Islam Makhachev has revealed that Umar Nurmagomedov required stitches after Song Yadong opened a cut behind his ear during their fight, and that the injury is the only damage sustained. Makhachev expressed confidence in Umar's abilities, saying he is the stronger fighter by skill but acknowledged the unpredictable nature of MMA with small gloves. He expects Umar to return to the cage after Ramadan, sometime after February, and believes Nurmagomedov will eventually become champion as long as he stays motivated.
Islam Makhachev has shed light on the physical toll of Umar Nurmagomedov's recent bantamweight bout against Song Yadong, revealing that a cut behind Umar's ear was the sole injury his teammate sustained during the fight.
Speaking publicly about the contest, the welterweight champion disclosed that Yadong managed to open the cut during the fight and that Nurmagomedov subsequently needed stitches to close the wound. Beyond that, Makhachev indicated the damage was limited, framing it as a relatively clean bill of health for his Eagles MMA stablemate. While expressing strong belief in Umar's technical superiority, Makhachev also acknowledged the chaotic nature of MMA competition with small gloves, where any fighter can be caught on a given night.
Makhachev himself is the current welterweight champion carrying a 29-1 record and holds the top pound-for-pound ranking at 34 years old. The Dagestani southpaw is one of the sport's most complete competitors, landing takedowns at a rate of 3.22 per 15 minutes and connecting on 58 percent of his significant strikes.
Nurmagomedov, 30, holds a 20-2 record and sits ranked fourth in the bantamweight division. Standing five-foot-eight with a 69-inch reach, the orthodox grappler has shown consistent offensive output, averaging 3.76 significant strikes per minute and nearly four takedowns per 15 minutes throughout his career.
Song Yadong, the third-ranked bantamweight at 28 years old, carries a 24-9-1 record and is known for his high-volume striking, averaging 4.26 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- Nurmagomedov's injury appearing minor keeps his title trajectory on course
- Makhachev's public backing signals Eagles MMA's championship ambitions extend to bantamweight
- A post-Ramadan return, projected sometime after February, would slot Umar back into contention in a stacked 135-pound division
- The fourth-ranked Nurmagomedov fighting the third-ranked Yadong already represented a high-stakes divisional matchup
