Daniel Cormier has defended Usman Nurmagomedov after the PFL lightweight champion entered the Octagon moments after his brother, Umar Nurmagomedov, suffered a devastating knockout loss at UFC Shanghai.
Umar was stopped by Song Yadong in the main event on Saturday, prompting an emotional reaction from Usman, who immediately jumped into the cage to check on his brother.
Usman appeared to move toward Yadong as the Chinese fighter celebrated his victory around the Octagon. At one point, Usman appeared to make a motion that some observers interpreted as an attempted spinning elbow before stopping himself.
Cormier, a longtime friend and training partner of the Nurmagomedov family, pushed back against suggestions that Usman attempted to attack Yadong.
Speaking on his YouTube channel Sunday, the former UFC two-division champion defended Usman's actions while acknowledging that entering the Octagon was against the rules.
“Usman Nurmagomedov jumped into the Octagon after the fight. Khabib tried to stop him. Song Yadong is running in the direction of Usman. Usman reacts, like he reaches to stop him, like they were going to make contact together,” Cormier said.
“He did not elbow him. Let's stop making conspiracy theories out there people. He did not elbow him and he did not attack Song Yadong.”
According to Cormier, Usman's only intention was to reach his brother in the immediate aftermath of the knockout.
“What he did was try to get to his brother,” Cormier said. “Now, that in itself is not allowed. We are not allowed to do that but if there's anyone obviously that you care about immensely and you want to try to rush to their side in that moment it is your brother.”
Usman's decision to enter the Octagon nevertheless drew attention, particularly because of the tense interaction with Yadong as the fighter celebrated his victory.
