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The UFC makes its third-ever trip to Shanghai for UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs. Song early Saturday morning. The 13-fight card is headlined by China’s own Song Yadong, who takes on Umar Nurmagomedov in a five-round bantamweight main event. The prelims begin at 3 a.m. ET, with the main card scheduled for 6 a.m. ET. Saturday’s event marks the UFC’s first trip to China since last August.
Yadong will look to take down his Russian opponent, who arrives with a 20-1 professional record. Nurmagomedov is the division’s second-ranked contender, having won his last two fights since losing to former champion Merab Dvalishvili in a title bout back in January 2025. He now faces Yadong, the sixth-ranked bantamweight, who has gone 12-5 since joining the UFC in 2017.
Beyond the main event, Saturday’s card features 11 fighters from China and surrounding Asian nations. Fourth-ranked strawweight Yan Xiaonan returns to the octagon after more than a year away to face Denise Gomes in the co-main event. Both the main and co-main event feature former title challengers who could be in line for another shot at the belt with a win on Saturday.
With that context in mind, here are the best props on the card and the fighters worth targeting in your DFS lineup at UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs. Song.
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UFC Fight Night Nurmagomedov vs. Song Best Prop Picks
Aoriqileng vs. Kai Asakura – Kai Asakura to Win by KO/TKO/DQ in Round 1 (+200)
After years of dominance in Rizin FF, Kai Asakura joined the UFC and was immediately handed a title shot against former flyweight champion Alejandro Pantoja on debut. He was submitted in the second round and suffered another submission loss to Tim Elliot in his next outing. Asakura finally justified the hype surrounding him when he knocked out Cameron Smotherman back in May.
He should enter Saturday’s fight with significantly more confidence following his first UFC victory. Asakura is a significant favorite against veteran opponent Aoriqileng, who was knocked out in his most recent fight. Look for Asakura to add to his 14 career knockouts and build on his momentum with a quick finish — nine of those 14 KO wins have come in the opening round.
Alex Perez vs. Sumudaerji – Sumudaerji To Win And Over 1.5 Total Rounds (-105)
These two met back in May in a fight that ended in a no contest after a low blow in the second round left Perez unable to continue. Tibetan native Sumudaerji appeared well on his way to victory in the eight or so minutes we saw, and Saturday gives him the opportunity to get the result his performance deserved. Before that no-contest, he had won three straight by decision and was heading toward a fourth before the incident.
The first Tibetan fighter in UFC history has mastered the use of his height and reach advantages over most flyweight opponents, keeping himself out of danger with strikes from distance while accumulating points. He has struggled to replicate the knockout power he showed before joining the UFC and has since won the majority of his bouts by decision. Sumudaerji comes in with five of his six UFC wins coming via decision and just one by knockout during his time in the promotion.
Rei Tsuruya vs. Kevin Borjas – Under 1.5 Total Rounds (+120)
Exciting Japanese prospect Rei Tsuruya returns to the octagon after an electric performance back in May. The 24-year-old has now won two of his three UFC fights, most recently via first-round submission, pushing his finish rate to 81.8% heading into Saturday. He enters as the card’s biggest favorite at -850 against Kevin Borjas, a striker who could struggle significantly with Tsuruya’s well-rounded game.
Tsuruya began his professional career with seven consecutive wins by knockout or submission and appears to be back at his best based on his May showing. His Peruvian opponent has had a difficult time in the UFC, having picked up just his second promotional victory in six career fights. Look for Tsuruya to engage on the feet before finding his opening to take the fight to the ground and showcase his elite submission game once again.
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Saturday’s UFC Fight Night: Nurmagomedov vs. Song DFS Picks
- Y. Song – $6,700
- K. Asakura – $9,400
- Y. Xiaonan – $8,500
- S. Sumudaerji – $8,800
- A. Lima – $9,000
- F. Nuzzi – $7,600
Yadong Song ($6,700)
Our DFS lineup for Saturday is headlined by Yadong, who comes in at the low price of $6,700 despite having competed well against some of the division’s top fighters in recent outings. Nurmagomedov is the overwhelming betting favorite given his clear grappling advantage, but that does not mean Yadong cannot have his moments in what is expected to be a competitive five-round affair.
Yadong arrives with 13 career finishes and is no pushover on the ground either, with four submission wins of his own. Even if his Russian opponent wins via ground control, Yadong should still generate striking output and carries the power to end the fight if the right opportunity presents itself. A fighter of his caliber at this price is nearly unheard of and could pay major dividends depending on how the main event plays out.
Kai Asakura ($9,400)
Asakura is the second fighter in our Saturday lineup, and for many of the same reasons discussed in our best props section. The Japanese striker finally showed why the UFC coveted him so highly back in May, and a second straight impressive victory could slingshot the former title challenger back toward the top of the flyweight rankings. His blend of power, precision, and pace causes problems for many opponents, and Aoriqileng looks set to be the next victim on Saturday morning.
Yan Xiaonan ($8,500)
Yan Xiaonan will look to pick up a big win in front of her home country after such a lengthy absence from the octagon. The veteran strawweight holds a significant height and reach advantage over her Brazilian opponent, who arrives on a four-fight winning streak dating back to 2024. Xiaonan will need to manage the danger posed by Gomes, who has seven career knockout victories. Look for the experienced Chinese fighter to respect the power coming back at her and focus on control and striking from distance to secure a statement win in the co-main event.
Sumudaerji ($8,800)
We touched on Sumudaerji and his chance to right a wrong from May when he rematches Alex Perez this weekend. The Tibetan native had dominated his previous three opponents and had Perez in trouble before the low blow that brought the first fight to a premature end. Expect Sumudaerji to channel that frustration into a focused, disciplined performance, racking up significant strikes on his way to a decision victory — much as he appeared to be doing when the two first met.
Andre Lima ($9,000)
André Lima has the chance to bounce back from a difficult decision loss in his last fight despite entering as a heavy favorite. That defeat in May was the first of his professional career, and he now faces Namsrai Batbayar — a Mongolian UFC debutant with just one career loss and a 100% finish rate across 10 professional victories. Lima will need to use his kickboxing background to manage the distance and take advantage of his three-inch height edge. Expect the Brazilian to respond emphatically in this one.
Francesco Nuzzi ($7,600)
Francesco Nuzzi rounds out our lineup, offering solid value at his price point despite being undersized for the bantamweight division. Nuzzi makes his UFC debut with an 11-2 record and has proven to be a versatile finisher despite his stature. He faces Xiao Long, who enters as a slight betting favorite despite losing three of his last four fights, including back-to-back unanimous decision defeats. Nuzzi has the unorthodox style and unexpected power for a 5’3″ bantamweight to pull off the upset. Regardless of the result, the Italian should more than justify his price tag in his UFC debut on Saturday.
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