, 2022

This matchup presents an exciting contrast in styles. Song Yadong’s crisp boxing, knockout power, and ever-improving takedown defense will be put to the test against Umar Nurmagomedov’s Dagestani wrestling, submission skills, and relentless pressure. The key for Song will be to keep the fight standing and avoid Umar’s grappling exchanges, while Umar will look to control the fight with his superior ground game.

A win for Song could push him into the top 5 and put him in a title eliminator, while a victory for Umar would prove he’s still a top contender despite his recent setback.