UFC Shanghai Predictions for Nurmagomedov vs. Song
UFC Shanghai takes place on Saturday, August 29, at SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai, China.
There are 13 fights set for this card, which begins at 3 a.m. ET, and here are our predictions for all of the bouts, many of which feature international UFC fighters.
UFC Shanghai Main Card Preview & Picks
Bantamweight bout: Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Song Yadong
The headliner of UFC Shanghai features two of the top-10 bantamweights in the sport when Russia’s Nurmagomedov meets China’s Song.
Nurmagomedov has an 8-1 record in the UFC, while Song is 12-5, so both men have a ton of Octagon experience and have had plenty of success through the years.
Stylistically, though, this is a tough matchup for Song, as Nurmagomedov is an elite wrestler who should have no problem taking him to the mat and grinding him out for a decision win over the course of 25 minutes.
Pick: Umar Nurmagomedov via decision
Women’s strawweight bout: Yan Xiaonan vs. Denise Gomes
The co-main event sees China’s Yan battle Brazilian Gomes in a women’s strawweight bout.
This should be a good fight between two ladies who prefer to stand and trade, so look for a striking match that goes the full three rounds.
At the end of 15 minutes, look for Yan to land the better strikes and win a close decision on home soil.
Pick: Yan Xiaonan via decision
Bantamweight bout: Aoriqileng vs. Kai Asakura
We have a mismatch as China’s Aoriqileng meets Japan’s Asakura in a bantamweight bout that I don’t believe will go past the first round.
Asakura is one of the most powerful knockout artists in his weight class, and Aoriqileng doesn’t exactly have the sturdiest of chins, so I fully expect Asakura to add to his resume with yet another highlight-reel KO victory.
Pick: Kai Asakura via TKO
Flyweight bout: Sumudaerji vs. Alex Perez
A flyweight rematch sees China’s Sumudaerji take on the American Perez after their first fight ended in a No Contest due to a low blow at UFC Macau in May 2026.
This time around, look for Sumudaerji to show that he’s the superior striker and win a decision on the judges’ scorecards.
Pick: Sumudaerji via decision
Light heavyweight bout: Liu Ce vs. Levi Rodrigues Jr.
China’s Liu Ce makes his UFC debut when he battles Levi Rodrigues Jr. of Brazil.
Liu is a kickboxer by trade, and he gets a favorable stylistic matchup against Rodrigues, who will gladly oblige him in a standup fight.
Look for Liu to be the far superior striker and score a brutal KO win over Rodrigues in the very first round.
Pick: Liu Ce via TKO
Flyweight bout: Bilal Hasan vs. Nilson Rojas
Kicking off the main card with Indonesia’s Hasan taking on Peru’s Rojas in what could be a barnburner.
Hasan is an undefeated phenom who just won on Dana White’s Contender Series two weeks ago to earn a UFC contract. Rojas, meanwhile, is making his UFC debut, too.
This could be an amazing fight for as long as it lasts, but given Hasan’s brutal KO power, I expect him to put Rojas away early and win via knockout in the first round.
Pick: Bilal Hasan via TKO
UFC Shanghai Preliminary Card Preview & Picks
Flyweight bout: Namsrai Batbayar vs. Andre Lima
Two of the top flyweight prospects square off when Mongolian Batbayar battles Brazilian Lima.
Batbayar is coming off a knockout win as he won the Road to UFC tournament, while Lima is 4-1 overall in the UFC, so these are both great young talents.
I love this fight as both of these prospects are high level and could one day fight for gold at 125 lbs. That being said, only one man can win, so I’m going with the upset and taking Batbayar to win by knockout.
Pick: Namsrai Batbayar via TKO
Flyweight bout: Rei Tsuruya vs. Kevin Borjas
One of the flyweight division’s top young fighters coming out of Japan, Tsuruya gets a favorable matchup against the Peruvian Borjas.
Tsuruya has an elite ground game, and he has looked good in the UFC so far, going 2-1 with his only loss coming against current UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van.
Borjas, meanwhile, is just 2-4 and is clinging to his job after missing weight in his last fight, an upset win over the aforementioned Lima.
I love this matchup for Tsuruya, who I fully expect to get the fight to the floor and win by submission.
Pick: Rei Tsuruya via submission
Related: The UFC’s Most Underrated Fighters in 2026
Featherweight bout: Jack Jenkins vs. Sean Woodson
Two exciting featherweights battle when Australia’s Jenkins takes on the American Woodson in what could be the Fight of the Night, as both men are primarily strikers.
Jenkins is 4-2 in the UFC, while Woodson is 7-2-1, so both men have had plenty of experience and success inside the Octagon.
That being said, I like the matchup for Jenkins, whose vicious leg kicks should attack and hurt the long legs of Woodson, en route to a decision win for the Aussie.
Pick: Jack Jenkins via decision
Bantamweight bout: Xiao Long vs. Francesco Nuzzi
We have China’s Xiao battle UFC newcomer Nuzzi of Italy in this bantamweight bout.
Xiao has been up-and-down during his UFC career with a 1-3 record, but at least he has Octagon experience, compared to Nuzzi, who has never fought at this level of the sport.
While an upset is possible, I still lean towards Xiao to win a decision.
Pick: Xiao Long via decision
Bantamweight bout: Lawrence Lui vs. Hector Santiago
Hong Kong’s Lui was one of the standouts from the last season of Road to UFC, while Brazil’s Santiago is stepping in here on short notice to make his UFC debut.
I don’t like this spot for Santiago, as I fully expect Lui to use his wrestling and win a decision on the judges’ scorecards.
Pick: Lawrence Lui via decision
Women’s strawweight bout: Xiong Jingnan vs. Julia Polastri
China’s Xiong takes on Brazil’s Polastri in a women’s strawweight fight that will likely go the full three rounds.
Xiong is 38 years old and did not look good at all in her UFC debut earlier this year, while Polastri at least has a respectable 3-3 UFC record.
Look for a close fight, but for Polastri to edge out a decision on foreign soil.
Pick: Julia Polastri via decision
Welterweight bout: Ding Meng vs. Cam Nelson
Kicking off the card is a welterweight bout between China’s Ding, who is 0-1 in the UFC, and Canada’s Nelson, who is making his UFC debut.
This is one of those fights that can go either way, as both men have minimal Octagon experience, but given Ding’s knockout power and the fact that he is fighting at home, look for him to win this fight via first-round TKO and get the day started with a win for the Chinese faithful.
Pick: Ding Meng via TKO
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This story was originally published by Lindys Sports on Aug 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the Other Sports section. Add Lindys Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.