Song Yadong delivered the greatest performance of his career in his home country, knocking out Umar Nurmagomedov in the bantamweight main event of UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Shanghai. Song (24-9-1, 1 NC), a nearly 5-1 underdog at DraftKings Sportsbook, dropped Nurmagomedov with a short right hand at 1:48 of Round 2.

"They told me I would knock this guy out, and I did it," Song said through an interpreter. It was his second straight win by finish in China. Making his first Shanghai appearance since his UFC debut at age 19 in 2017, Song walked out to a hero's welcome.

The knockout came after Nurmagomedov (20-2) ducked a left hand and walked into a short right that sent him limply to the canvas. Song delivered three finishing shots before the referee intervened. Usman Nurmagomedov, Umar's brother and cornerman, appeared to throw an elbow toward Song during the celebration.

"I will be the first male Chinese UFC champion," Song declared, nodding to countrywoman Zhang Weili. Song, who trains in Sacramento, California, then yelled in English: "Give me the title shot!"