Umar Nurmagomedov achieved his sole knockout victory in the UFC by defeating a fighter who pulled off the most shocking upset of 2025 with just one powerful strike.
In the upcoming UFC 324, fans will witness two crucial matchups featuring four of the top athletes in the bantamweight division. Among these, the co-main event showcases Sean O'Malley competing against Song Yadong, as O'Malley, a former champion at 135 pounds, seeks to recover from a streak of disappointing losses.
The stakes are high in this encounter, with both fighters eager to raise their hands in victory at the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night, potentially paving their way to a title shot.
Highlights of the event have led to some backlash from fans who were disappointed that Umar Nurmagomedov was not included on the main card after the women's bantamweight championship fight was canceled. This situation has added pressure on Nurmagomedov, who now feels compelled to deliver an impressive performance if he wants to reclaim a chance at the bantamweight championship—something he has proven he is capable of achieving in the past.
- LATEST NEWS: Justin Gaethje discloses that he was 'compromised' during his last lightweight title bout due to a significant accident.*
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Umar Nurmagomedov made a notable impact by knocking out Raoni Barcelos with a perfectly executed left hand.
As reported by Tapology, one of the most remarkable upsets in the Octagon last year occurred just over a year ago during the first pay-per-view event of 2025. In that match, Raoni Barcelos ended Payton Talbott's undefeated streak, raising serious concerns about Talbott's grappling skills as he secured a unanimous decision victory.
Entering that bout as a +710 underdog, Barcelos had previously experienced a loss but managed to turn his career around. Notably, one of his defeats marked the only time he has ever been knocked out in his extensive 26-fight career, which came at the hands of Umar Nurmagomedov.
On the same night that Sean Strickland took on Nassourdine Imavov on short notice, Nurmagomedov achieved his fourth victory in the UFC at the Apex facility in Las Vegas. With only 20 seconds remaining in the first round, Nurmagomedov threw a knee strike, which Barcelos managed to dodge; however, a swift left hand followed closely behind, landing perfectly and sending Barcelos crashing to the canvas in a stunning knockout.
- LATEST NEWS: Due to specific regulations, Islam Makhachev and Khamzat Chimaev might be unable to compete at the UFC White House event.*
Looking ahead, Umar Nurmagomedov faces challenges in replicating such a finish in his next bout. Historically, he has faced allegations of receiving special treatment from the UFC because of his familial connection to Khabib Nurmagomedov, the former lightweight champion. One factor that may hinder his ascent in the bantamweight rankings is the fact that he hasn't recorded a finish since knocking out three of his initial four opponents in the Octagon.
With other contenders like Sean O'Malley and Song Yadong also striving for a title shot following this weekend’s matches, Nurmagomedov may need more than just another unanimous decision victory to stand out.
As he prepares to face Deiveson Figueiredo on January 24, it's important to note that Figueiredo is a tough competitor who has only been stopped three times in his entire fighting career, with one loss due to a knee injury, another from a doctor’s stoppage, and the third being a submission defeat to Brandon Moreno in 2021.
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