UFC Shanghai Weigh-ins: Nurmagomedov and Song Ready for Action
The scales have spoken in Shanghai, and the headliners are ready.
Umar Nurmagomedov and Song Yadong both made weight for their pivotal bantamweight clash at UFC Shanghai, clearing the final hurdle before stepping into the Shanghai Indoor Stadium spotlight on Saturday night.
Nurmagomedov, the former bantamweight title challenger and one of the division’s most suffocating technicians, came in at 135.5 pounds. Song, China’s homegrown contender and a proven finisher at 135, hit the non-title limit at 136. The matchup pits relentless control against explosive power, and now it’s officially on.
Strawweight stakes in the co-main
In the co-headliner, strawweight hopefuls Yan Xiaonan and Denise Gomes also did their part at the scales.
Yan, fighting on home soil and angling for a push toward the 115-pound elite, registered 115.5 pounds. Gomes, a rising threat with a taste for chaos, was spot on at 115. Both arrive with momentum, both see this as a launchpad. Only one leaves Shanghai closer to a title conversation.
Main card set in Shanghai
The rest of the main card, streamed on Paramount+, came into focus as the numbers rolled in.
Fan favorite Aoriqileng, always good for a brawl, weighed 135.5 pounds for his bantamweight showdown with Kai Asakura. Asakura’s weight was not listed at the time of reporting, but the matchup remains one of the most intriguing on the card, pairing Aoriqileng’s pressure with Asakura’s finishing instincts.
At flyweight, Sumudaerji, another Chinese standout with sharp striking, came in at 125 pounds for his bout against Alex Perez, whose weight was not disclosed on the sheet provided. If Perez is on point, that contest promises a high-pace clash of styles at 125.
Light heavyweight action comes from Levi Rodrigues Jr. and Ce Liu, both hitting 206 pounds, right at the allowable limit for non-title fights at 205. It’s the kind of pairing that can flip a card on its head with a single clean connection.
Rounding out the main card, Bilal Hasan clocked in at 124.5 pounds for his flyweight meeting with Nilson Rojas, whose number was not listed. Hasan’s precision against Rojas’ aggression could quietly steal the show if it catches fire early.
Prelims loaded with prospects
Before the marquee names walk, UFC Shanghai’s prelims offer a long look at the next wave.
At flyweight, Andre Lima and Namsrai Batbayar were both listed without official weights on the released sheet, but their placement signals the promotion’s interest in their potential. Another key flyweight bout sees Rei Tsuruya, officially on weight at 125, take on Kevin Borjas, also at 125, in a matchup that should move at a blistering pace.
Bantamweight prospect Long Xiao weighed 135 pounds for his clash with Francesco Nuzzi, who hit 136. Xiao fights under the pressure of representing the local scene; Nuzzi arrives as the man willing to spoil the night.
At featherweight, Jack Jenkins came in at 145.5 pounds for his bout against Sean Woodson, whose weight was not listed. Jenkins brings grit and volume, while Woodson’s length and awkward rhythm have troubled plenty of opponents.
Lawrence Lui and Hector Santiago both made bantamweight comfortably, with Lui at 135.5 and Santiago at 135. That one shapes up as a sharp, technical duel rather than a wild swing-fest.
Strawweight veteran Jingnan Xiong was listed without an official weight for her matchup with Julia Polastri, but their pairing at 115 adds another layer of intrigue to a division always hunting for fresh contenders.
And at welterweight, Meng Ding and Cam Nelson both hit 170 pounds on the nose. It’s a classic 170 clash on foreign soil: local ambition against visiting intent, with little room for hesitation once the cage door shuts.
The scales in Shanghai have done their work. The numbers are in, the margins are razor-thin, and the city now waits to see whose night this really becomes when the lights go up and the first walkout music hits.
