Shanghai gets ready to rumble for a second successive UFC Fight Night

By the Editorial Team · Friday, August 28, 2026

Shanghai will host a UFC Fight Night event this weekend, featuring top-ranked bantamweight Song Yadong against Umar Nurmagomedov, along with notable fighters like Zhang Weili and Manon Fiorot. This marks the UFC’s continued effort to grow its presence in China through local talent development and expanded partnerships, highlighting the region’s rising significance in the sport.

For the second consecutive summer, Shanghai is preparing to host a high-profile Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Fight Night event, showcasing some of the world’s top mixed martial artists. The two-day event, scheduled for this weekend at the Oriental Sports Center, highlights the UFC’s ongoing commitment to expanding its presence in China and features a strong lineup of local fighters competing against international contenders.

The main card on Saturday is headlined by a bantamweight bout between China’s Song Yadong, currently ranked fifth in the division, and Russia’s Umar Nurmagomedov, who holds the third spot. Song, the highest-ranked Chinese male fighter in the UFC across all divisions, aims to strengthen his claim for a title shot by defeating Nurmagomedov, a wrestler known for his takedown ability and scramble skills. The bantamweight championship is presently held by Russia’s Petr Yan.

Song, 28, originally from Heilongjiang province, emphasized the advantage of competing on home turf, highlighting the support of family and fans as a factor that enhances his focus and performance. Reflecting on his journey since his UFC debut at Shanghai’s inaugural live event in 2017, Song described his evolving approach to competition, moving away from an all-or-nothing mindset toward a focus on technique, rhythm, and mental composure. He acknowledged Nurmagomedov’s wrestling prowess but expressed confidence stemming from a targeted training camp designed to counter those strengths, focusing on defending takedowns and adapting to his opponent’s style. Song plans to rely primarily on striking during the fight but assured that he would engage effectively on the ground if necessary.

In addition to Song’s bout, featherweight Zhang Weili is slated to return to action against Brazil’s Amanda Lemos. Zhang, a former UFC champion, is seeking to rebound following a split-decision loss last month to Irene Aldana. French flyweight Manon Fiorot will also compete on the main card against Canada’s Alexa Grasso.

Sunday’s undercard will feature rising Chinese talent, including flyweight Zhang Mingyang, heavyweight Liu Pingyuan, bantamweight Cai Jianbo, and featherweight Wang Shujin. This event, the opening installment of the UFC’s “Fight in China” series and streamed live on UFC.tv, underscores the organization’s efforts to nurture mixed martial arts in the region.

Kevin Chang, UFC’s senior vice-president and head of Asia, credited the improved quality of Fight Night cards in China to the promotion’s focused talent development strategy. He noted that the weekend’s fight cards would spotlight a broad range of MMA skill and the future potential of the sport in Asia. Since establishing its Asian headquarters and Performance Institute in Shanghai in 2019, the UFC has deepened its localization efforts. These include a renewed five-year partnership with the Chinese streaming platform Migu, expanding collaboration beyond broadcasting to encompass event operations, fan engagement, and MMA promotion.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.