Umar Nurmagomedov

RAF co-founder Eric Bischoff has expressed interest in booking Islam Makhachev against Umar Nurmagomedov at a tournament in Moscow in 2027. The promotion is holding its next event in Moscow on September 5, headlined by Khamzat Chimaev versus Tyron Woodley.

Makhachev, Chimaev, Woodley

The latest UFC rankings update sees Song Yadong climb to third in the bantamweight division, while Umar Nurmagomedov drops one spot to fourth. Su Mudaerji enters the flyweight top 15 at No. 13, and Denise Gomes jumps seven places into the women's strawweight top 10. Yan Xiaonan falls to fifth in that same division, and Alex Perez now sits at the bottom of the flyweight rankings.

Perez, Xiaonan, Gomes+1

Umar Nurmagomedov has broken his silence following his defeat to Song Yadong, urging fans not to feel sorry for him and confirming he is in full health. The bantamweight contender stated that losses are part of the sport and expressed no doubt about his ability to bounce back and eventually become champion.

Song Yadong scored a stunning knockout win over Umar Nurmagomedov in the main event of UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs. Song on August 29, 2026 in Shanghai, China. The bout ended at 1:48 of round two when Song, a significant underdog, dropped Nurmagomedov with a short right hand leading to a KO/TKO stoppage. The result is a major bantamweight upset, as Nurmagomedov entered as a top contender and former title challenger, while Song fought on home soil. This win dramatically boosts Song’s standing in the division and could propel him into title discussions, while Nurmagomedov will need to rebound from his first knockout loss.

Yadong, Nurmagomedov

Bekzat Almakhan has signed with RKENA, a Georgian MMA organization founded in 2025, following his controversial release from the UFC. The Kazakh bantamweight prospect made headlines during his UFC tenure by knocking down Umar Nurmagomedov in his debut and later stopping Brad Katona, but dropped his final two bouts against Aleksandre Topuria and Jean Matsumoto. His release drew widespread criticism, with many in the MMA community viewing it as premature given the difficulty of his matchups.

Almakhan

Umar Nurmagomedov says he intends to fight Merab Dvalishvili next whether Dvalishvili wins or loses against Petr Yan at UFC 333 on October 24 in Abu Dhabi. Nurmagomedov, who suffered his first career loss to Dvalishvili via unanimous decision in their bantamweight title fight at UFC 311 in January 2025, told MMA Junkie the rivalry has since turned personal following an altercation between Dvalishvili and Nurmagomedov's friend Ahmed Gadzhimagomedov at a recent event in Georgia. Nurmagomedov must first get past Song Yadong in Saturday's UFC Fight Night 286 main event in Shanghai before any rematch can materialise.

Dvalishvili, Yan, Yadong