Umar Nurmagomedov to headline UFC Shanghai on Aug. 29 against Chinese foe

Umar Nurmagomedov will headline UFC Shanghai on August 29 at the Shanghai Indoor Stadium against Chinese bantamweight Yadong Song. The five-round main event brings the promotion back to mainland China for the first time in a year, offering local fans a chance to rally behind Song in his bid to upset the Russian contender.

Nurmagomedov (20-1) has bounced back from a title-shot loss to Merab Dvalishvili at the start of 2025 with two consecutive decision victories. He defeated Mario Bautista and former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo in January, showcasing his consistency at bantamweight. Song (23-9-1, 1 NC), 28, also recently beat Figueiredo, submitting the ex-champ in their encounter. The two men's shared victory over Figueiredo sets an interesting narrative thread for their clash.

Song's form has been mixed in his last five fights, alternating wins and losses. His recent wins include decisions over Chris Gutierrez and Henry Cejudo—the latter a technical decision after eye pokes forced Cejudo to withdraw. However, Song has also suffered losses to former and current title contenders Petr Yan and Sean O'Malley, suggesting he remains a step below the elite. Nurmagomedov's status as a once-beaten contender makes him a considerable test. Johnny Walker and Mingyang Zhang are set to headline a separate UFC Fight Night card in China later in 2025. The Shanghai event represents a valuable opportunity for Nurmagomedov to stake his claim for another title shot.