UFC Shanghai Weigh-Ins: Nurmagomedov vs. Song Yadong Set for Bantamweight Clash
Umar Nurmagomedov and Song Yadong have made weight in Shanghai. Now there’s nothing left but the fight.
With just over 24 hours to go before UFC Shanghai ignites the Shanghai Indoor Stadium, all eyes are locked on the bantamweight main event between the former title challenger Nurmagomedov and local favorite Song. Both men cleared the final hurdle on the scale, setting the stage for a pivotal clash at 135 pounds that could reshape the top of the division.
Nurmagomedov came in at 135.5 pounds, right on target with the non-title allowance. Song matched him at 136, the upper edge of the limit. No drama, no delays. Just two elite contenders making a quiet promise of violence for Saturday night on Paramount+.
Strawweights step into the spotlight
If the main event brings the name recognition, the co-headliner brings the stakes.
Yan Xiaonan, one of China’s leading MMA standard-bearers, hit 115.5 pounds for her strawweight showdown with Denise Gomes, who registered a clean 115. Both are chasing a title shot at 115 pounds, and both treated the weigh-in like business: efficient, professional, and ice-cold.
A win here doesn’t just move them up the ladder. It plants a flag in a division where every convincing performance can pull you straight into the title conversation.
Local fire, global stage
Shanghai will not be short on hometown and regional flavor.
Fan favorite Aoriqileng weighed in at 135.5 pounds for his all-action bantamweight scrap with Kai Asakura, whose weight had not yet been listed at the time of the report. On paper, it’s one of the most combustible matchups on the card, the kind that can hijack a broadcast with a single wild exchange.
At flyweight, Sumudaerji came in at 125 pounds for his bout with Alex Perez, whose official number remained pending. For Sumudaerji, performing in China with a ranked name across from him is the kind of opportunity that can flip a career overnight.
Light heavyweight prospects Levi Rodrigues Jr. and Ce Liu both hit 206 pounds, right at the allowable limit for their 205-pound contest, while Bilal Hasan registered 124.5 pounds ahead of his flyweight meeting with Nilson Rojas, whose weight was not yet posted.
Prelims loaded with questions
The undercard on Paramount+ offers a steady run of intrigue, prospects, and regional talent.
Rei Tsuruya and Kevin Borjas both nailed the flyweight mark at 125 pounds, setting up a clean stylistic clash early in the evening. At bantamweight, Long Xiao (135) and Francesco Nuzzi (136) both made weight, with Xiao carrying the home support and Nuzzi looking to spoil the night.
Featherweight Jack Jenkins came in at 145.5 pounds for his matchup with Sean Woodson, whose number was still to be confirmed. Lawrence Lui and Hector Santiago both hit their bantamweight marks at 135.5 and 135 respectively, adding another sharp-looking 135-pound bout to a card already rich with talent in that division.
At welterweight, Meng Ding and Cam Nelson both checked in at 170 pounds, a clean, even pairing that should resonate with the local crowd. Strawweight standout Jingnan Xiong and Julia Polastri were also listed, with Xiong’s weight yet to be confirmed at the time of the update.
Flyweights Andre Lima and Namsrai Batbayar round out the early action, with their official numbers still to be locked in.
Scales cleared, stakes set
The promotion, acting as its own athletic commission, allowed the standard one-pound allowance for all non-title fights, and the key names hit their marks. No last-minute chaos. No reshuffled bouts. Just a card that looks ready to run as planned inside a packed Shanghai Indoor Stadium.
The numbers on the scale are now fixed. The narratives are not.
With Nurmagomedov hunting another shot at bantamweight gold and Song carrying the hopes of a home crowd, UFC Shanghai doesn’t just offer another stop on the calendar. It asks a sharper question: who walks out of China as the next real threat at 135 pounds?
