Umar Nurmagomedov had some harsh words towards top contender Yadong Song.
The promotion announced that Nurmagomedov (20-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) will take on No. 9 ranked bantamweight David Martinez (14-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) in the UFC Fight Night 282 co-headliner on July 25 from Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, but it appears that fight could be scrapped.
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Ali Abdelaziz claimed that Martinez is out due to injury, and rumors have floated that the UFC is now targeting a matchup between Nurmagomedov and Song (23-9-1 MMA, 12-4-1 UFC). Nurmagomedov was especially critical of Song’s close decision loss to O’Malley at UFC 324.
“Of course, I’m interested,” Nurmagomedov told Adam Zubayraev of Song in a translated interview. “He’s a punching bag. How did he do against O’Malley? He was dead by the third round. … He was taking knees to the face. How do you fight?
“I don’t consider him a top-class fighter, honestly. The only thing he has is that one punch. That’s it. What else does he have? For me, it’s an easy fight, but of course, I’ll prepare to take him out. No underestimation, but I don’t know, it’s a bit weak.”
Song has since rebounded with a bonus-winning submission of Deiveson Figueiredo in the the UFC Fight Night 277 main event last month. Nurmagomedov’s most recent win also came over the former champ.
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“I was really disappointed he fought O’Malley like that – really disappointed,” Nurmagomedov said. “It was such an even fight, but I don’t know. I’m underestimating both of them. It’s not that I underestimate them, they’re just like – I’ll take them out.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Umar Nurmagomedov goes off on ‘punching bag’ Yadong Song
