UFC Shanghai delivered one of the most explosive main cards of 2026. Five of six fights ended inside the distance as Song Yadong 24-9-1 produced the biggest upset of the night, knocking out the heavily favored Umar Nurmagomedov 20-2-0 in Round 2 to stake his claim as the next UFC bantamweight title challenger.
Song Yadong KO’s Umar Nurmagomedov — Main Event
Nurmagomedov controlled the first round with his wrestling, pressing Song against the fence and working for takedowns. Song survived the pressure but was outworked in the early exchanges.
Round 2 changed everything. Song timed a perfectly placed hook as Nurmagomedov shot for a takedown and caught him flush. Nurmagomedov’s legs went limp instantly. Song followed with several more shots before referee Marc Goddard stepped in at 1:48 of Round 2.
Speaking in the Octagon after the finish, Song addressed the crowd and the UFC directly. He said he would be the first Chinese UFC champion and demanded a title shot immediately.
The result is a significant setback for Nurmagomedov, who now sits at 20-2-0. He had won back-to-back fights over Mario Bautista and Deiveson Figueiredo after his title shot loss to Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311 in January 2025. Song moves to 24-9-1 and enters the bantamweight title conversation at the right time with the Petr Yan vs Merab Dvalishvili trilogy set for UFC 333.
Denise Gomes Stops Yan Xiaonan — Co-Main Event
Denise Gomes 13-3-0 announced herself as a genuine strawweight title contender with a first-round finish of former title challenger Yan Xiaonan 19-6-0. Gomes landed a brutal combination of elbows and punches to stop the fight at 4:49 of Round 1.
Yan controlled the early exchanges on home soil in Shanghai but Gomes landed a massive overhand right that rocked her. The Brazilian followed up and referee stepped in before the round ended. For a full breakdown of this fight, see our Denise Gomes vs Yan Xiaonan UFC Shanghai result article.
Kai Asakura Flattens Aoriqileng
Japanese bantamweight Kai Asakura 23-6-0 continued his strong start to UFC life with a devastating finish of local fighter Aoriqileng 26-14-1. After a competitive first round, Asakura connected with a left head kick that rattled Aoriqileng. He pounced immediately, landing follow-up strikes until the stoppage came at just 0:34 of Round 2.
Asakura is now two for two in the UFC and looks a genuine threat at 135 pounds. The finish was one of the best of the entire card and drew a massive reaction from the Shanghai crowd.
Sumudaerji Defeats Alex Perez — Rematch Settled
Chinese flyweight Sumudaerji 20-7-1 edged Alex Perez 26-11-1 via unanimous decision in their rematch, with all three judges scoring it 29-28. Their first meeting had ended in a no contest earlier this year. Sumudaerji controlled the grappling exchanges throughout and did enough to take the decision in a close but clear fight.
Liu Ce KO’s Levi Rodrigues Jr. on Debut
Light heavyweight debutant Liu Ce 4-1-0 made a statement in his UFC debut, stopping Levi Rodrigues Jr. 5-2-1 with a right hook at 4:26 of Round 1. Liu landed the shot cleanly after a back and forth opening exchange and put Rodrigues down hard. It was a confident UFC debut from the Chinese prospect who finished with a 100 percent career finish rate.
Bilal Hasan Moonwalks Out After KO Debut
Flyweight newcomer Bilal Hasan 10-0-1 extended his unbeaten record with a stunning one-punch knockout of Nilson Rojas 9-1-0 at 2:28 of Round 2. Hasan landed a straight punch that put Rojas down instantly. He then treated the Shanghai crowd to a Michael Jackson moonwalk on his way out of the Octagon, just 18 days after earning his UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series. The finish added another viral moment to an already explosive night. For the full UFC Shanghai fight card going into tonight, see our UFC Shanghai fight card and predictions article.
What Happens Next
Song Yadong’s victory puts him in pole position for the next bantamweight title shot. With Merab Dvalishvili defending against Petr Yan at UFC 333, the winner will need a top contender ready. Song made his case tonight in the loudest possible way.
Denise Gomes enters the strawweight top five after stopping a former title challenger. A ranking jump and title conversation are inevitable.
Kai Asakura is two fights into his UFC career and already looks dangerous at bantamweight. Bilal Hasan is unbeaten in ten and fighting with confidence that goes beyond his experience level.
The full UFC Shanghai preview had flagged Nurmagomedov as the favorite. Song proved that home crowds and big occasions can change everything.
Conclusion
UFC Shanghai main card results produced one of the most entertaining nights of 2026. Song Yadong delivered the upset of the year candidate, Gomes staked her claim at strawweight, and three finishes in the first three fights set the tone for a night China will not forget. The bantamweight and strawweight title pictures just got significantly more interesting.
