Umar Nurmagomedov vs Song Yadong: The Winner Books a Bantamweight Title Shot

The Octagon lands in Shanghai for the third time this Saturday, and the stakes at Oriental Sports Center are as clean as they come at 135 pounds: beat the man across the cage and you're next. Umar Nurmagomedov, 2-0 since his title loss to Merab Dvalishvili at the start of last year, headlines against China's top male contender, Song Yadong, with the winner staking a real claim to the next crack at the belt.

Nurmagomedov rebuilt his stock methodically after that setback, outpointing Mario Bautista at UFC 321 last October before grinding out Deiveson Figueiredo three months later at UFC 324. Song was on that same card, dropping a close decision to Sean O'Malley, then bounced back in style by submitting Figueiredo in the second round in Macau this May — his first fight on Chinese soil since 2018.

The tactical question is whether Nurmagomedov trusts his hands or drags Song to the mat. He has the clear grappling edge, but 'The Kung Fu Kid' is a genuine athlete who'll make every takedown a chore. With Petr Yan and Dvalishvili locked into a championship trilogy, the division needs its top contenders staying busy — and both of these men are doing exactly that.

Yan Xiaonan Defends Her Turf

The co-main puts a decade of strawweight pedigree on the line. Yan Xiaonan has been a fixture near the top of 115 pounds for years, dating back to her majority-decision win over current champ Mackenzie Dern. She's coming off a loss to Virna Jandiroba, but she has never lost in China under the UFC banner and she'd love to keep that record spotless.

Standing across from her is Denise Gomes, just 26 and riding a four-fight winning streak with six wins in her last seven. Once known purely for power and aggression, Gomes has tightened up into a more complete fighter across four years on the roster. With Dern's future murky after her defense against Gillian Robertson, a win here vaults either top-15 talent up the queue.

Two Fights With Unfinished Business

Aoriqileng, a 40-fight veteran at 26-13 (9 KO), looks to shake off a second-round stoppage loss to Cody Haddon and thrill the home crowd against Kai Asakura. Written off after two submission losses to open his UFC run, Asakura moved back to bantamweight and finished Cameron Smotherman inside a round in May — the division's potential new dark horse if he does it again.

There's also a grudge to settle: Alex Perez (26-10) and Sumudaerji run it back after their Macau meeting was waved off following an accidental low blow, ruled a no contest in the second. Perez snapped a two-fight skid by knocking out Charles Johnson at UFC 324, while Sumudaerji stretched his streak to three. Expect the do-over to be just as tight as the original split of the scorecards suggested.