Live Now! UFC Shanghai ‘Nurmagomedov vs. Song’ play-by-play, results & round scoring

Meng
Ding (170) vs. Cameron
Nelson (170)

Round 1

Welterweights kick off festivities at UFC Shanghai, as Ding (35-10,
0-1 UFC) squares off with Nelson (7-1, 0-0 UFC) at 170 pounds. Matt
Wynne polices the proceedings. Customary glove touch gets them
started. Ding switches stances early and often, pawing with his
lead hand from both sides. He counters a leg kick with an overhand
right, then resets. Ding jabs at the body and gets off a body kick.
Nelson answers with a low kick, then another. Raucous crowd
already. Hard leg kick from Ding followed by a straight left.
Strong start from the Colin Oyama protégé. They trade in the center
of the cage before they exchange leg kicks. Nelson circles on the
outside. Two minutes to go in the round. Nelson changes levels,
ducks into a takedown and lands in side control. A short burst of
significant ground-and-pound ensues from the Niagara Top Team rep.
Nelson continues to hammer away with punches, mostly left hands,
and stays on top until the round closes. 10-9 Nelson.

Round 2

Back at it for Round 2, Ding with some work to do to even the
score. Spinning back kick to the body from the Chinese veteran.
Nelson answers with a low kick and an overhand right, along with a
body kick. More stance switches from Ding, who gets busy with a jab
and a stout one-two. Nelson presses forward and sneaks in a left
hook. Inside leg kicks from Ding. Nelson shadows him on the
outside, closes the distance and trips him to the canvas. Fans
express their displeasure. Nelson works in full guard. Two minutes
left in the round. Nelson passes to half guard, milking the clock
and applying some ground-and-pound. He flirts with an arm-triangle.
Ding briefly escapes to his feet, only to be taken down again.
Nelson climbs to full mount and unleashes punches to salt away
another round. 10-9 Nelson.

Round 3

Ding likely needs a finish entering the third round. Nelson circles
and feints. Ding fires a few punches upstairs, lands a left hook to
the body and cuts off an attempted takedown. They engage in the
clinch, then separate. Ding paws with his jab and connects with a
spinning back kick to the body. Nelson shoots on a takedown and
goes nowhere. Ding sprawls and cuts off another attempted takedown,
then braces himself on the fence. Nelson stays glued to him. Ding
turns him into the cage and lands knees to the legs and an elbow on
the break. Sharp one-two from Ding, as they clinch again. Two
minutes to go. Ding doubles up on left hooks to the body. Nelson
whiffs on another takedown try. Ding sprawls again and forces a
tie-up. Nelson’s efforts finally pay off with a takedown in the
final minute, then settles in half guard. Ding tries to rise but
gives up side control. Nelson finishes in top position. 10-9 Ding
(29-28 Nelson)

The Official Result

Cameron Nelson def. Meng Ding—Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28,
29-28)

Jingnan
Xiong (117: Missed Weight) vs.
Julia
Polastri (118.5: Missed Weight)

Round 1

Attention at UFC Shanghai now shifts to the women’s strawweight
division, where Xiong (19-3, 0-1 UFC) awaits Polastri (14-6, 2-3
UFC) at 115 pounds. Steve Perceval adjudicates matters. They touch
gloves, and off they go. Xiong takes the center and greets the
former LFA champion with a low kick. Polastri responds with a heavy
kick to the body. Xiong shoots a one-two to the body. They trade
lefts upstairs. Xiong fires hooks to the body with both hands and
lands a spinning back kick to the midsection, then gets her jab in
gear. Polastri connects with a multi-strike volley punctuated by a
body kick. Midway through the round. Polastri stalks from the
center, snatches the collar tie and fires off multiple knees.

Xiong throws out a series of punches but leaves her hands low.
Polastri capitalizes with a brutal head kick that turns out the
lights and sends her countepart to another dimension on
impact. No follow-up shots required.

The Official Result

Julia Polastri def. Jingnan Xiong—KO (Head Kick) 3:06 R1

Lawrence
Lui (135.5) vs. Hector
Santiago (135)

Round 1

Next on the UFC Shanghai docket: a bantamweight tilt pitting Lui
(8-1, 0-0 UFC) against Santiago (6-1, 0-0 UFC) at 135 pounds. Vitor
Ribeiro provides the oversight. No glove touch. Lui flips out a
front kick, misses and resets. Santiago plods forward with an
overhand right and backs the City Kickboxing rep to the fence with
jabs and body blows. More jabs from the Brazilian. Lui answers with
a low kick. Santiago stays busy with punching combinations. Lui a
little out of sorts to start. Santiago jabs, then sneaks in a right
hook to the head. Strong low kick from Lui. Halfway home in the
first round. Thudding left hook to the body from Santiago followed
by heavy punches to the body. Lui playing with fire trading on the
feet. Sharp one-two from Santiago, who rests and fires off a
straight right. Lui scores with a low kick, then eats a left hook
upstairs. He connects with a right hand over the top. Santiago rips
punches to the body and head, resets and lands a jab before the
round concludes. 10-9 Santiago.

Round 2

Lui emerges for the middle stanza with a small cut and significant
swelling under his right eye. Santiago greets him with a one-two,
then looks to counter a jab with an overhand right. Lui sneaks in
an overhand right. Another multi-punch volley from Santiago.

Lui retreats and hits the deck on the end of a surgical straight
right. Santiago follows up with a series of standing-to-ground
rights on his prone counterpart, leaving Perceval no choice but to
intervene.

The Official Result

Hector Santiago def. Lawrence Lui—KO (Punches) 0:53 R2

Jack
Jenkins (145) vs. Sean
Woodson (145)

Round 1

Featherweights step into the UFC Shanghai spotlight for the first
time, as Jenkins (14-4, 4-2 UFC) collides with Woodson (13-2-1,
7-2-1 UFC), an opponent who holds a 10-inch reach advantage, at 145
pounds. Marc administers the law and order. No glove touch. Woodson
starts with kicks to the lead leg and body, then flicks out his
jab. He counters a low kick from Jenkins with an overhand right.
Woodson switches stances and gets back to his jab. Jenkins ducks in
with a left hook and a left uppercut but allows his counterpart to
circle off the cage into open space. More jabs from Woodson. They
trade leg kicks. Midway through the round. Quick burst of power
punches from Jenkins. Woodson answers with his jab, a front kick to
the body and a low kick. He follows a straight right with a left
hook and another leg kick. Jenkins pins him to the fence with
punches, only to once again let him off the hook. Sharp one-two
from Woodson, who follows with a jab and a body kick. He sits down
an off-balance Jenkins with a one-two. Woodson stalks from the
center and lands a left hook. Jenkins answers with a right
upstairs. Woodson then follows a knee up the middle with the left
hook in the closing seconds. 10-9 Woodson

Round 2

Round 2 is underway, as this tactical battle continues to take
shape. Woodson scores with a low kick, then ducks the return fire.
Jenkins shoots on a takedown attempt, only to be stood up in the
clinch. Woodson sweeps him off his feet with a low kick and dives
into side control. Not where Jenkins wants to be in this one.
Woodson frames a brabo choke, bails on it and gets swept. Jenkins
moves behind him and sets both hooks. He immediately threatens the
neck. Woodson hides his chin and trades short punches. Jenkins
transitions to top position and goes to work in half guard. One
minute to go. Jenkins stays busy with left hands but allows his
opponent to reclaim full guard. More punches from Jenkins. Woodson
builds a base and gets to his feet with 20 seconds left. They
clinch along the fence in the waning moments. 10-9 Jenkins

Round 3

Could be a round apiece here. Jenkins open with power punches in
combination. Woodson answers with a volley of his own. They trade
low kicks. Woodson scores with his jab. Jenkins fires two low
kicks. Jenkins plows forward and connects with a left hook. Woodson
circles out and lands an overhand right. Jenkins continues to
attack the lead leg with kicks. Woodson fires back with punches to
the body and a front kick to the midsection. They trade in close
quarters. Jenkins shoots on the hips and clinches along the fence,
then lands punches on the break. Inside leg kick from Jenkins.
Woodson answers with an overhand right. Jenkins finds a home with a
slapping head kick, then unleashes a three-punch combination to the
body and head. He shoots again and drives Woodson into the fence
with less than a minute left in the bout. Jenkins stays glued to
his hips, separates with punches and shoots again. Woodson counters
with elbows to the side of the head. They separate and exchange
until the bell sounds. 10-9 Jenkins (29-28 Jenkins)

The Official Result

Sean Woodson def. Jack Jenkins—Split Decision (29-28, 28-29,
29-28)

Kevin
Borjas (126) vs. Rei Tsuruya
(125)

Round 1

They keep the UFC Shanghai line moving via a flyweight scrap
matching Borjas (11-5, 2-4 UFC) with Tsuruya (11-1, 2-1 UFC) at 125
pounds. Wynne draws the officiating assignment. Tsuruya touches
gloves and shoots on a takedown. Borjas defends and braces himself
on the fence. Tsuruya settles into the clinch and drives into a
takedown, landing in half guard. He works punches to the body,
postures and drops elbows. Borjas moves to a seated position at the
base of the cage. Tsuruya puts his back on the mat and unleashes
more ground-and-pound. He increases the intensity and frequency of
his punches with an extended burst. Two minutes to go. Tsuruya
grapevines the legs with Borjas again in a seated position. Punches
follow. Borjas gets back to his feet.
Tsuruya sneaks behind him and secures another takedown. He attacks
the neck, weaves his arms into place and forces the tap with a
rear-naked choke.

The Official Result

Rei Tsuruya def. Kevin Borjas—Submission (Rear-Naked Choke) 4:14
R1

Namsrai
Batbayar (126) vs. Andre Lima
(127: Missed Weight)

Round 1

Once-beaten flyweights close out the UFC Shanghai prelims, as
Batbayar (10-1, 0-0 UFC) does battle with Lima (11-1, 4-1 UFC) at
125 pounds. Perceval calls the figurative balls and strikes. Off
they go. Lima takes the center. Batbayar fires a body kick and
circles on the outside. Lots of feints from Lima, who lands a low
kick. Another low kick from Lima. Batbayar lands a kick south of
the equator, resulting in a pause to the action. Perceval issues
the warning, then restarts the action. Push kick to the body from
Batbayar. Lima presses forward, eats a low kick and cuts loose with
a one-two. Batbayar doubles up on low kicks. Lima answers with a
thudding overhand right. He presses forward and keeps Batbayar on
his heels. They trade low kicks. Lima sticks him with a punishing
jab and a hard leg kick, then another. Batbayar in a constant state
of retreat here. Lima connects with a brutal body kick and dodges
the return fire. Another jab from Lima. Thirty seconds to go. Lima
continues to apply pressure and forces Batbayar to circle in the
closing seconds. 10-9 Lima

Round 2

Lima steps forward for Round 2 and eats a body kick. Hard low kick
from Batbayar, who crashes forward with an overhand right and
flurries. Lima lands a low kick, shrugs off an attempted clinch and
complains about an eye poke. He elects to continue without a break.
Batbayar lands a left hook. They trade low kicks and exchange
punches upstairs. Batbayar swings wildly and misses. Thudding
one-two from Lima gives the Mongolian pause. He answers a low kick
with two overhand rights and a jab. Batbayar whiffs on a wheel
kick, then turns to his jab. Lima attacks the body and lead leg
with kicks, all while keeping his opponent’s back to the fence.
Inside leg kick from Batbayar. Ninety seconds on the clock. More
pressure from Lima, who lands a body kick. Batbayar blocks a high
kick, drawing oohs and aahs from the crowd. Nice jab from Lima, who
backs it up with two body kicks. Batbayar still in a state of
retreat, though he was far more competitive in this round. 10-9
Lima

Round 3

Batbayar may need a finish to save his six-fight winning streak.
Perceval beckons them forward. Batbayar lands an inside leg kick
and a right hand over the top. Lima moves forward, lands a body
kick and then goes low with a kick. Batbayar answers with a kick to
the lower lead leg. He shoots on a takedown attempt, separates and
connects with hooks from both hands. Action slows. Lima attacks
with another leg kick, ducks the return fire and scores with his
jab. Halfway home in the last round.
Batbayar lands a few leg kicks and whiffs on an overhand left that
leaves him out of position. Lima bites down on a guillotine, wraps
the Mongolian in full guard, rolls into full mount, readjusts his
grip and prompts the tap.

The Official Result

Andre Lima def. Namsrai Batbayar—Submission (Guillotine Choke) 3:03
R3

Bilal Hasan
(124.5) vs. Nilson
Rojas (124.5)

Round 1

Undefeated flyweights light the fuse for the UFC Shanghai main
card, as Hasan (9-0, 0-0 UFC) puts Rojas (9-0, 0-0 UFC) to the test
at 125 pounds. Ribeiro polices the proceedings. No glove touch.
Hasan plows ahead behind a series of kicks, many of them directed
at the lead leg. He lands a one-two and follows it with a head
kick. Hasan connects with a counter right hand over the top and
wobbles his opponent. A front kick to the body draws visible
reaction from Rojas, who covers his midsection and retreats. They
clinch in the center of the cage, a position from which Hasan
secures a takedown. He postures and punches with incredible
accuracy. Hasan moves behind his counterpart, who is leaking blood
from the nose. Rojas gets to his feet but eats a knee on the way
up. He lands a jab. Hasan stays calm under duress and rolls into a
right hand over the top. Significant damage accumulation on Rojas’
face. Two more body kicks from Hasan. Rojas answers and knocks
Hasan off-balance with a clubbing right, then sneaks in two jabs.
They clinch. Rojas connects with an elbow. Hasan answers with knees
from the clinch as the round concludes. 10-9 Hasan

Round 2

Ribeiro gives them the green light for Round 2. Hasan opens with a
low kick and a jumping switch kick. Rojas plods forward and blocks
a head kick. Rojas sits down Hasan push kick to the chest. Hasan
gets back to his feet and shows no real signs of being hurt. Rojas
shoots a straight right to the body. Hasan gets back to his kicks,
then unleashes hooks from both hands. Blood continues to stream
from Rojas’ nose. Rojas closes the distance and cracks his opponent
with power punches to the body and head.
Just as it seems as if Rojas may be turning the tide, Hasan
connects with a devastating right hand over the top. He follows
with a standing-to-ground left before Ribeiro can arrive to cordon
off the scene.

The Official Result

Bilal Hasan def. Nilson Rojas—KO (Punch) 2:28 R2

Ce
Liu (206) vs. Levi
Rodrigues (206)

Round 1

UFC Shanghai now puts light heavyweights under the microscope, as
Liu (3-1, 0-0 UFC) takes on Rodrigues (5-1, 0-1 UFC) at 205 pounds.
Dean adjudicates matters. They touch gloves and proceed with
hand-to-hand combat. Hard low kick from Liu. Rodrigues cuts loose
with power punches but continues to absorb kicks to his lower
extremities. Liu jabs at the body and connects with a punishing
body kick. Sharp one-two from Rodrigues sets off an exchange
between the two light heavyweights. Liu doubles up on his jab and
follows with a body kick. Rodrigues shoots and presses the Chinese
kickboxer into the fence. Liu answers with elbows to the side of
the head. Rodrigues lands a right hand on the break. Liu follows an
overhand right with a low kick. Rodrigues responds with a one-two.
Stiff jabs from Liu. He decks Rodrigues with an overhand right. The
Brazilian gets back to his feet but remains badly hurt. Liu doubles
up on his jab, follows with a right hand and unloads with power
punches along the fence. Rodrigues somehow fires back but eats
another right hand over the top.
They exchange, and Liu flips the switch with a savage right hook
that leaves Rodrigues facedown and unconscious on the
mat.

The Official Result

Ce Liu def. Levi Rodrigues—KO (Punch) 4:26 R1

Su
Mudaerji (125) vs. Alex Perez
(126)

Round 1

Next on the UFC Shanghai lineup: a flyweight rematch slotting
Mudaerji (19-7, 6-4 UFC) opposite Perez (26-10, 8-6 UFC) at 125
pounds. Goddard provides the oversight. They touch gloves out of
respect and throw the bout into gear. Mudaerji greets the
Californian with a pair of body kicks. Perez answers with a right
hand. They circle each other in the center of the cage. Perez
blitzes forward with punches. Mudaerji scores with an inside leg
kick, then feints from his southpaw stance. Stabbing front kick to
the body from the Tibetan, who backs it up with another inside leg
kick. Perez connects with a low kick. Mudaerji knocks down the
Colin Oyama disciple with an inside leg kick. Perez gets back to
his feet but will need to address the attack on his lower
extremities. He shoots and secures a takedown. Mudaerji counters
with a guillotine but bails on the choke and drops a few elbows to
the side of the head. Stalemate ensues, as Mudaerji has effectively
neutralized the American on the ground. Perez stands and punches at
the bell. 10-9 Mudaerji

Round 2

Back to work in the middle stanza. Mudaerji sticks his opponent
with a jab, then fires a straight left to the body. Perez punches
into an overhand right. Mudaerji resumes his attack on the leg with
kicks. More jabs from Mudaerji followed by inside leg kicks. Perez
ducks into a takedown and completes it. Mudaerji scoots to a seated
position at the base of the cage and gets back to his feet. Perez
slams him back to the canvas and pairs the takedown with right
hands. Mudaerji again stands. He manages to separate and floats
into open space. Another inside leg kick from Mudaerji. Perez nails
down his latest takedown and sets up in full guard. From there, he
knees the glute and lands short punches to the head. Ninety seconds
to go. Action slows, and the fans boo. Perez mixes punches with
elbows, none of them particularly damaging. He stays busy enough to
avoid a restart, adding some hammerfists to the equation near the
end of the round. 10-9 Perez

Round 3

Outcome still in doubt entering the final five minutes. They paw
with their lead hands. Inside leg kick from Mudaerji followed by
another. He lands repeated jabs and keeps Perez at bay. Perez eats
a knee but changes levels and shoots on a takedown attempt.
Mudaerji denies it and braces himself against the fence. Perez
clinches and lands a few hammerfists to the thigh before they
separate. Back in open space, Mudaerji gets back on his jab and
connects with a front kick to the body. Perez shoots but again goes
nowhere. They clinch along the fence, with Goddard hovering nearby
asking for more action. Mudaerji sneaks in a knee at close range.
Perez makes a pass at a single-leg, only to be stymied once more.
Mudaerji sneaks behind the California, rolls into top position,
wins the scramble and gets to his feet. Multi-punch combination
from Mudaerji. Perez ducks in on a single-leg but cannot secure a
takedown. Mudaerji whiffs on a flying knee and a spinning wheel
kick as the fight ends. 10-9 Mudaerji (29-28 Mudaerji)

The Official Result

Su Mudaerji def. Alex Perez—Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28,
29-28)

Kai
Asakura (135.5) vs. Qileng Aori
(135.5)

Round 1

Business at UFC Shanghai picks up with a bantamweight showcase
pairing Asakura (22-6, 1-2 UFC) with Aori (26-13, 4-5 UFC) at 135
pounds. Ribeiro steps in as the third man in the cage. Aori takes
the center of the cage at the start. Asakura circles to his right,
paws with his lead hand and scores with an inside leg kick. Not
much action through the first minute. Aori lands a right hand over
the top. Asakura follows his jab into a beautiful left hook to the
body. They trade right hands in a quick burst of violence. Strong
leg kick from Asakura, then another. Aori drives a front kick into
the Japanese star’s midsection. Eye poke from Asakura results in a
pause to the action. Aori indicates he is ready to go. He
reintroduces himself to Asakura with an inside leg kick. They trade
right hands again. Body kick from Asakura. Aori sprawls on an
attempted takedown, leading to a clinch against the fence. They
bleed off the remaining time in a chest-to-chest standoff. 10-9
Asakura

Round 2

Ribeiro welcomes them back to action to start Round 2. Front kick
to the body from Aori. Asakura answers with a right hand to the
body and an overhand left.
He staggers Aori with a head kick, swarms with punches and drives
him to the mat in a defensive shell. Asakura then blasts him with
knees to the body and punches, forcing Ribeiro to
act.

The Official Result

Kai Asakura def. Qileng Aori—TKO (Head Kick and Punches) 0:34
R2

Denise
Gomes (115) vs. Xiaonan Yan
(115.5)

Round 1

UFC Shanghai has arrived at its women’s strawweight co-main event,
where Gomes (12-3, 6-2 UFC) sets her sights on Yan (19-5, 9-4 UFC)
at 115 pounds. Dean administers the law and order. The ranked
contenders greet each other in the center of the cage, no glove
touch needed. Yan opens with low kicks. Gomes switches stances,
feints and throws an inside leg kick. Yan targeting the body with
side kicks. Gomes graces the Chinese vet with a head kick, then
swarms with power punches. Yan retreats and resets. They trade leg
kicks before Yan swarms with punches. Gomes wobbles her with an
overhand right and follows up with more punches, then resets when
it becomes clear a finish is not yet in the offing. Yan counters
with hooks from both hands. She now turns to her jab and lands an
overhand right of her own. Side kicks to the leg from Yan, who
cracks with Brazilian with another right over the top. Gomes
connects with an overhand right, gives chase and jabs. Yan meets
her with punches upstairs. They clinch and trade at close range.

Gomes blasts the former title challenger with a crushing right
elbow in the center of the cage. Yan, with less than 20 seconds
left in the round, drops to her knees and eats more power punches
in a stunning stoppage. The pro-Yan crowd responds with an eerie
hush.

The Official Result

Denise Gomes def. Xiaonan Yan—KO (Elbow and Punches) 4:49 R1

Umar
Nurmagomedov (135.5) vs. Yadong Song
(136)

Round 1

Bantamweights tie a bow on UFC Shanghai in the five-round
headliner, as Nurmagomedov (20-1, 8-1 UFC) zeroes in on Song
(23-9-1, 12-4-1 UFC) at 135 pounds. Goddard steps in as the third
man in the cage. He issues the final instructions and clears the
main event to proceed. Nurmagomedov steps out with a leg kick and
circles on the perimeter. Song answers another low kick with an
overhand right. Slow start for both men. Nurmagomedov shoots on a
double-leg and secures a takedown. Song tries to counter with a
guillotine but thinks better of it and looks to mount his defense
from full guard. Nurmagomedov slides to half guard and starts to
initiate some ground-and-pound. Two minutes to go. Punches and
elbows flow from the Russian. Song sets off a scramble and escapes
to his feet. Nurmagomedov probes with his jab. Song targets the
body with a right hand. Nurmagomedov shoves the Team Alpha Male rep
to the mat, then allows him to get up. No action over the final 10
seconds. 10-9 Nurmagomedov

Round 2

They set sail for Round 2. Hard inside low kick from Nurmagomedov.
Song paws with his lead hand and sneaks in a body kick. He blocks a
high kick from Nurmagomedov, who shoots but runs into a sprawl.
Song keeps it standing. Slapping head kick lands for Nurmagomedov,
who steps into a straight right. They clash heads, resulting in a
serious cut above Song’s right eyelid.
Song clips the favorite with a crushing right uppercut behind the
ear out of nowhere. He pounces with follow-up punches and
hammerfists on the already-unconscious Nurmagomedov.
Fans in attendance lose their minds, and roar their approval.
Amazing stuff from the native son.

The Official Result

Yadong Song def. Umar Nurmagomedov—KO (Punch) 1:48 R2