UFC Fight Night: Umar Nurmagomedov vs Song Yadong Preview & Prediction

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Top bantamweights clash in the main event, as Umar Nurmagomedov looks to keep his name in title talks against the surging Song Yadong.

Umar Nurmagomedov vs Song Yadong facts

What time are Umar Nurmagomedov and Song Yadong expected to walk out? 29 August 2026 at 1:45 pm

Where is UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs Song? SPD Bank Oriental Sports Center, Shanghai, China

Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs Song? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 286

What TV channel is UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs Song on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount

Where can I stream UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs Song? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass

UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs Song main card

Umar Nurmagomedov vs Song Yadong (Bantamweight)

Yan Xiaonan vs Denise Gomes (Women's Strawweight)

Aori Qileng vs Kai Asakura (Bantamweight)

Su Mudaerji vs Alex Perez (Flyweight)

Liu Ce vs Levi Rodrigues Jr. (Light Heavyweight)

Bilal Hasan vs Nilson Rojas (Flyweight)

UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs Song prelims

Namsrai Batbayar vs Andre Lima (Flyweight)

Rei Tsuruya vs Kevin Borjas (Flyweight)

Jack Jenkins vs Sean Woodson (Featherweight)

Xiao Long vs Francesco Nuzzi (Bantamweight)

Lawrence Lui vs Hector Santiago (Bantamweight)

Xiong Jingnan vs Julia Polastri (Women's Strawweight)

Ding Meng vs Cameron Nelson (Welterweight)

Umar Nurmagomedov: The Dagestani aims to stake his claim for another title shot

Long touted as a champion in waiting for the bantamweight division, Umar Nurmagomedov (20-1) has been nothing short of perfect outside of a decision defeat to Merab Dvalishvili in his only UFC title shot to date. Blessed with the trademark suffocating Nurmagomedov wrestling ability and spiteful GNP, Umar is also a superb striker with an excellent kicking game. The Dagestani contender is 8-1 since joining the promotion five years ago, and is currently riding a two fight win streak over Mario Bautista and Deiveson Figueiredo since dropping a decision to “The Machine” at UFC 311.

Song Yadong: Can "The Kung Fu Kid" earn the biggest scalp of his career?

Touching down on native soil for his second consecutive main event in China, Song Yadong (23-9-1) returns after a dominant submission victory over Deiveson Figueiredo in May. Still only 28, Yadong is widely regarded as one of the toughest outs in the bantamweight division, blending powerful striking and capable wrestling to largely defeat anybody who isn’t legitimately Top 5 material. He’s 12-4-1 since joining the promotion as a fresh faced 19 year old prospect, sharing the cage with the vaunted likes of Petr Yan, Sean O’Malley, and Cory Sandhagen along the way.

Umar Nurmagomedov vs Song Yadong prediction

Looking at this matchup on paper, it’s not inconceivable that Song wins this. He’s got decent takedown defense and has power in his punches, while Nurmagomedov has been hurt badly with strikes on three separate occasions in his last five fights.

The issue is that Song isn’t traditionally a one-shot KO threat. He’s got power, but he hasn’t flatlined anybody with a single punch since destroying Marlon Moraes with an uppercut back in 2022; a fighter who entered that matchup off the back of three straight KO defeats. I can see him rocking or even dropping the Russian, but Nurmagomedov is just going to instantly revert back to his wrestling.

In terms of that wheelhouse, Song’s takedown defense is solid, but he’s also been taken down by much less talented wrestlers than Umar. If the completely shot Deiveson Figueiredo was capable of scoring a takedown against Song, I don’t think Umar should have any major problems. More importantly, he has smothering top control and heavy GNP; I like his chances to keep “The Kung Fu Kid” on the floor.

I don’t envision Song getting finished in this matchup, but outside of a shocking KO out of nowhere, I don’t see him winning this one. The pick is Nurmagomedov by lackluster decision.

Prediction: Umar Nurmagomedov to win by decision