YADONG SONG'S TEAM PREDICTED EXACT UPPERCUT KO OF UMAR NURMAGOMEDOV

Yadong Song’s team planned for an uppercut finish throughout training camp.

Song firmly put himself in title contention in the Ultimate Fighting Championship with the biggest victory of his career, finishing Umar Nurmagomedov in the second round of the UFC Shanghai headliner. The Chinese bantamweight’s coaches identified the route to victory long before fight night.

Yadong Song explains the preparation behind his UFC Shanghai knockout of Umar Nurmagomedov

After his knockout victory, Song revealed he had specifically prepared the uppercut as a counter to Nurmagomedov's takedown attempts. “The Kung Fu Kid” claimed that his boxing coach identified where the Dagestani was vulnerable and they repeatedly worked on the finishing sequence he pulled off at UFC Shanghai.

Song explained that his team anticipated Nurmagomedov shooting with his head dipping towards the left side and worked on counters to that movement.

“My boxing coach, Rudy Hernandez, he already told me, ‘You gonna get the knockout tonight with uppercut,’” Song said in a post-fight interview. “We’ve been working on that. We know he gonna shoot from the left side and we find the uppercut.”

In the same interview, Song claimed that he’d finish current champ Petr Yan and former champ Sean O’Malley in rematches after they previously outpointed him. He also fancies himself against Merab Dvalishvili.

“I feel like I can finish everyone,” Song added. “You know, I can, I can finish Petr. I can finish Merab, you know. So even Sean's fight is very close. You know, if a rematch, I can finish him too.”

“I feel like I can finish anyone.”

Song Yadong (@SongYaDongLFG) leaves Shanghai with a massive statement win as he looks to make his case for a shot at UFC gold

Main Card Results ➡️ https://t.co/G8E8FUHUKb pic.twitter.com/RqmEBkWorf

— UFC News (@UFCNews) August 29, 2026

 

5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT UMAR NURMAGOMEDOV AFTER UFC SHANGHAI

Jan 18, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Merab Dvalishvili (red gloves) fights Umar Nurmagomedov (blue gloves) during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

No fighter in the UFC carries a heavier surname than Umar Nurmagomedov. It has opened doors for him, and it has been used against him in every argument about whether he's earned his place. This Saturday in Shanghai, he headlines against Song Yadong in a fight that will likely decide who gets the next crack at the bantamweight belt. Here are five things worth knowing before he walks out.

1. HE DIDN'T ACTUALLY GROW UP ALONGSIDE KHABIB

The assumption is that Umar was raised inside the Nurmagomedov dynasty. He wasn't.

Umar Magomednabiyevich Nurmagomedov was born on January 3, 1996 in Kizilyurt, Dagestan, and spent most of his childhood in his native village — not in Makhachkala with his famous cousin. He started in freestyle wrestling as a kid, but coaching disruptions pushed him away from it, and he turned to Thai boxing instead. His younger brother Usman followed him into the same discipline.

Only later did the two brothers move to Makhachkala and join their uncle, Abdulmanap Nurmagomedov, at Eagles MMA — the same camp that produced Khabib and Islam Makhachev. Umar went on to earn International Master of Sport status in combat sambo. Today he splits his work between Eagles MMA and American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose.

He is well aware of what people say about him:

"It's not my fault that I was born as Khabib's cousin."

His full point was sharper than the soundbite — that there's a narrative he was handed everything on a silver platter and never had to take the hard road other fighters take. His answer this time was to go through the division instead of around it.

2. HIS YOUNGER BROTHER IS A WORLD CHAMPION IN HIS OWN RIGHT

Usman Nurmagomedov, born April 17, 1998 in the same city, is not a footnote. He's the former Bellator and current PFL lightweight champion, and he's still undefeated — 22 wins, zero losses, with one result overturned to a no contest. He defended the belt by knockout in July 2026 and became a free agent shortly after.

Two brothers from Kizilyurt, two world-level careers, one still chasing a UFC title. The family record speaks for itself, but so does the pressure attached to it.

3. BEFORE MERAB, NOBODY HAD PUT HIM ON HIS BACK

Jan 18, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Merab Dvalishvili (red gloves) celebrates after winning a UFC bantamweight title fight against Umar Nurmagomedov (blue gloves) during UFC 311 at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

This is the number that explains why Umar was fast-tracked in the first place. Going into the third round of his title fight with Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311, Umar Nurmagomedov had never been taken down in his professional career. Not once.

Dvalishvili changed that, and then kept changing it, taking the decision 48-47, 48-47, 49-46 — the first loss of Umar's career. But the context matters: Umar broke his left hand during the fight and fought most of it compromised. He was competitive across five rounds against a champion who was in the middle of one of the most dominant runs the division has ever seen.

Take the Dvalishvili night out of the equation and his record on the scorecards is close to spotless. He swept Mario Bautista 30-27 across all three cards. He beat Cory Sandhagen 50-45, 49-46, 49-46 in a five-round main event, converting at least one takedown in every round.

4. THE FINISHES HAVE DISAPPEARED

Here's the problem with his résumé, and it's a real one.

Umar's last stoppage win came in January 2023, when he knocked out Raoni Barcelos in the first round. Since then: a decision over Bekzat Almakhan, a decision over Sandhagen, the decision loss to Dvalishvili, a decision over Bautista, and a decision over Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 324. Five consecutive fights, five trips to the scorecards.

Against Figueiredo he landed 34 significant strikes to 8, took him down twice, and never attempted a submission. That's the pattern — control, accumulate, win clearly, don't gamble.

For a fighter whose record includes seven submission wins out of 20, that shift is striking. As the level of opposition has climbed, the risk-taking has fallen off. And in a division where Sean O'Malley is sitting at No. 2 with knockout power and a bigger name, a sixth straight decision may not be enough to jump the queue.

5. BEAT SONG, AND HE'LL HOLD FIVE WINS OVER THE CURRENT TOP 15

Mar 9, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; Song Yadong (blue gloves) fights Peter Yan (red gloves) during UFC 299 at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

If Umar gets his hand raised in Shanghai, his bantamweight résumé will read like this against the current rankings:

- No. 4 Mario Bautista

- No. 5 Cory Sandhagen

- No. 6 Song Yadong

- No. 9 Deiveson Figueiredo

- No. 13 Raoni Barcelos

Five wins over ranked opposition, plus a competitive five-round loss to a dominant champion. That's a contender's file by any standard.

The catch is that the belt isn't available right now. Petr Yan reclaimed the title from Dvalishvili at UFC 323 in December 2025, and the two are already booked for a trilogy bout at UFC 333 on October 24. O'Malley, meanwhile, is No. 2 and coming off a knockout win. Whoever wins in Shanghai is waiting in line, and the UFC will pick the fight that sells.

THE SONG PROBLEM

Song Yadong is a bad matchup for a fighter trying to make a statement. The Kung Fu Kid is 23-9-1 with nine knockouts, and while he has one stoppage loss in the UFC — a doctor stoppage against Sandhagen in September 2022 after a horrific cut over his eye — he has never been knocked out or submitted inside the Octagon. He's absorbed the best of Yan, Sandhagen, Cejudo, and O'Malley and heard the final bell every time.

He also arrives in form. In May 2026 he guillotined Deiveson Figueiredo in the second round in Macau, in front of a Chinese crowd, in his first fight on home soil since 2018. Now he's headlining in Shanghai with the entire country behind him.

Umar is a heavy betting favorite, and the safe read is that his wrestling and top control frustrate Song over 25 minutes. But safe is exactly what got him stuck in the queue. If he wants the belt in his next fight rather than the one after, he probably needs to do something in Shanghai that his last five opponents never let him do — finish.

- ROMAN ABDULLAIEV

CHINA'S ROBOT ARMY ASSEMBLES FOR WORLD ROBOTIC GAMES 2026 | BEHIND THE SCENES

 

CHENGDU TO HOST WORLD SQUASH JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 2027

More squash history being made! 🤩

🇨🇳 The World Squash Junior Championships will be hosted by the Chinese Squash Association for the first time!

Chengdu, China, will host the championships at the state-of-the-art new national training base, the Linjiangzhiyuan Training Base, a 73-acre facility boasting 16 all-glass show courts, 6 traditional courts, an apartment complex, hotel and restaurant!

https://tinyurl.com/zf8j2ahh

CHINESE MARTIAL ART WUSHU GAINS POPULARITY AMONG AFRICAN YOUTHS

Wushu players during the first Kenya National Wushu competition at Kasarani Gymnasium, Nairobi, Kenya, July 30, 2026. /CGTN Africa

An ancient Chinese martial art is finding a growing following among young people in Africa, with practitioners in Kenya embracing Wushu not only as a competitive sport, but also as a path to discipline, self-control and cultural exchange.

Athletes from across Kenya gathered in the capital Nairobi for a Wushu competition organized by the Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University, highlighting the sport's expanding appeal in the East African nation.

Blending athleticism, artistry and centuries of Chinese tradition, Wushu features graceful sword routines, powerful kicks, acrobatic jumps and lightning-fast strikes that demand precision, balance and endurance.

A sport inspired by cinema and culture

For 22-year-old competitor Elvis Munyasya, the journey into Wushu began with martial arts films and online videos.

"What inspired me a lot was action movies," Munyasya said. "Then I came across Wushu performances on YouTube, and that is what inspired me to start training."

He says every movement in Wushu tells a story, and every performance reflects years of training, sacrifice and determination.

For many participants, competitions provide an opportunity to measure their progress and learn from other athletes.

"This is where you come and see the level of your performance. Competing with other athletes helps you understand where you are, and you learn a lot," Munyasya added. 

Wushu player Elvis Munyasya during the first Kenya National Wushu competition at Kasarani Gymnasium, Nairobi, Kenya, July 30, 2026. /CGTN Africa

More than a martial art

For fellow competitor Veronica Wambui, Wushu has become a tool for personal growth and emotional discipline.

"It teaches you how to control yourself," she said. "If someone insults you, you do not react immediately. You learn to withhold yourself or walk away. There is a lot of discipline in Wushu.”

Wushu player Veronica Wambui during the first Kenya National Wushu competition at Kasarani Gymnasium, Nairobi, Kenya, July 30, 2026. /CGTN Africa

Practitioners say the sport builds confidence, resilience and respect while introducing them to aspects of Chinese culture and philosophy.

Building bridges through sport

Organizers believe Wushu can play a broader role beyond athletic competition.

Professor Xiaodong Zhou, Director of the Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University, during the first Kenya National Wushu competition at Kasarani Gymnasium, Nairobi, Kenya, July 30, 2026. /CGTN Africa

"Martial arts is not only physical movement; it is also a culture," Director of the Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University, Professor Xiaodong Zhou said. "Through this culture, people learn how to deal with others. Martial arts can improve health, strengthen character and create connections between people."

Zhou said Wushu has the potential to deepen cultural ties between Africa and China by encouraging mutual understanding through sport. Organizers hope it marks the beginning of a new chapter for Wushu in Kenya.

As interest in the sport continues to grow, supporters believe it could become an important platform for youth development, cultural exchange and stronger people-to-people relations between Kenya and China.

- Halligan Agade

TOUR OF MAGNIFICENT QINGHAI | INTERNATIONAL ROAD CYCLING RACE

The 25th "Tour of Magnificent Qinghai" International Road Cycling Race has concluded in northwest China, drawing 154 riders from 22 teams across 12 countries and regions.

Founded in 2002, the race is one of the country's earliest and Asia's most influential high-altitude professional road cycling events, and stands as the world's highest-average-elevation multi-day road cycling benchmark race.

- Sports China

THE WORLD'S TOP CHESS NATIONS

 

TENTOGLOU CLEARS THE FIELD WITH 8:46 LONG JUMP IN XIAMEN | WANDA DIAMOND 💎 LEAGUE 2026

 

XIAMEN 2026 SHORT HIGHLIGHTS | WANDA DIAMOND 💎 LEAGUE 2026

 

MASAI RUSSELL RATTLES WORLD RECORD WITH 12:14 HURDLES IN XIAMEN | WANDA DIAMOND 💎 LEAGUE 2026

JACKSON CONTINUES HER DOMINANCE IN 200M AS SHE CLOCKS 21:87 IN XIAMEN | WANDA DIAMOND 💎 LEAGUE 2026

 

IS SNOOKER ON THE VERGE OF CHINESE TAKEOVER? WU YIZE REVEALS WHAT HE LOVES MOST ABOUT SPORT AFTER LANZHOU LION'S EPIC WORLD.l CHAMPIONSHIP TRIUMPH

"Wu's next?" is the question you might be asking after the 50th World Championship delivered a stylish Chinese winner for the second straight year.

Wu Yize of China poses with the World Snooker Championship trophy after defeating Shaun Murphy of England 18-17 in the final at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England, May 4, 2026. /VCG

Wu Yize became the fourth straight first-time holder of the sport's greatest trophy with an epic 18-17 victory over 2005 champion Shaun Murphy, in only the fourth final-frame decider since Sheffield first staged the event in 1977.

The Lanzhou Lion with the ferocious long game has explained why he revels in the quieter moments of the sport, which saw him defeat Lei Peifan (10-2), Mark Selby (13-11), Hossein Vafaei (13-8) and Mark Allen (17-16) before toppling the freewheeling Murphy in a heavyweight title match.

"I wish to stay healthy and keep playing snooker," said Wu, speaking to media in China. "I hope it can always be by my side for the rest of my life.

"Loneliness is an integral part of snooker. It's a quiet sport that demands patience and reflection. I think it's truly a blessing to take it as a passion."

With a record 11 players from China appearing on the starting grid this year, and the world's second-most populous country of 1.4 billion boasting back-to-back Crucible winners, it is worth wondering if we are at the start of Chinese domination of the sport.

Indeed, in Wu and last year's world champion Zhao Xintong, China have two players inside the top five of the game's ranking for the first time.

Yet when you look at the changes in the rankings over the past decade, it is probably a case of the more things change, the more they stay the same.

While China can boast five players inside the top 16, there is hardly a revolution underway, certainly not in terms of the world rankings, which were first published 50 years ago.

Selby was world No. 1 after he defeated Ding Junhui 18-14 in the 2016 final in Sheffield, with Ding the only Chinese player inside the top 16.

Judd Trump, Murphy, Neil Robertson, John Higgins, Mark Allen, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Williams, Barry Hawkins and Kyren Wilson were all among the elite a decade ago.

And they remain inside the top 16 in 2026 with Stuart Bingham, Ricky Walden, Joe Perry, Marco Fu and Martin Gould the men to drop out, and Zhao, Wu, Xiao Guodong, Chris Wakelin and Si Jiahui the new arrivals.

It means a quarter of the top 16 are from China, but age is perhaps a better indicator of future patterns.

While Zhao, Wu and Si are all in their 20s, of the remaining 12 non-Chinese professionals, three are in their 50s, five their 40s and the other four in their 30s.

"Snooker is a very comprehensive and challenging sport," said Wu. "It can be different every time. You never get the same ball layout twice. I really enjoy that ever-changing feel of the game. "

The rankings feel like they are never-changing, appearing to move as quickly as Wu and Mark Allen's longest Crucible frame in Sheffield.

Time is probably on China's side, but as the rankings show, a similar narrative was also being spouted a decade ago.

World rankings 2015/16

1. Mark Selby (Eng)

2. Stuart Bingham (Eng)

3. Judd Trump (Eng)

4. Shaun Murphy (Eng)

5. Neil Robertson (Aus)

6. John Higgins (Sco)

7. Mark Allen (NI)

8. Ricky Walden (Eng)

9. Ding Junhui (Chn)

10. Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)

11. Joe Perry (Eng)

12. Marco Fu (HK)

13. Mark Williams (Wal)

14. Barry Hawkins (Eng)

15. Martin Gould (Eng)

16. Kyren Wilson (Eng)

World rankings 2025/26

1. Judd Trump (Eng)

2. Neil Robertson (Aus)

3. Zhao Xintong (Chn)

4. Wu Yize (Chn)

5. John Higgins (Sco)

6. Shaun Murphy (Eng)

7. Mark Williams (Wal)

8. Kyren Wilson (Eng)

9. Mark Selby (Eng)

10. Barry Hawkins (Eng)

11. Xiao Guodong (Chn)

12. Mark Allen (NI)

13. Chris Wakelin (Eng)

14. Ronnie O’Sullivan (Eng)

15. Ding Junhui (Chn)

16. Si Jiahui (Chn)

- DESMOND KANE

CHINA SWEEPS AUSTRALIA TO REACH ITTF WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS LAST 16

 

Wang Chuqin of China hits a shot in the match against Aditya Sareen of Australia at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals at OVO Arena Wembley in London, England, May 5, 2026. /VCG

China booked their place in the men's round of 16 at the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals with a commanding 3-0 victory over Australia on Tuesday.

Liang Jingkun set the tone in the opening match, rallying from a 9-6 deficit in the first game against Nicholas Lum by winning five straight points to snatch the initiative. He carried that momentum through the rest of the contest, closing out the next two games 11-5, 11-6 to give China an early lead.

"I tried to get into the match as soon as possible. My performance and feeling on the court was better than that in the past two days," Liang said.

World No. 1 Wang Chuqin extended China's advantage with a dominant display against Aditya Sareen. After edging a tight first game 11-9, Wang found his rhythm and powered through the next two 11-1, 11-2 as the defending champions moved within one win of progression.

"I was a bit tight in the first game, but overall, I took control of the rhythm throughout the match," Wang noted.

Watched courtside by Chinese table tennis icons Ma Long, Xu Xin and Liu Shiwen, Wang said the team drew confidence from the presence of their predecessors.

"With so many seasoned players supporting us, it serves as a testament to the Chinese table tennis team's legacy," he added.

Lin Shidong sealed the victory in the third match, overcoming Australia's Finn Luu 11-5, 11-4, 11-7. Although the scoreline suggested a straightforward win, Lin was tested late on as his opponent adjusted tactics.

"I haven't played him for a long time since the World Youth Championships [in 2021],” Lin said.“Actually it was not an easy match, especially in the third game, he made changes to his serves, which put me under pressure, but I held firm to win."

China will next face Romania, which edged Poland 3-2 on Monday, for a place in the quarterfinals.

WONG LING CHIN VS. CHEN YU FEI | MALAYSIANVS. CHINA | QUARTER FINAL | THOMAS UBER CUP 2026

 

ROUND 3 HIGHLIGHTS | 2026 VOLVO CHINA OPEN

 

RONNIE O'SULLIVAN MAKES SNOOKER HISTORY WITH 153 BREAK AT WORLD OPEN

O’Sullivan snookered Ryan Day at start of first frame to create record-breaking opportunity

Ronnie O’Sullivan has made the highest break in professional snooker by hitting a 153 at the World Open in China. Photograph: Tai Chengzhe/VCG via Getty Images

Ronnie O’Sullivan has made the highest break in professional snooker by hitting a 153 at the World Open in China.

The 50-year-old achieved the feat after leaving Ryan Day in a snooker to begin the opening frame of their quarter-final and the Welshman’s failed escape attempt gave O’Sullivan a free ball.

That allowed the seven-times world champion to start with a green followed by an opening black, scoring eight points before beginning on the reds.

O’Sullivan then potted 15 reds, accompanied by 13 further blacks and two pinks, before clearing up the colours for a record 153.

He has scored a record 17 maximum 147 breaks in his career, and the 153 left him two points short of the highest possible break of 155. The only previous break exceeding 147 in the professional game was a 148 scored by Jamie Burnett, in UK Championship qualifying in 2004.

“Big shout out to all the people who have messaged me and congratulated me on the 153,” O’Sullivan said in a video posted on X. “It was a pretty cool moment, really happy to do it. Thank you to everyone out there who has supported me.”

His rapid start paved the way for a dominant 5-0 victory as O’Sullivan stormed into the semi-finals in Yushan.

- Scott Hunt, Press Association

QUALIFYING GAPS | CHINESE GRAND PRIX 2026

 

CHINESE GRAND PRIX 2026 | PRACTICE 1 CLASSIFICATION

 

LEWIS HAMILTON CONFIRMS MAJORMAJOR CHANGE ON FERRARI F1 CAR FOR CHINESE GP

Lewis Hamilton has confirmed a major change to the Ferrari SF-26 will be implemented at this weekend’s Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix.

The Scuderia arrives in Shanghai off the back of a positive opening round in Australia, in which teammate Charles Leclerc came home in third, with Hamilton just behind in fourth.

A lax pit stop strategy during an early Virtual Safety Car was the Maranello-based squad’s undoing, contributing to its challenge to eventual winners Mercedes falling off.

One element to the SF-26 that did not arrive in Melbourne was its ‘flip’ rear wing, which was briefly trialled at the second week of pre-season testing in Bahrain.

Hamilton completed five laps on the second day with the wing, which rotated 180 degrees when opened in ‘active aero’ mode.

And speaking to media including Motorsport Week at the Shanghai International Circuit, Hamilton confirmed the wing will make its full race debut this weekend, explaining the wing currently has only colloquial terms for its identity.

“I don’t think there’s any [official name for the rotating rear wing],” he said.

“We did a full day or so with the wing [in testing] and we got all the running needed with it.

“I’m so grateful for the team to work because it was actually supposed to be later down the line and they work really hard to develop it and get it brought here

“So that, for me, it’s just great to see that the team are fighting, the team are pushing and chasing and really working overtime back at the factory to be able to bring upgrades, because that’s the name of the game.”

Hamilton continued: “I think last year I didn’t get to see the team’s full potential in that mode because we were focused on this year’s car.

“I don’t know if it has an official name. Someone said ‘macarena’, I have no idea why!”

With a kilometre-long back straight and other fast areas to see the wing flex its metaphorical muscle, it will be intriguing to see whether it can propel Hamilton and Leclerc to another challenge for race victory.

- Jack Oliver Smith

YOUTH VS. EXPERIENCE | ZAKARIA VS. ELSHORBAGY | SQUASH