Umar Nurmagomedov reportedly plans to abandon wrestling for full-time striking

Umar Nurmagomedov is reportedly considering a dramatic shift in fighting philosophy following his knockout loss to Song Yadong at UFC Shanghai, telling manager Ali Abdelaziz that he no longer considers himself a wrestler and intends to compete as a full-time striker going forward.

The declaration marks a striking departure for the 30-year-old Russian, who entered the fight ranked fourth in the UFC bantamweight division with a 20-1 record and one of the most decorated grappling pedigrees in the sport. Fighting out of Eagles MMA in Dagestan — the same wrestling-forged environment that shaped his cousin Khabib — Nurmagomedov had built his career around smothering takedown pressure, averaging nearly four takedowns per 15 minutes and holding a 56 percent striking accuracy. He carries just two knockout wins across his 20 victories, a number that underscores how rarely his path to success has run through pure power striking.

Song Yadong, the number-three-ranked bantamweight, handed Nurmagomedov the second loss of his professional career. The 28-year-old averages 4.26 significant strikes per minute and has fashioned a 24-9-1 record in a division where he has long been considered one of the sharper hands.

Why it matters

• Nurmagomedov's grappling has been central to his rise; stepping away from it reshapes how divisional rivals would need to prepare for him.
• With two knockouts in 20 wins, a commitment to pure striking represents genuinely uncharted territory in his career.
• The bantamweight top five is tightly bunched, and how Nurmagomedov responds to this loss — stylistically and competitively — will influence his path back toward title contention.
• The report stems from a conversation relayed through his management and has not been confirmed as an official strategic declaration.