Fight By Fight Preview | UFC Shanghai

Former title challenger Umar Nurmagomedov takes his talents on the road, venturing to Shanghai to meet China’s top male contender, Song Yadong, in what is a critical matchup for both men.

WATCH: Song Yadong: 'With This Fight I Will Get A Title Shot' | Umar Nurmagomedov: 'I Will Be Happy To Get The Knockout'

Nurmagomedov has earned a pair of wins since coming up short in his title bid against Merab Dvalishvili at the start of last year. After beating Mario Bautista last October at UFC 321, the once-beaten contender outworked Deiveson Figueiro three months later at UFC 324 to cement his place on the short list of possible title challengers heading into this one.

UPCOMING UFC EVENT TICKETS: UFC Edmonton | UFC 332 | Noche UFC

Song also competed at UFC 324, dropping a close decision to Sean O’Malley that felt like a positive moment for the 28-year-old talent despite the adverse result. He rebounded with style points in May, traveling to Macau and submitting Figueiredo in the second round of his first appearance on Chinese soil since 2018.

While everyone waits for the trilogy bout and championship rematch between two-time champ Petr Yan and Dvalishvili, it’s good to see elite contenders like Nurmagomedov and Song staying active and taking dangerous fights. It will be curious to see if Nurmagomedov opts to stand with Song in this one or lean on his grappling, as while he should have an advantage if the fight hits the canvas, “The Kung Fu Kid” is an excellent athlete and will make him work for every takedown. No matter how this one plays out, the winner will have a legitimate case for being first in line to face the winner of Yan-Dvalishvili 3.

Additional Main Card Matchups

Yan Xiaonan vs Denise Gomes

Ranked strawweights occupy the co-main event position this weekend as Chinese veteran Yan Xiaonan seeks to defend her place in the hierarchy against hard-changing Brazilian Denise Gomes.

READ: Yan Xiaonan Has Her Sights Set On The Title | Denise Gomes Is On The Tip Of The Iceberg

Yan has been a staple in the 115-pound weight class for the last decade and a fixture in the title conversation for nearly four years now, dating back to her majority decision win over current champ Mackenzie Dern. She landed on the wrong side of the cards in her last outing against Virna Jandiroba but has never lost in China in the UFC and will look to keep that streak intact here.

Still just 26 years old, Gomes enters on a 4-fight winning streak and having won six of her last seven. Initially known for her power and aggression, Gomes had tightened things up and become a more complete fighter during her four years on the roster and heads to Shanghai with designs on scoring the biggest win of her career.

What’s next for Dern is anyone’s guess following her title defense against Gillian Robertson in Philadelphia, so a strong effort from either of these top-15 talents would definitely increase their profile in the title picture.

Aoriqileng vs Kai Asakura

Veteran slugger Aoriqileng looks to thrill the partisan crowd in Shanghai on Saturday as he takes on resurgent Japanese finisher Kai Asakura.

READ: It's All About Location For Kai Asakura

A 40-fight veteran who has earned four wins in eight starts since returning to bantamweight, Aoriqileng looks to rebound after getting stopped by Cody Haddon in Macau in May. “The Mongolian Murderer” has never shied away from a good scrap and will get every opportunity to get loose with his hands and swing for the fences in this one.

Just when people were prepared to call Asakura a bust following consecutive submission losses in his first two UFC appearances, the former RIZIN standout moved up a division and returned to his finishing ways, chalking Cameron Smotherman in May to register his first UFC victory. Bantamweight was always the proper landing spot for the powerful, athletic Asakura and if he can replicate his performance from earlier this year on Saturday, the 135-pound weight class might have a new dark horse on its hands.

Liu is just 3-1 in MMA but has a wealth of kickboxing experience behind him with the majority of his bouts ending by stoppage. It’s impossible to know the depth of his arsenal heading into his debut, but given his background, expect a highly technical, kick-heavy approach with some sweeps and trips mixed in for good measure.

Rodrigues Jr. landed on the business end of things when he stepped in with Felipe Franco in July. Now the 29-year-old “Baby Monster” makes a quick return looking to hastily put that setback behind him and take the first step towards his lofty goals inside the Octagon.

Liu and Rodrigues Jr. have 10 professional MMA appearances combined and all of them came against inexperienced regional competition. This one could go in any number of ways and feels like it is likely to end with someone getting finished.

Bilal Hasan vs Nilson Rojas

A week after fellow DWCS Class of ’26 grad Anthony Wint secured a win in his debut, Bilal Hasan looks to do the same in Shanghai as he opens the main card opposite fellow newcomer Nilson Rojas.

After missing out on the opportunity to compete in Perth in May, Jack Jenkins makes his 2026 debut here in Shanghai in a fascinating pairing with fellow Contender Series grad Sean Woodson.

WATCH: Jack Jenkins: 'I'm Confident I Can Make This My Breakout Fight'

“Phar Jack” got back into the win column last September with a good win over Ramon Taveres to move to 4-2 in the Octagon since claiming his spot on the roster less than four years ago. Woodson competes for the first time since UFC 314 when he had his four-fight winning streak and seven-fight unbeaten streak halted by Dan Ige.

Xiao Long vs Francesco Nuzzi

This one feels like it’s going to be chaotic as irascible Chinese veteran Xiao Long faces off with Italy’s “Berserker” Francesco Nuzzi in a short-notice bantamweight pairing.

Xiao gave away a win in March by being unable to control his weapons, getting docked two points after kicking Cody Garbrandt low twice in the span of 30 seconds of fight time, resulting in “No Love” winning 28-27 on all three scorecards. Ironically, Nuzzi arrives off an April Cage Warriors fight that was ruled a no contest when the bout was halted in the first round due to an accidental low blow, sporting an 11-2 record prior to that outing with eight wins by stoppage.

Lawrence Lui vs Hector Santiago

Road to UFC Season 4 bantamweight tournament winner Lawrence Lui aims to keep his momentum rolling as he makes his UFC debut opposite late replacement Hector Santiago.

READ: Lawrence Lui: ‘I Belong Here’

Lui, who trains at City Kickboxing in Auckland, landed on the happy side of a split decision verdict in his finals matchup with Sulangrangbo at UFC 325, pushing his winning streak to five while winning the tournament and earning a spot on the roster. Stepping in for Australian Colby Thicknesse, Santiago carries a 6-1 record and modest two-fight winning streak into his third appearance of the year and first in the UFC.

Xiong Jingnan vs Julia Polastri

Chinese veteran Xiong Jingnan welcomes Contender Series alum Julia Polastri to Shanghai for what should be a spirited affair in the strawweight division.

After a lengthy and successful career under the ONE Championship banner, “The Panda” debuted in May, dropping a unanimous decision to Angela Hill in a bout that immediately showed where the 38-year-old fit within the division. Polastri continued to alternate results inside the Octagon in April, landing on the wrong side of the scorecards against Talita Alencar after a dominant showing against Karolina Kowalkiewicz last October in Rio.

Ding Meng vs Cameron Nelson

Experienced Chinese veteran Ding Meng welcomes Prince Edward Island’s Cameron Nelson to the Octagon for the first time in Saturday’s welterweight opener.

Ding, who competed on Season 8 of Dana White’s Contender Series, dropped a split decision to Jose Souza in their shared maiden voyage into the Octagon back in May in Macau. The 28-year-old Nelson carries a 7-1 record and five-fight winning streak into his debut, having most recently won the Fight League Atlantic welterweight strap in June with a second-round finish.