![Fans and MMA media react (insert) to Umar Nurmagomedov (left) vs Song Yadong (right) booking for December. [Image credit: @umar_nurmagomedov, @yadongsong on Instagram]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/10/a0fc7-17291985399926-1920.jpg)
![Fans and MMA media react (insert) to Umar Nurmagomedov (left) vs Song Yadong (right) booking for December. [Image credit: @umar_nurmagomedov, @yadongsong on Instagram]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http%3A//www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20xmlns%3Axlink='http%3A//www.w3.org/1999/xlink'%20viewBox='0%200%2010%206.25'%3E%3Cfilter%20id='b'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20color-interpolation-filters='sRGB'%3E%3CfeGaussianBlur%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20stdDeviation='.5'%3E%3C/feGaussianBlur%3E%3CfeComponentTransfer%3E%3CfeFuncA%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20type='discrete'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20tableValues='1%201'%3E%3C/feFuncA%3E%3C/feComponentTransfer%3E%3C/filter%3E%3Cimage%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20filter='url(%23b)'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
News just broke out that No. 2-ranked UFC bantamweight Umar Nurmagomedov will face No. 8-ranked Song Yadong in December. If true, this is a rather surprising decision for 'Young Eagle' as he is pretty much set to challenge for the title in his next bout already.
Nurmagomedov was last seen in action in a unanimous decision win over Cory Sandhagan at UFC Abu Dhabi last August. After extending his record to 18-0, the Dagestani fighter was largely considered to face Merab Dvalishvili for the UFC bantamweight title next.
With no word from the champion on whether or not the fight will happen before the year ends, it seems Nurmagomedov opted to keep himself busy.
Initially reported by Red Corner MMA on X, the big news was reposted by Spinnin Backfist, citing the date and place as well:
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"🚨UMAR NURMAGOMEDOV MAIN EVENT Umar Nurmagomedov vs Song Yadong December 14 | Tampa FL | 135 lbs | 5 Rounds"
Fans and media personalities are reacting to this surprising news, with veteran MMA journalist Shakiel Mahjouri saying:
"Talk about a step backward"
Meanwhile, @AjDuxche expressed everyone's confusion with:
"So if Song wins goes he get a title shot?"
Check out more fan comments below:
![More comments [Image courtesy: @SpinninBackfist on X]](https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/10/b2881-17291967323970-1920.jpg)
Umar Nurmagomedov issued an ultimatum to Merab Dvalishvili to face him before Ramadan
This news seems to have stemmed from Umar Nurmagomedov's insistence that the champion fight him soon. In a recently uploaded tweet, the undefeated Dagestani fighter threw down the gauntlet on the champion, saying:
"If Merab [Dvalishvili] is going to avoid me, I won't wait for him. And I'll fight with anyone UFC suggests before ramadan"
Merab Dvalishvili just fought last month at Noche UFC 306 in a title-winning performance against Sean O'Malley. Ramadan happens at the end of February next year, which means Nurmagomedov is expecting the Georgian champion to lock horns with him somewhere in the next four months.
Facing Song in December means 'Young Eagle' would be fighting just four months after his last fight as well. However, nothing has been announced officially from the UFC yet.
