Matt Brown backs Usman Nurmagomedov after altercation with Song Yadong: ‘It’s an absolutely intense, crazy situation’

After Umar Nurmagomedov's knockout loss to Song Yadong at UFC Shanghai, the Chinese fighter celebrated by running around the octagon—only to collide with Umar's brother Usman Nurmagomedov, the PFL lightweight champion, who appeared to react aggressively during the brief encounter. Usman later denied attempting to strike Song, explaining he was simply rushing to check on his injured brother.

Retired UFC welterweight Matt Brown, now a gym owner and regular cornerman, has defended Usman's actions during an appearance on The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast. Brown characterized the incident as an emotional response rather than a deliberate attempt at confrontation, arguing that the situation was simply a case of high adrenaline and concern for a knocked-out sibling.

"It's an absolutely intense, crazy situation," Brown said, drawing on his own recent experience cornering a fighter who suffered a brutal knockout. He emphasized that when a cornerman sees their fighter seriously hurt—with blood, potential permanent injury, and the chaotic aftermath—instinct takes over rather than rational thought. Brown insisted that if Usman had genuinely wanted to hit Song, "he would have hit him," and that the PFL fighter's sole focus was ensuring his brother's wellbeing.

Brown acknowledged the emotional toll of cornering a close relative, suggesting it may be counterproductive for Usman to work his brother's corner in the future given the intensity of those feelings. However, he also recognized that the tight-knit Nurmagomedov team makes such situations nearly unavoidable. Ultimately, Brown argued the incident was a non-story blown up by slow news cycles, and cautioned that the unpredictable nature of MMA means such emotionally charged moments should be expected when fighters' loved ones are present at cage-side.