Darren Till has accused Daniel Cormier of allowing his relationship with the Nurmagomedov family to influence his analysis of a controversial incident at UFC Shanghai.
The confrontation occurred after Song Yadong knocked out Umar Nurmagomedov with a right uppercut in the second round of Saturday’s main event. As Song celebrated, Umar’s cousin Usman Nurmagomedov scaled the Octagon fence and rushed toward the fallen fighter.
Usman crossed paths with Song, leading to a brief collision and shove. Footage also showed Usman raising his arm in a motion some viewers interpreted as a possible elbow attempt, although no strike clearly landed and the incident did not develop into a larger altercation.
Cormier rejected the claim that Usman attempted to attack Song. The UFC commentator said Usman was trying to reach Umar after seeing his cousin suffer a violent knockout. He acknowledged that Usman was not authorized to enter the Octagon but argued that the circumstances warranted some understanding.
Till strongly disagreed with that response.
Why is DC always on the defensive of the Nurmagemadovs? Baffles me? You as a company man should he shouldn’t have stormed the octagon like that. The guy is celebrating his big knockout against a huge name. Bit somehow you have found a way to defend him you little potato head. Why why why? I am going to be honest as much as I think you are one of the best fighters ever in the UFC The way you are as a company man and he views are fucking shit. Stop commentating and go and be an ambassador for fat camp you fucking potato man constantly finding excuses for that side. You little potato.
The former UFC welterweight title challenger argued that Song should have been allowed to celebrate the biggest victory of his career without someone from Umar’s team entering the cage. Till also criticized Cormier’s broader commentary and told him to step away from the broadcast booth.
Although Till expressed respect for Cormier’s accomplishments as a two-division UFC champion, his criticism became personal and included several insults directed at the Hall of Famer.
Cormier’s longstanding connection to the Nurmagomedov team has contributed to Till’s accusation. Cormier and Khabib Nurmagomedov were teammates at American Kickboxing Academy and remain close friends, while Cormier has maintained relationships with several fighters from the same camp. Those connections do not establish that Cormier’s analysis was biased, but they form the basis of Till’s complaint that fighters associated with the Nurmagomedov family receive preferential treatment in his commentary.
Usman later denied attempting to strike Song and maintained that his only concern was reaching Umar. The central disagreement is therefore not whether Usman was allowed to enter the cage as Cormier conceded that he was not. Till’s objection is that Cormier afforded Usman too much sympathy while dismissing the possibility that his actions placed Song in danger.
