Bilal
Hasan believes fighting is more than a career and sees it as a
way of giving back.

Hasan made a memorable
Ultimate Fighting Championship debut at
UFC Shanghai on Aug. 29, stopping fellow promotional newcomer
Nilson
Rojas in the second round, earning a Performance of the Night
bonus for his efforts. He recently revealed what drives him both in
and out of competition.

Bilal Hasan discusses his purpose after UFC Shanghai debut
victory

The first round between Hasan and Rojas was closely contested. The
former pulled ahead in the second round and eventually found the
finish, dropping his opponent with a counter-right hand before
finishing with a follow-up strike to cap off an eventful Octagon
debut.

Speaking after the fight, Hasan explained the deeper meaning he
attaches to fighting.

“I don’t want to get all religious or spiritual or anything like
that, but I feel like we’re all put on this earth to give back in
some way,†Hasan said in a post-fight interview. “I feel like when
I’m doing this, even when I’m just training and I’m helping out
people in my gym, I feel like I’m giving my truest gift back to the
world. And I feel like that’s our duty as men in this world: to
give back in one way or another.â€

Hasan competed less than three weeks prior to his UFC debut,
earning a contract with a quick first-round knockout victory on

Dana White's Contender Series.

“I want a beautiful career of highlight
finishes.”

Bilal
Hasan secures his second knockout in only 18 days after his
second round knockout at
#UFCShanghai

Prelim Results âž¡ï¸ https://t.co/Pu2LsEO1sE pic.twitter.com/Q0N1If2pZo

— UFC News (@UFCNews)
August 29, 2026

Zabit
Magomedsharipov claims Yadong
Song's finish against Umar
Nurmagomedov is down to “bad luck.â€

Nurmagomedov suffered his second professional defeat, his
first-ever via a finish, on Aug. 29, when Song stopped him with a
right uppercut in the second round of their main event clash in the

Ultimate Fighting Championship. Nurmagomedov's compatriot,
Magomedsharipov, is backing him to bounce back stronger and claims
every fighter is susceptible to flash knockouts.

Zabit Magomedsharipov backs Umar Nurmagomedov after his first
knockout loss

Magomedsharipov was asked about the result ahead of his submission
grappling match at ACBJJ 22. The former UFC fighter said he viewed
the knockout as a matter of luck rather than a sign of a deeper
issue.

“I believe Umar will be back. I see no problem there,â€
Magomedsharipov said at the ACBJJ 22 press conference. “Anyone can
experience that. It is what it is. I think it was bad luck. He was
well prepared for the fight and I think it was a lucky punch. It
may happen to anyone and no one is safe there.â€

Nurmagomedov was a massive betting favorite going into
UFC Shanghai, but fell out of title contention with the
knockout loss. Meanwhile, Song called for a shot at gold with his
upset victory, targeting the belt that'll be contested at
UFC 333 between Petr Yan and
Merab
Dvalishvili.

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.â€

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.â€

“I feel like I can finish anyone.â€

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 âž¡ï¸ https://t.co/G8E8FUHUKb pic.twitter.com/RqmEBkWorf

— UFC News (@UFCNews)
August 29, 2026