UFC Shanghai Results: Song Yadong Shocks Umar Nurmagomedov With Vicious Knockout, Video Highlights
By Real Combat Media MMA Editorial Staff
Shanghai, China (August 29, 2026)– Song Yadong delivered the signature win of his nine-year UFC career on Saturday, blasting Umar Nurmagomedov unconscious with a second-round uppercut to headline UFC Shanghai in front of his home crowd. The 28-year-old entered as a significant underdog against the No. 3-ranked bantamweight, but a sold-out crowd of 16,188 at Oriental Sports Center witnessed one of the biggest upsets of the year. Ten of the card’s thirteen fights ended in a finish, capped by a tense scene when Nurmagomedov’s brother, PFL champion Usman Nurmagomedov, appeared to throw an elbow at Song as the Chinese star celebrated. Liu Ce and Levi Rodrigues Jr. took home Fight of the Night, while Song and promotional newcomer Bilal Hasan earned Performance of the Night bonuses.
Song Shocks Nurmagomedov With Second-Round Knockout
Nurmagomedov, fighting to stake his claim for a return to title contention, dominated the opening round with his trademark wrestling, repeatedly putting Song on his back. But the fight turned in an instant early in round two. Song stuffed a level change and connected with a crushing right uppercut behind Nurmagomedov’s ear, and the Dagestani’s legs buckled instantly. Song followed up with several more hammerfists on the ground before referee Marc Goddard stepped in. It was the first knockout loss of Nurmagomedov’s career, dropping him to 20-2. Song, who made his UFC debut in Shanghai nine years ago as a 19-year-old, wasted no time campaigning for the next title shot afterward, shouting “Who’s next, Uncle Dana? Give me the title shot!” toward the promotion’s CEO.
Co-Main Event: Gomes Blasts Out Yan
Denise Gomes delivered exactly the statement win she promised, catching Yan Xiaonan with a short elbow followed by a barrage of punches in the closing seconds of round one to secure a highlight-reel knockout. Yan had done well to survive Gomes’s early pressure, but the finish was academic once the Brazilian found her opening. It’s Gomes’s fifth straight win, and with Yan having only previously lost to former champions and ranked contenders, it’s a signature victory that pushes her into that class herself.
Asakura, Sumudaerji, Liu Ce and Hasan Round Out the Main Card
Kai Asakura continued his hot start at bantamweight, stopping Aoriqileng with a second-round left high kick followed by a finishing sequence of knees and punches; the win moves the former Rizin champion to 2-0 since dropping to 135 pounds. Sumudaerji outworked Alex Perez in the clinch over the final five minutes of their rematch to win a unanimous decision, the biggest victory of his career. Liu Ce made an explosive promotional debut, trading with Levi Rodrigues Jr. before landing a fight-ending right hand in the closing moments of round one, a performance that earned the pair Fight of the Night bonuses. And Bilal Hasan overcame some early adversity from Nilson Rojas to land his own fight-ending right hand in round two, a finish worth a Performance of the Night bonus in his UFC debut.
Prelims: Andre Lima Headlines a Finish-Heavy Card
The action started early, with five of the seven preliminary bouts ending before the scorecards were needed. Julia Polastri turned out the lights on Xiong Jingnan with a head kick, Francesco Nuzzi and Hector Santiago both stopped their opponents in UFC debuts, and Rei Tsuruya submitted Kevin Borjas in the opening round. Andre Lima closed the card out with a third-round guillotine choke over Namsrai Batbayar, though he missed weight for the second time in his UFC tenure and forfeited any bonus conversation in the process. Sean Woodson and Cam Nelson picked up the card’s only two preliminary decisions.
Post-Fight Drama: Usman Nurmagomedov’s Cage-Side Scramble
The story didn’t end when the referee stopped the fight. As Song sprinted around the cage in celebration, he crossed paths with Umar’s younger brother, PFL lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov, who had rushed in to check on his fallen sibling. Slow-motion replays appeared to show Usman loading up a backward elbow at the passing Song before pulling it back, and the clip went viral within the MMA community, with some fans calling for the UFC to reconsider its reported interest in signing the undefeated free agent. Usman later pushed back on the characterization: “If I had wanted to, I would have hit him,” he said, insisting it was a protective reaction rather than an attack. Cooler heads ultimately prevailed. Khabib Nurmagomedov, Umar and Usman’s cousin and also part of the corner, greeted Song respectfully once the chaos settled. UFC CEO Dana White, meanwhile, touted the show as one of the promotion’s best China outings yet, with the sold-out crowd helping the card set the gate record for Oriental Sports Center.
Full Card Results
Song Yadong def. Umar Nurmagomedov — KO (uppercut), R2, 1:48
Denise Gomes def. Yan Xiaonan — KO/TKO (elbow and punches), R1, 4:49
Kai Asakura def. Aoriqileng — KO/TKO (head kick and strikes), R2, 0:34
Sumudaerji def. Alex Perez — Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Liu Ce def. Levi Rodrigues Jr. — KO (right hand), R1, 4:26
Bilal Hasan def. Nilson Rojas — KO (right hand), R2, 2:28
Andre Lima def. Namsrai Batbayar — Submission (guillotine choke), R3, 3:03
Sean Woodson def. Jack Jenkins — Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Francesco Nuzzi def. Xiao Long — TKO (strikes), R1, 1:00
Hector Santiago def. Lawrence Lui — KO (strikes), R2, 0:53
Julia Polastri def. Xiong Jingnan — KO (head kick), R1, 3:06
Rei Tsuruya def. Kevin Borjas — Submission (rear-naked choke), R1, 4:14
Cam Nelson def. Ding Meng — Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
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