UFC Shanghai: Song Yadong and Denise Gomes Make Major Statements
Fight Night in Shanghai saw two contenders make major statements in their attempts to earn UFC title shots.
All the potential and athleticism Song Yadong has shown throughout his UFC career finally came together for the biggest win of his career, and he did it in front of his home country. The Chinese fighter sent the crowd into a frenzy in the second round when a perfectly timed right uppercut put title challenger Umar Nurmagomedov out cold.
The moment was even more dramatic considering Nurmagomedov had won the first round and opened a cut over Song’s right eye. But Song weathered the early storm before delivering one of the most spectacular knockouts of his career.
The win is much bigger than a single fight. This was another attempt for Song to break into the elite of the bantamweight division, and this time he didn’t just break through—he sent shockwaves through the entire division. A highlight-reel finish over a fighter of Nurmagomedov’s caliber doesn’t just put Song into the top-five conversation; it could potentially earn him a title shot.
For as loud as the crowd was at the end of the night, they were equally stunned earlier in the evening when Denise Gomes throttled former title challenger Yan Xiaonan. A short right elbow followed by a pair of punches brought the fight to an end and catapulted the Brazilian into the serious contender conversation in the women’s strawweight division.
The card was also huge for the flyweight division. Sumudaerji and Alex Perez finally settled their rematch after their previous meeting ended in a no contest. Sumudaerji narrowly edged Perez on the scorecards, but little was settled in a division that continues to add depth.
Rei Tsuruya reinforced why there is so much hype surrounding his name as he methodically took Kevin Borjas down before working his way to a first-round rear-naked choke. Tsuruya continues to look like one of the UFC’s most intriguing young flyweight prospects.
André Lima avoided a two-fight skid by submitting Namsrai Batbayar. Like a vampire, Lima jumped onto Batbayar’s neck and wrapped up a guillotine, forcing the tap and making up for missing weight.
Coming off earning his UFC contract on Dana White’s Contender Series just two weeks ago, Bilal Hasan’s stock continues to rise. Hasan knocked out Nilson Rojas with a laser-like right hand to the jaw, adding another impressive finish to a card filled with them.
The card was a bonanza of finishes, with 10 of the 13 fights ending before the judges could get involved. More importantly, Shanghai produced legitimate contenders in the bantamweight and women’s strawweight divisions, while the flyweight division continued to add depth.
Song Yadong and Denise Gomes entered Shanghai looking to make a statement. They left with something much bigger—the beginnings of legitimate title cases.
Quick Results
UFC Shanghai Main Card
- Bantamweight: Yadong Song (24-9-1) def. Umar Nurmagomedov (20-2) by KO (Right Hook) 1:48 R2
- Women’s Strawweight: Denise Gomes (13-3) def. Xiaonnan Uan (19-6) by TKO (Elbow & Punches) 4:49 R1
- Bantamweight: Kai Asakura (23-6) def. Aoriqileng (26-14) by KO 0:35 R2
- Flyweight: Sumudaerji (20-7) def. Alex Perez (26-11) by (29-28 x3) Unanimous Decision
- Light Heavyweight: Ce Liu (4-1) def. Levi Rodrigues (5-2) by KO (Right Hook) 4:26 R1
- Flyweight: Bilal Hasan (10-0) def. Nilson Rojas (9-1) by KO (Right Cross) 2:28 R2
Prelims
- Bantamweight: André Lima (12-1) def. Namsrai Batbayar (10-2) by Submission (Guillotine Choke) 3:03 R3
- Flyweight: Rei Tsuruya (12-1) def. Kevin Borjas (11-6) by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) 4:14 R1
- Featherweight: Sean Woodson (14-2-1) def. Jack Jenkins (14-5) by (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) Split Decision
- Bantamweight: Francesco Nuzzi (12-2) def. Long Xiao (27-12) by TKO (Left Hooks) 1:00 R1
- Bantamweight: Hector Santiago (7-1) def. Lawrence Lui (8-2) by KO (Right Criss & Ground Strikes) 0:53 R2
- Women’s Strawweitht: Julia Polastri (15-6) def. Jingnan Xiong (19-4) by KO (High Kick) 3:06 R1
- Welterweight: Cam Nelson (8-1) def. Meng Ding (35-11) by (29-28 x3) Unanimous Decision
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