UFC Shanghai Weigh-ins: Nurmagomedov vs. Song Set for Bantamweight Clash

The scales are done. The talking can stop. UFC Shanghai is officially set.

On the eve of a pivotal night in the bantamweight division, Umar Nurmagomedov and Song Yadong both made weight for their 135-pound main event inside Shanghai Indoor Stadium, clearing the final hurdle before a clash that could reshape the title picture at 135 lbs.

Nurmagomedov came in at 135.5 pounds, Song at 136, both safely inside the non-title limit with the standard one-pound allowance the promotion permits for non-championship bouts. One is a former title challenger, the other a surging contender. The stakes are obvious. The margin for error will not be.

Strawweights on the rise

The co-main event carries its own quiet tension.

China’s Yan Xiaonan, fighting in front of a home crowd and chasing a shot at strawweight gold, hit the scale at 115.5 pounds. Across from her, Denise Gomes registered 115 on the nose. Both arrive as 115-pound hopefuls with the same ambition: win here, then start asking serious questions about a title opportunity.

The energy around Xiaonan is different in Shanghai. A win on home soil would do more than pad a résumé; it would give her momentum at exactly the right time in a division constantly searching for its next clear challenger.

Action all over the main card

Further down the main card, chaos at bantamweight feels almost guaranteed.

Fan favorite Aoriqileng weighed in at 135.5 pounds for his showdown with Kai Asakura, who had yet to have his official weight listed at the time of the report. On paper, it’s the kind of all-action matchup that can steal a show built around bigger names.

At flyweight, former title contender Alex Perez awaits Sumudaerji in a compelling 125-pound bout. Sumudaerji checked in at 125, with Perez’s number still to be confirmed in the listed results, but the pairing alone hints at high-paced, high-risk exchanges between two men who know exactly what a decisive win would mean in a crowded division.

Light heavyweight power also gets its moment. Levi Rodrigues Jr. and Ce Liu both hit 206 pounds for their 205-pound clash, right at the allowable non-title limit. Expect heavy leather, minimal subtlety.

The main card opens at flyweight with Bilal Hasan, who came in at 124.5 pounds, set to face Nilson Rojas, whose official weight remained unlisted in the early rundown. It’s a classic stage for prospects: bright lights, high stakes, and the chance to introduce themselves to a global audience.

Local hopes and hungry prospects on the prelims

Shanghai will not have to wait for the main card to find reasons to make noise.

At flyweight, Rei Tsuruya and Kevin Borjas both nailed the 125-pound mark, a clean, professional start to a matchup that should move at a relentless pace. Another 125-pound contest sees Andre Lima and Namsrai Batbayar listed without final weights in the early results but positioned to add more speed and scramble-heavy drama to the undercard.

Bantamweight brings its own intrigue. Long Xiao weighed in at 135 pounds, with Francesco Nuzzi at 136, setting up a classic striker-versus-tactician feel on the prelims. Lawrence Lui and Hector Santiago both came in sharp—135.5 and 135 respectively—for another 135-pound tilt that could push the winner toward bigger opportunities.

At featherweight, Jack Jenkins hit 145.5 pounds ahead of his meeting with Sean Woodson, whose weight was not yet recorded in the early figures. Stylistically, it’s a fascinating contrast and a potential slow-burn thriller for the purists.

Strawweight veteran Jingnan Xiong is set to face Julia Polastri, with both fighters’ exact weights not yet listed in the initial rundown but the matchup already marked as one to watch for its technical edge and experience gap.

Welterweights Meng Ding and Cam Nelson both came in exactly at 170 pounds, a clean, no-drama reading for a 170-pound bout that could set the tone for the entire night if it opens with the intensity both men are known to bring.

Shanghai ready for a statement night

All told, 26 fighters stepped to the scale with one shared task: prove they belong on a card designed to showcase talent in one of the sport’s most important emerging markets. The promotion, acting as its own commission, allowed the standard one-pound cushion in non-title fights, and the numbers reflect a roster largely dialed in.

Now the numbers no longer matter. The cuts are done, the bodies are drained and reloaded, and Shanghai Indoor Stadium waits.

Umar Nurmagomedov chasing another run. Song Yadong fighting to plant his flag as China’s next great MMA force. Yan Xiaonan carrying home expectations. A full undercard stacked with athletes desperate to turn opportunity into something more permanent.

The scales have spoken. On Saturday night, Shanghai finds out who can live with the weight of the moment.