UFC analyst: Umar Nurmagomedov, Song Yadong 'perfect challenge for each other'

Dominick Cruz believes neither Umar Nurmagomedov nor Song Yadong can afford to lose at UFC Fight Night 286.

Nurmagomedov (20-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) meets Song (23-9-1 MMA, 12-4-1 UFC) in the Aug. 29 main event (Paramount+) from Shanghai Oriental Sports Center in China. Song has been close to title contention on numerous occasions, but setbacks to Cory Sandhagen, Petr Yan, and Sean O’Malley have gotten in his way.

“Song Yadong’s got a chip on his shoulder because he’s getting right there and then just barely falling short,” Cruz told MMA Junkie. “So, I think that that’s going to make him much sharper. And then he’s facing a striking heavy Nurmagomedov, who did striking before his grappling. So, he’s like a true striker.

“I can’t say who’s going to win obviously because I’ll be commentating that, but they’re the perfect challenge for each other at this stage of their career. Both of them have lost, both of them are pissed off about it, and then we get to watch them prove to themselves why they don’t want to feel like that anymore. It’s the worst feeling on earth.”

Nurmagomedov has just one loss in his career, a close decision to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311 for the bantamweight title. The climb back to title contention hasn’t been easy as Nurmagomedov has since had to beat Mario Bautista and Deiveson Figueiredo.

Former UFC bantamweight champion Cruz is not looking at Nurmagomedov vs. Song as a striker vs. grappler matchup.

“They’re both very equally skilled on the feet,” Cruz said. “Different styles, I think Nurmagomedov is more fluent, more flowy. He throws combinations to finish his combinations with kicks. Song Yadong is more of a pure boxing style with wrestling. Boxer-wrestler. So, boxer-wrestler vs. a fluent kickboxing-wrestler.

“It’s going to be fun to watch that go down. It’s going to be a tactical battle. I think Song Yadong has the edge in the power shots, but also him having to sit down the way he does to land the power and throw the power and keep his feet flat is going to make it much easier for Nurmagomedov to use his footwork and use the whole octagon.”

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC analyst: Umar Nurmagomedov, Song Yadong ‘perfect challenge for each other’