Song Yadong Faces Grappling Test in UFC Shanghai Main Event
AI-generated image · Bay Street Wire
The No. 6-ranked Chinese star looks to secure a title shot against No. 2 contender Umar Nurmagomedov.
The UFC is heading to the SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai, China, this Saturday for an event headlined by a bantamweight clash between No. 6-ranked Song Yadong and No. 2-ranked Umar Nurmagomedov, according to Sportsnet.
Song enters the bout coming off a submission victory over Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC Macau in May. While the Chinese superstar has shown continued skill development over nearly a decade in the promotion, Sportsnet reports that the outcome of the main event will likely hinge on whether Song can successfully stuff Nurmagomedov's takedowns.
Nurmagomedov holds an 8-1 record within the UFC. He has secured two consecutive wins since a 2025 loss to Merab Dvalishvili cost him a shot at the bantamweight title. If Song can neutralize the grappling of the No. 2 contender, Sportsnet notes he could potentially steal the next title shot at 135 pounds.
The event also features a co-main event between women's strawweight contenders Yan Xiaonan and Denise Gomes, as well as a flyweight rematch between Sumudaerji and Alex Perez.