Umar Nurmagomedov is set for another key fight in the UFC bantamweight division, and this time he will do it on hostile ground.
The No. 2-ranked contender is scheduled to face China’s Song Yadong in the main event of UFC Shanghai on Aug. 29 at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center. Red Fury MMA first reported the matchup, which has since been confirmed by MMAmania.com.
Umar Nurmagomedov gets a new assignment in China
Nurmagomedov was originally expected to meet David Martinez at UFC Abu Dhabi. Those plans changed after Martinez withdrew, prompting the UFC to find him a new opponent.
The 30-year-old Dagestani enters the bout with a 20-1 professional record and will headline his second UFC event. He has rebounded well from the only loss of his career, a bantamweight title defeat against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311.
Since then, Nurmagomedov has earned consecutive victories over Deiveson Figueiredo and Mario Bautista to reestablish himself as one of the division’s top contenders. Before his championship setback, he had put together an 18-fight winning streak, including six victories inside the UFC.
Song Yadong looks to deliver in front of the home crowd
Yadong returns to headline another UFC card in China as he continues a busy 2026 campaign. The 28-year-old will make his third appearance of the year and gets another opportunity to shine in front of his home fans.
The Chinese standout carries a 23-9-1 record and most recently submitted former flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo in the second round at UFC Macau. The victory helped him bounce back after a competitive unanimous decision loss to Sean O’Malley at UFC 324.
Known as “The Kung Fu Kid,” Yadong owns a 12-4-1 record inside the UFC and now faces one of the toughest challenges of his career as he attempts to stop Nurmagomedov’s momentum on home soil.
UFC Shanghai card begins to take shape
The Nurmagomedov vs. Yadong matchup is the first reported bout for UFC Shanghai, with additional fights expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
As the promotion returns to China, the event is expected to feature several Asian fighters alongside a high-stakes bantamweight main event that could have major title implications.