Usman Nurmagomedov Fires Back After UFC Shanghai Cage Incident

Usman Nurmagomedov has pushed back against criticism of his actions after brother Umar's knockout loss at UFC Shanghai on Saturday.

The PFL lightweight champion was cornering Umar when Song Yadong stopped the previously unbeaten bantamweight in the second round. Nurmagomedov hopped into the cage immediately to check on his brother, nearly colliding with Yadong in the process. Some observers questioned whether the move was appropriate or if Nurmagomedov had considered throwing a shot at the Chinese fighter.

Nurmagomedov Calls Out Critics On Instagram

Per BJ Penn.com, Nurmagomedov took to Instagram to address the backlash. "If I had wanted to, I would have hit him," he wrote. "You mean-spirited, petty, and envious people. Your problem is that you've never had, and never will have, an understanding of or love for family. If you don't know what it means for a brother to be a brother, then it's not me you should feel sorry for—it's yourselves."

UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier drew heat from fans for defending Nurmagomedov's actions despite the protocol breach. Some felt the post-fight moment shifted attention away from Yadong's finish, the first knockout loss of Umar's professional career. Yadong has since stated he believes the victory warrants a bantamweight title shot.

Usman remains the biggest free agent in MMA after completing his PFL contract. He holds the promotion's lightweight title.

Reported via:

• BJPenn — Usman Nurmagomedov defends post-fight actions after UFC Shanghai headliner: “You mean-spirited, petty, and envious people”