Had you suggested, on Friday, that China’s Song might come away with a decision victory in the Fight Night card’s main event, you might have been questioned a little, but the notion was not out of the realm of possibility. A blistering knockout of a 20-1 fighter who had never before been stopped? That likely would have been met by disbelief.

Come Saturday morning for those watching in the west, that unlikely scenario was reality. After surviving one takedown and stuffing one or two others, Song put Nurmagomedov away in a sequence that began with an uppercut that just caught the Dagestani along the ear. A couple of punches later and Umar was out cold, Song was celebrating, and the fans in China, who hadn’t had much to celebrate about to that point, were on their feet.

Song earned one of two Performance bonuses for his efforts, pocketing $100,000 U.S. in doing so. The second went to Bilal Hasan, who opened the main card in style, knocking out Nilson Rojas with a single punch. Hasan was making a quick turnaround, having won himself a UFC deal on Dana White’s Contender Series earlier this month.

The Chinese contingent in Shanghai had a rough day at the office on Saturday, with Yan Xiaonan, Aoriqileng, Long Xiao, Xiong Jing Nan, Meng Dong, and Hong Kong-born Lawrence Liu all suffering defeat. Outside of Song, only Sumudaerji and Liu Ce picked up wins — but Song and Liu in particular made fans forget all about the night’s other letdowns. Paired up with Levi Rodrigues Jr, Liu Ce picked up a knockout win in the first round. Yet Rodrigues had been hanging in there, throwing some big shots of his own in a fight that seemed as if the two athletes had agreed in advance to simply choose violence and swing away.

A thriller while it lasted, Ce and Rodrigues earned Fight of the Night honors at UFC Shanghai.

The remaining finishers on the card — Denise Gomes, Kai Asakura, Andre Lima, Rei Tsuruya, Francesco Nuzzi, Hector Santiago, and Julia Polastri — all earned an extra $25,000 for their stoppages.

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Yadong and Nurmagomedov find themselves on the short list of title contenders at 135lbs. While Nurmagomedov came up short in a previous shot at gold, against Merab Dvalishvili last year, he’s won two fights since, and with a 20-1 record and his famous last name, can never be considered far from the top. As for Yadong, he’s yet to see his first shot at gold, but with Petr Yan vs. Merab Dvalishvili 3 fast approaching, he would not doubt love to stake his claim.

Weigh-ins for UFC Shanghai take place Friday morning local time. Results can be found below.

UFC Shanghai: Nurmagomedov vs. Yadong Weigh-In Results

Main card

Bantamweight: Umar Nurmagomedov (135.5) vs. Song Yadong (136)
Women’s Strawweight: Yan Xiaonan (115.5) vs. Denise Gomes (115)
Bantamweight: Aori Qileng (135.5) vs. Kai Asakura (135.5)
Flyweight: Su Mudaerji (125) vs. Alex Perez (126)
Light Heavyweight: Liu Ce (206) vs. Levi Rodrigues Jr. (206)
Flyweight: Bilal Hasan (124.5) vs. Nilson Rojas (124.5)

Preliminary card

Flyweight: Namsrai Batbayar (126) vs. André Lima (127)*
Flyweight: Rei Tsuruya (125) vs. Kevin Borjas (126)
Bantamweight: Xiao Long (135) vs. Francesco Nuzzi (136)
Featherweight: Jack Jenkins (145.5) vs. Sean Woodson (145)
Bantamweight: Lawrence Lui (135.5) vs. Hector Santiago (135)
Women’s Strawweight: Xiong Jingnan (117)* vs. Julia Polastri (118.5)*
Welterweight: Ding Meng (170) vs. Cameron Nelson (170)

* fighter missed weight

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While Yan has competed for gold in the UFC previously, coming up short against Weili Zhang, Gomes doesn’t see her as the biggest threat she’s had to face.

“She is a threat, but she’s not the biggest threat yet,” Gomes (12-3) said during the UFC Shanghai media day. “I’m going to use my aggressiveness, my intelligence in my favour. So yes she is a threat, but there’s going to be bigger ones.”

Gomes won her way into the UFC in 2022, and just four years later finds herself in a co-main event. As to what that progress means, she stated on Wednesday that “it means that what I’ve been doing is showing results, and I think that looking back, the girl who fought at Contenders would be very proud of who I’m becoming now. It’s just one step at a time, and it’s the fruits of our labour.”

Gomes outlook on the fight is that she’s not just fighting Yan. “This is the biggest fight in my career, but I think I’m not only fighting her, I’m fighting everyone that she has fought, and all the girls that I’m still going to fight,” she stated. “She is the biggest right now, but it’s just proof that all the work that we’ve been doing is showing results.”

Watch the full UFC Shanghai media day appearance by Denise Gomes above.

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Ahead of his UFC Shanghai main event against Umar Nurmagomedov on Saturday, the Chinese bantamweight is drawing inspiration from Bruce Lee, tuning out the outside noise and keeping his attention on the one thing he can control.

“After I got to the states that’s when I started to really learn about Bruce Lee. The more I learned it actually felt quite scary,” Song told reporters through a translator on Wednesday.

“Over 50 years ago understanding of combat and his life is already reached a very high level. These past few days I’ve actually been listening to his book and also some podcasts. He also talked about practice and traditional martial artists transitioning to competitive sports. His technique and some power generation method are actually very similar to when I first started training.”

“In the past I felt that if others didn’t believe in me I had to prove them wrong, but now for me whether it’s these companies, gambling or something, whether they believe in me or not, I don’t really care,” he said.

“Right now I only focus on myself.”

Song also made sure he had everything he needed for a full training camp without making things more complicated than they needed to be. With friends making the trip to help and the UFC Performance Institute in China providing everything under one roof, his focus could stay entirely on preparing for the fight.

“The preparation was actually the same place as when I just got to US. At the same time I got a lot of friends coming over to help including some local friends from Shanghai. At the PI all the facilities are very good so everything I needed was right there. I didn’t have to run back and forth,” he said.

“During our last conversations there wasn’t tension. We also waved to each other. (The) two of us don’t have any history or any issue, so to put it simply, it’s just a match,” said Song.

“I’m also not a trash talker.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Song Yadong above. He faces Umar Nurmagomedov in the main event of UFC Shanghai on Saturday.

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That’s because both athletes have been training at the UFC Performance Institute in Shanghai.

“It’s funny. We met each other every day, but we didn’t train together. Always they tried to make us separate,” Nurmagomedov (20-1) told media outlets during this week’s UFC Shanghai media day. “He had his own time, I had my time. We closed cage, we even don’t see our training. But it’s funny, we meet each other every day, and we don’t have any pressure, just respect. I think we’re both ready.”

Nurmagomedov came up short against Merab Dvalishvili in a title fight at UFC 311 in January 2025. Since that loss, the only defeat of his professional MMA career, the Dagestani has picked up decision victories over Mario Bautista and Deiveson Figueiredo. Should he be victorious against Song Yadong in the UFC Shanghai main event, he expects to be on the short list for a title shot.

“Who else? I think we’re both going to be one of the contenders. Also, I think it depends on who’s going to win for the title,” suggested Nurmagomedov. “If Petr’s going to win, I think they’re going to do a rematch with O’Malley.”

Petr Yan is set to face Merab Dvalishvili in the rubber match of their trilogy later this year. Ex-champ Sean O’Malley, meanwhile, has won both of his fights this year, against Yadong, and Aiemann Zahabi at the White House.

Watch the full UFC Shanghai media day appearance by Umar Nurmagomedov above.

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Asakura is a two-time RIZIN bantamweight champ, but moved down to flyweight, where he competed earlier in his career, upon arriving in the UFC in December 2024. The Japanese star fell short in an immediate title shot against Alexandre Pantoja, then followed that up with a loss against Tim Elliott.

Then came his knockout of Cameron Smotherman in May, which earned him a Performance of the Night bonus in his return to 135lbs.

“I looked good at bantamweight, I felt good, everything was good,” Asakura (22-6) said during the UFC Shanghai media day this week. “Now looking back at it, I wonder why I fought at flyweight to be honest with you. But now I think that I’ve settled into bantamweight, and I’m ready to move forward.”

Asakura is fighting in enemy territory in China this Saturday, against Mongolian Aoriqileng. He’s hoping, however, that the Chinese fans are receptive to him. “To be honest with you, I don’t know if I’m really fighting away this time. I hope Chinese fans will cheer for me too.”

When it comes to Aoriqileng, who has the edge in experience in UFC fights despite not having fought for a title, Asakura noted that “he’s a great striker, and he has the ability to close distance really well. So I have to be careful of that.”

Watch the full UFC Shanghai media day appearance by Kai Asakura above.

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“This show has paid fighters that have come off it like 225 million dollars over the last ten years,” White told media outlets including Cageside Press at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas. “One of the guys that never fought for a world title has made over 11 million dollars. So staying active and keeping yourself out there and in everybody’s face is not only good financially, but you have a very limited amount of time to make a lot of money in any sport. So staying active is the move.”

That of course led to speculation on who the athlete in question was, with many guessing correctly: Kevin Holland. One of the UFC’s most active fighters, Holland has stayed super-busy since debuting in the UFC in 2018, after winning a contract on the show that same year.

Holland (29-15, 1NC) is 16-12, 1NC in the promotion and has won ten post-fight bonuses. He fought seven times in twelve months in 2020-21 to set a UFC record. The popular fighter confirmed he was the fighter in question on Wednesday, but noted that “taxes high kids expensive and women ain’t cheap” in a brief statement alongside an Instagram reel.

“I’m here to tell you all one thing right now: I may have won 11 million, but I done have like four kids, paid taxes, got divorced three times. Sh*t’s f*cked up,” Holland admitted in the video.

Sounds like he may need a few million more then.

The post Kevin Holland Admits He’s Contender Series’ 11 Million Dollar Man appeared first on Cageside Press.

Speaking with media outlets including Cageside Press following the card at the Meta Apex, White also noted that Apodaca, who he later signed to the UFC, “never acted like a 6000 to 1 underdog.”

White, who actually encouraged Mir (the biggest favorite in Contender Series history) to attend college prior to persuing MMA, noted that “you guys all heard what her goals were over the next several years. And again, like I said out there, [Michael] Bisping nailed it and said the difference in this fight is deep waters. Bella’s never been there, and Alex has.”

Mir wound up losing a unanimous decision, with anyone who bet on Apodaca picking up serious money. “That fight right there would have paid for your whole year of gambling. Nobody in this sport is that big of an underdog, ever.”

White also touched on how difficult it is to go undefeated in MMA. Mir fell to 4-1 with the loss. Few big stars in the sport maintain perfect records. Georges St-Pierre lost twice, though he would avenge both. Jon Jones technically has a DQ loss against Matt Hammill, though the 12-6 elbows that cost him the fight are now legal in modern MMA. Khabib Nurmagomedov retired 29-0.

White used Jones as the example. “To come in and just go undefeated, it’s very hard to do in this sport. That’s why, when its done— he’s undefeated. And when you think about the killers that Jon Jones fought when he was a young guy in this sport. And there’s more than just his physical attributes. There’s the mental and the first fight with [Alexander] Gustafsson, when he got his deep water experience, how he reacted to that and overcame it, these are all things that are part of this game.”

Whether Bella Mir makes a quick turnaround, or takes time away to shore up her game, is something Dana White is leaving up to the fighter, and her father, UFC legend Frank Mir. “That’s up to her and her father. That’s up to them.”

Watch the full Dana White’s Contender Series Season 10, Week 3 post-fight press conference with Dana White above.

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For the second of two bantamweight semis, it was Christian Strong taking on Mehemmedeli Osmanli. Strong was the last bantamweight picked by Team Cormier, while Osmanli was Team Bisping’s second bantamweight, and third pick overall.

Some drama in this final episode, as teammates Osmanli and Illimbek Akylbek Uulu get heated in sparring, after Illimbek drops elbows while on top. The assistant coaches (Michael Bisping is away on business during this session, with broadcast duties for the UFC) step in to separate them, noting that they should have realized it was a bad pairing. Illimbek is already in the final, so there’s a chance these two could have a live fight shortly.

“Why would you put them together?” questions teammate Xavier Franklin. Yet for some dumbfounding reason, the coaches have them continue to spar for another minute, which results in further hostilities and the pair having to be split up again. Osmanli is incensed, repeatedly calling Illimbek a “b*tch,” with the Kazakh in turn promising that “he will pay for his words.”

Osmanli tells the camera that Christian Strong is scared of him, and calls himself crazy. “All fighters are scared of me,” he boasts. Strong notes that Osmanli is “such a f*cking dickhead.”

Calling Osmanli a “cocky bastard,” he adds that “Everybody doesn’t like this motherf*cker. He’s just a frustrating dude, he’s not a good guy, he’s super egotistical.”

Cormier drills Strong leading into the fight, urging his fighter not to stay in front of Osmanli. “You can’t just stop and wait,” says Cormier, saying the Team Bisping fighter is too dynamic.

Michael Bisping gets back to town after heading to Perth, Australia for commentary duties, and finds out about his pupils getting into it during practice. “Get over it” is his suggestion. He works pads with Osmanli. Then ex-UFC bantamweight champ Merab Dvalishvili joins the team to demonstrate his wrestling prowess and work with Osmanli.

Weigh-ins arrive, and we get more drama. Osmanli chirps at Daniel Cormier, then confronts his own teammate, Illimbek, threatening to slap him, before even hitting the scale. “DC, stop stirring sh*t” exclaims Bisping. “Control these goons, man” Cormier replies.

“I want you to bash his face through the mat,” Cormier tells his own fighter, Strong. Both men hit weight.

Christian Strong vs. Mehemmedeli Osmanli

The last bantamweight fight of the season sees Strong shoot for an early takedown. He doesn’t land it, but stays on the leg, and completes the second attempt. Osmanli defends with a guillotine, which isn’t tight initially but gets worse when Strong can’t climb over Osmanli’s body. He does pull free, but Osmanli shrimps to the fence and gets to a three point stance. He makes it back to his feet, with half the round still to go. Strong still has a body lock, however, and turns that into another takedown attempt. Osmanli fights that off, and they move back to center, exchanging, with Osmani in his element, connecting several times. Strong soon shoots again, can’t land it, but drives Osmani back to the fence.

Again, Strong can’t get the fight down, and when Osmanli frees himself, they go back to center. Osmanli lands several shots including a knee as Strong changes levels. Good finish to the round for Mehemmedeli Osmanli.

Round two sees Strong come up short on an early takedown. It’s pretty clear he doesn’t want to stand with Osmanli, who has found his range. The takedown comes a minute in, with Strong in half-guard. Strong is bleeding badly. Osmanli locks in a buggy choke, and at first it doesn’t seem like he’s going to get it. Coach Bisping even tells him to let it go and get up. Osmanli instead keeps it on, and eventually, forces the tap!

Dana White notes that a buggy choke has never been used successfully in the UFC, and Osmanli did it in the biggest fight of his life to date.

TUF 34 Final

Tina Black vs. Melissa Amaya is the The Ultimate Fighter 34 women’s strawweight final, while the bantamweight final will see the grudge match between Mehemmedeli Osmanli and Illimbek Akylbek Uulu. The strawweight final is all Team Cormier, the bantamweights are both from Team Bisping. So one fighter from each team will win the season.

The final takes place on September 26 in Las Vegas.

The post The Ultimate Fighter 34 Ep. 12: That’s a Wrap! appeared first on Cageside Press.

Gregory Rodrigues

After suffering what looked like a damning setback against Jared Cannonier just last year, there is something quite admirable about Gregory Rodrigues being able to rebuild himself and obtain the best win of his career against “Fluffy”. We never doubted Rodrigues’ physicality, but there were doubts about his ability to go five rounds after succumbing to Cannonier in the fourth round 18 months ago. While he definitely slowed down in the championship rounds, “Robocop” still got the job done, earning a unanimous decision win.

With the way the division is currently constructed, Rodrigues could face Joe Pyfer, Caio Borralho or Brendan Allen next. But from a pure entertainment standpoint, I can’t think of a cooler matchup than Dricus Du Plessis. That matchup has car crash written all over it.

Rodrigues’ next fight: Dricus Du Plessis

Vitor Petrino

Vitor Petrino now moves to 4-0 since making the move to heavyweight. The division change has given his career a new life and with this win over Serghei Spivac, he will now enter the division’s top10. With half the top8 already being booked and Ciryl Gane seemingly set to rematch Tom Aspinall, there aren’t a ton of options for Petrino, at the current moment. However, there is Sergei Pavlovich, who sits comfortably at #3 and is in need of an opponent has hasn’t already faced.

Petrino’s next fight: Sergei Pavlovich

Reinier de Ridder

While he wasn’t facing an established light-heavyweight, you could tell going in weight did RDR some good. He looks healthier and made quick work of Roman Dolidze, who is a good grappler in his own right. RDR has a name that can garner some interest in the fanbase, which is why I believe the UFC will be interested in inserting him at the top of division sooner rather than later. I think a matchup with Paulo Costa could be in the books for de Ridder.

de Ridder’s next fight: Paulo Costa

MarQuel Mederos

After going to a draw in April, both Chris Padilla and MarQuel Mederos had standout wins at UFC Sacramento, with Mederos earning what should be seen as the more impressive one. Mederos took on a streaking Mason Jones who had looked much improved in his second stint in the promotion and he stopped him inside two rounds. There a ton of options at lightweight for Mederos, such as any of the winner of the Klose/Grantt, Camilo/Herbert or Ziam/Sola matchups. I went with the Frenchmen, since I believe they are the closest ones to a shot at the rankings.

Mederos’ next fight: Ziam/Sola winner

Carli Judice

Carli Judice got a shot on the Contender Series at just 3-0 and 24 years of age. That is incredibly early, even for the most talented of fighters. She then lost back-to-back split decisions and moved to 3-2. She has since won four consecutive bouts, three of which came by finish and earned her performance of the fight bonuses. She asked for a shot at the rankings and she has earned it. I say have her face the winner of the Aldrich/Tarin matchup at Noche.

Judice’s next fight: Aldrich/Tarin winner

Anthony Wint

Anthony Wint had to face more adversity than what was probably expected, given the fact that he was a 10-1 betting favourite, but he still got the job done inside the first round. While there can be some enthusiasm about his ceiling, he should be getting a lot more reps against this level of competition to hone his skills. Anyone at the bottom of the heavyweight division would do, but I landed on Louie Sutherland, who was submitted quite quickly not too long ago.

Wint’s next fight: Louie Sutherland

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