Song Yadong Defends Usman Nurmagomedov After UFC Shanghai Cage Incident in 1 Fight
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 1
Song Yadong Defends Usman Nurmagomedov After UFC Shanghai Cage Incident in 1 Fight
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Sep 1
Summary
Song Yadong said Usman Nurmagomedov did not try to maliciously attack him after jumping into the cage following Yadong's knockout win over Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC Shanghai.
Yadong said he was running a celebratory lap when Usman blocked and shoved him while checking on his brother, and slow motion only made the exchange look like a spinning-elbow attempt.
Usman, the PFL lightweight champion, appeared to react defensively because he thought Yadong was charging toward him, Yadong said, adding there had been no bad blood before the fight.
The clash ended without serious contact, but it briefly threatened to overshadow one of the biggest home wins by a Chinese fighter and renewed scrutiny of cage-jumping after bouts.