UFC Shanghai delivered one of the most explosive nights of 2026 at Oriental Sports Center in Pudong District, Shanghai, China. Song Yadong 24-9-1 produced the biggest upset of the year, stopping the heavily favored Umar Nurmagomedov 20-2-0 with a clean uppercut in Round 2. Across 13 fights, the card produced 10 finishes and moments that will stay with Chinese MMA fans for years.
Main Event: Song Yadong KO’s Umar Nurmagomedov
Nurmagomedov dominated Round 1 with his wrestling, pressing Song against the fence and controlling the exchanges. Nobody in the building expected what came next.
Ninety seconds into Round 2, Song timed a perfect uppercut as Nurmagomedov shot for a takedown. The Dagestani’s legs gave way instantly. Song followed with several more shots and referee Marc Goddard stepped in at 1:48 to stop the fight.
The Shanghai crowd erupted. Song took the microphone and addressed the UFC directly. He said nobody believed in him but he trusted himself. He then called for a title shot and declared he would become the first Chinese UFC champion.
The result is a serious setback for Nurmagomedov 20-2-0, who had rebuilt with wins over Mario Bautista and Deiveson Figueiredo after losing his first title shot 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 UFC 333 approaching.
Co-Main Event: Denise Gomes Stops Yan Xiaonan
Brazil’s Denise Gomes 13-3-0 arrived in Shanghai as the underdog and left as a strawweight title contender. She stopped former title challenger Yan Xiaonan 19-6-0 with a combination of elbows and punches at 4:49 of Round 1, silencing the home crowd.
Yan controlled the early exchanges but Gomes landed a massive overhand right that changed the fight. She followed up immediately and the referee stepped in. At 26 years old, Gomes has now stopped a former title challenger and demands a top-five ranking. Full details in our Denise Gomes Yan Xiaonan UFC Shanghai result article.
Kai Asakura TKO’s Aoriqileng
Japanese bantamweight Kai Asakura 23-6-0 is two for two in the UFC after a devastating second-round finish of Shanghai’s own Aoriqileng 26-14-1. After a competitive first round, Asakura landed a left head kick that rattled the Chinese fighter. He swarmed with follow-up strikes and earned the stoppage at 0:34 of Round 2. Asakura is building momentum fast in a stacked division.
Sumudaerji Beats Alex Perez in Rematch
Chinese flyweight Sumudaerji 20-7-1 settled his score with Alex Perez 26-11-1 via unanimous decision, all three judges scoring it 29-28. Their first meeting ended in a no contest. Sumudaerji controlled the grappling throughout and did enough to take a close but clear decision.
Liu Ce KO’s Levi Rodrigues Jr. on UFC Debut
Chinese light heavyweight debutant Liu Ce 4-1-0 wasted no time on the biggest stage of his career. He stopped Levi Rodrigues Jr. 5-2-1 with a right hook at 4:26 of Round 1 after a back and forth opening exchange. Liu maintains a 100 percent career finish rate and made a strong first impression in the Octagon.
Bilal Hasan Moonwalks Out After Debut KO
Flyweight newcomer Bilal Hasan 10-0-1 stopped Nilson Rojas 9-1-0 with a straight punch at 2:28 of Round 2 and celebrated with a Michael Jackson moonwalk on his way out of the Octagon. The finish came just 18 days after Hasan earned his UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series. He is unbeaten in ten and showed composure well beyond his experience level.
Prelim Highlights
The preliminary card set the tone for a violent night. Julia Polastri def. Xiong Jingnan via KO (head kick) at 3:06 of Round 1 in one of the most brutal finishes of the entire event. Francesco Nuzzi def. Xiao Long via TKO at just 1:00 of Round 1. Hector Santiago def. Lawrence Lui via KO at 0:53 of Round 2. Andre Lima def. Namsrai Batbayar via submission at 3:03 of Round 3. Rei Tsuruya def. Kevin Borjas via submission at 4:14 of Round 1. Sean Woodson def. Jack Jenkins via split decision. Cameron Nelson def. Ding Meng via unanimous decision.
Full prelim coverage can be found in our dedicated UFC Shanghai fight card and predictions article.
Full UFC Shanghai Results
| Fight | Result | Round/Time |
| Song Yadong def. Umar Nurmagomedov | KO (uppercut) | R2, 1:48 |
| Denise Gomes def. Yan Xiaonan | TKO (elbows & punches) | R1, 4:49 |
| Kai Asakura def. Aoriqileng | TKO (head kick & strikes) | R2, 0:34 |
| Sumudaerji def. Alex Perez | Unanimous Decision | 29-28 x3 |
| Liu Ce def. Levi Rodrigues Jr. | KO (right hook) | R1, 4:26 |
| Bilal Hasan def. Nilson Rojas | KO (straight punch) | R2, 2:28 |
| Julia Polastri def. Xiong Jingnan | KO (head kick) | R1, 3:06 |
| Francesco Nuzzi def. Xiao Long | TKO (punches) | R1, 1:00 |
| Hector Santiago def. Lawrence Lui | KO (punches) | R2, 0:53 |
| Andre Lima def. Namsrai Batbayar | Submission (guillotine) | R3, 3:03 |
| Rei Tsuruya def. Kevin Borjas | Submission (RNC) | R1, 4:14 |
| Sean Woodson def. Jack Jenkins | Split Decision | 29-28 x2, 28-29 |
| Cameron Nelson def. Ding Meng | Unanimous Decision | 29-28 x3 |
What Happens Next
Song Yadong’s performance puts him directly in the bantamweight title conversation. Merab Dvalishvili defends against Petr Yan at UFC 333 in October in Abu Dhabi. The winner will need a top contender ready and Song just made the loudest possible case tonight.
Denise Gomes enters the strawweight top five. A title shot conversation is inevitable after stopping a former title challenger in dominant fashion on the road.
Kai Asakura and Bilal Hasan are two names to watch closely at bantamweight and flyweight respectively. Both are unbeaten in UFC action and showed finishing ability that will keep them moving up the rankings.
For everything that was expected heading into tonight, see our UFC Shanghai preview. Song Yadong had other ideas.
Conclusion
UFC Shanghai results delivered one of the best cards of 2026. Ten finishes across 13 fights, a massive upset in the main event, and two title contenders emerging at bantamweight and strawweight. Song Yadong announced himself to the world. China got the night it deserved.
