Umar Nurmagomedov's situation prompts Khabib to involve Islam Makhachev for help

Umar Nurmagomedov stays active in pursuit of a title shot as Song Yadong withdraws from their proposed fight.

Umar Nurmagomedov is widely recognized as a leading contender for the bantamweight title, currently holding the #2 rank in the 135-pound division. He trails only Sean O’Malley, who recently lost his championship title to Merab Dvalishvili in September.

Umar has publicly stated that Dana White and the UFC have assured him a shot at the title next, despite champion Merab’s clear opposition to facing him.

Merab argues that Umar does not deserve his ranking and has been given preferential treatment by the UFC due to his familial connection to Khabib Nurmagomedov, who is Umar’s cousin.

Recently, however, Merab has softened his stance and indicated that he would be willing to fight Umar if the UFC arranges it.

With Merab announcing that he will not compete before February of next year and Umar eager to remain active—having last fought in August—Umar is considering a fight against #8 ranked Song Yadong.

Yadong had publicly called for a match on social media, and Umar expressed his agreement, leaving the final decision to the UFC.

Khabib has voiced his support for Umar’s desire to stay active, emphasizing that remaining competitive is a natural part of a fighter's journey.

He reflected on his own experiences, as well as those of lightweight champion Islam Makhachev, pointing out that every fighter goes through a transitional period.

Khabib reassured Umar that time will come when many will want to fight him, encouraging him to keep training and preparing.

Unfortunately for Umar, it appears the proposed fight with Yadong is no longer a possibility. Reports indicate that Song Yadong has turned down the fight due to a training injury, a claim that Umar himself confirmed on Twitter.

He expressed his readiness to compete while he waits for a new opponent to emerge. Additionally, Umar took this opportunity to address recent comments from Merab, who suggested that Umar is afraid to fight him.

Umar countered these claims, stating that Merab is making efforts to avoid him, which he believes is not befitting of a true champion. Even with Yadong out of the picture, Umar remains determined to secure a fight before Ramadan.