Showdown in Shanghai: Song Yadong gets big opportunity against Umar Nurmagomedov

UFC Sacramento could have been an absolute banger for us, but we still came away with +3.315 Units on the night! After a solid showing last week, we now sit at +14.745 Units on the year, but have plenty of work to beat our previous record heading into UFC Shanghai. 

Umar Nurmagomedov is back in the main event slot and will take on fan favorite Song Yadong. In the co-main, another fan favorite, Yan Xiaonan, will take on Denise Gomes in what should be a back-and-forth war. Let’s take a look at the UFC Shanghai main card, and don’t forget to check back later in the week for our best bets. 

UFC Shanghai Main Card Breakdown

Bilal Hasan

1.14

5.90

Nilson Rojas

Bilal Hasan is an undefeated 25-year-old flyweight prospect and former 3x CFFC champion. A 3rd-degree Taekwondo black belt who trains with Demetrious Johnson, he combines flashy, high-volume kicking attacks with aggressive chain-wrestling. This makes him a dangerous mix that earned him a UFC contract via a 45-second Contender Series TKO. 

Nilson Rojas is an undefeated 27-year-old Peruvian flyweight built on raw KO power, boasting seven knockouts with four in the first round. He relies on fast boxing combinations, sharp counter-punching, and strong takedown defense to keep the fight standing and deliver high-damage hooks and knees. 

This matchup is a classic fight between a fluid, multi-layered striker-grappler and a heavy-handed, explosive counter-boxer. The key factor in this contest will be distance management and grappling control. Hasan will look to utilize his wider variety of kicks and lateral movement to keep Rojas on the outside, using threat-level takedown attempts to slow down the Peruvian’s forward blitzes. Meanwhile, Rojas will target the inside angle, attempting to time Hasan’s kicks to slip into boxing range where his single-shot power can end the fight abruptly. If Hasan can mix in his wrestling to tire Rojas early, his conditioning and volume should take over; however, if Rojas denies the takedowns and forces a pocket brawl, his superior power could swing the bout in his favor.  

Liu Ce

1.48

2.70

Levi Rodrigues Jr.

Liu Ce is a high-level Chinese kickboxer stepping into the UFC’s light heavyweight division. Standing as a decorated striker with extensive kickboxing experience, Liu transitions into mixed martial arts with a 3-1 MMA record dominated by stoppage victories. Known for his technical precision, fluid range management, and lethal leg attacks, Liu relies heavily on low kicks, body strikes, and sweeps to control the flow of the bout while keeping his opponents at the end of his reach.

Levi -Rodrigues Jr. is a 29-year-old explosive light heavyweight striker from Brazil holding a 5-1 (1 NC) professional MMA record. A pure power puncher, all five of Rodrigues Jr.’s career wins have come by knockout or TKO, with three of those finishes materializing in the very first round. He pushes a relentless forward pace, relying on quick pocket entries, high-impact hooks, and raw athleticism to overwhelm opponents before they can settle into a rhythm.

This light heavyweight contest hinges on distance control versus explosive entry. Liu will aim to establish his long-range kicking game early, using low calf kicks and body attacks to keep Rodrigues Jr. trapped on the outside and neutralize his blitzes. Conversely, Rodrigues Jr. needs to chop down the distance, slip inside Liu’s striking range, and force a chaotic pocket exchange where his heavy punch power can land flush. If Liu maintains distance and rhythm, his superior kickboxing technique will dictate the pace over three rounds; however, if Rodrigues Jr. successfully breaches the guard to land a power hook or drag the fight to the mat, his raw strength can end the night in an instant.   

Alex Perez

2.90

1.43

Sumudaerji

Alex Perez is a veteran flyweight contender and former UFC title challenger who brings a well-rounded, aggressive style to the Octagon. Perez relies on high-volume, relentless boxing combinations coupled with strong wrestling fundamentals. He excels when pressuring opponents into the fence and mixing up takedowns with heavy hooks, though his recent run has seen him battle through injuries and inconsistent outcomes.

Sumudaerji is a lengthier flyweight striker boasting a 19-7 (1 NC) record. Training out of Team Alpha Male, Sumudaerji relies heavily on his striking, using a 72-inch reach and a southpaw stance to snipe opponents from the outside with straight left hands, head kicks, and heavy leg kicks. With 13 of his victories coming via knockout, he thrives in open-space striking battles where he can maintain range and pick apart aggressively rushing opponents.

This matchup presents a classic contrast in styles between a high-pressure, inside puncher in Perez and a lengthy, perimeter sniper in Sumudaerji. Perez’s clearest path to victory involves closing the distance quickly, driving through Sumudaerji’s long-range attacks, and forcing exchanges against the cage or taking the fight to the mat. Conversely, Sumudaerji must leverage his seven-inch reach advantage to maintain distance, manage space with front kicks and long straight strikes, and punish Perez whenever he attempts to breach the guard.

Aoriqileng

4.50

1.21

Kai Asakura

Aoriqileng is a tough, durable bantamweight who pushes an unrelenting pace. Relying on a brawling, Sanda-based striking style, he mixes constant forward pressure and high volume with heavy hands to wear down opponents over three rounds.

Kai Asakura is a former two-time RIZIN bantamweight champion known for explosive, fight-ending knockout power. A dynamic Karate black belt with lightning-fast hands, Asakura carries a finish rate over 75% and thrives on landing devastating counter-punches and knees in open-space exchanges.

This matchup is a high-octane clash between Aoriqileng’s grittiness and Asakura’s raw power. Aoriqileng will need to survive the early dangerous blitzes, crowd Asakura against the fence, and drag him into a grinding physical fight. Meanwhile, Asakura will aim to utilize his superior hand speed and accuracy to catch Aoriqileng coming in and land a clean fight-ending blow before the pace shifts against him.

Yan Xiaonan

1.67

2.24

Denise Gomes

Yan Xiaonan is a seasoned strawweight contender and former title challenger known for high-volume, technical striking. Relying on sharp Sanda-based movement and crisp straight-punch combinations, Yan pushes a steady output on the outside while utilizing solid footwork to evade incoming brawlers.

Denise Gomes is an explosive, 26-year-old rising prospect from Brazil who brings aggressive pressure and heavy single-shot knockout power. Armed with fast hands and violent pocket blitzes, Gomes constantly presses forward to force chaotic exchanges where her physical strength and hooks can dictate the outcome.

This matchup presents a classic clash between veteran precision and youthful power, reflected in a very competitive betting line that currently favors Yan as a narrow baseline favorite while Gomes sits as a tight underdog. Yan’s cleanest path to victory is keeping the fight at range, using straight punches and low kicks to out-volume Gomes over three rounds. However, if Gomes can close the distance, bypass Yan’s jabs, and turn the fight into an inside slugfest, her raw power could easily tip the closely contested odds in her favor.

Umar Nurmagomedov

1.20

4.90

Song Yadong

Umar Nurmagomedov is an elite bantamweight contender who combines Dagestani wrestling with fluid, long-range kickboxing. Training out of Eagles MMA alongside Khabib Nurmagomedov, Umar uses high-volume kicking to control distance before seamlessly transitioning into relentless takedowns and heavy top control.

Song Yadong is China’s premier bantamweight striker and a high-explosivity fan favorite. Training at Team Alpha Male, Song possesses lightning-fast hand speed, lethal counter-punching power, and stout takedown defense designed to keep fights in his preferred boxing range.

This high-stakes main event isn’t expected to be close on the betting boards, with Nurmagomedov sitting as a heavy favorite while Song enters as a wide underdog. Umar’s cleanest path is using his kicks to maintain range before putting Song on his back to neutralize the striking danger. However, if Song can defend the takedowns and force pocket exchanges, his single-shot power offers a constant upset threat against the heavy favorite.

UFC Shanghai Best Bets

2025 Total Units Won: +29.97 Units

2026 Record: 64-76-1, +14.745 Units

(Coming Soon…)

UFC Shanghai features some exciting homegrown talent in the main events, while also putting together some of Asia’s most promising fighters in the UFC. While several of the fighters are completely unknown to the MMA community, the matchups almost guarantee fireworks from top to bottom.

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