Hector Santiago debuts at UFC Shanghai hoping to once again share card with Alex Pereira

Hector Santiago Debuts at UFC Shanghai, Aims to Share Card with Alex Pereira

Veteran welter‑weight Hector Santiago is set to make his long‑awaited UFC debut at UFC Shanghai on September 12, 2026. The 33‑year‑old Brazilian, a former Bellator contender with a 22‑5 record, will step into the Octagon for the first time under the UFC banner, hoping to do so on the same night as former two‑division champion Alex Pereira.

Santiago, who spent the past three years competing in regional promotions across South America and Asia, signed a multi‑fight deal with the UFC earlier this summer. “Shanghai has been a dream destination for me,” Santiago said in a pre‑fight press conference on August 27. “Sharing the card with Alex Pereira, a fighter I’ve admired since his kickboxing days, would be the perfect way to introduce myself to the UFC audience.”

Alex Pereira is slated to headline the event against rising star Jared “The Hammer” Lawson, a bout that has already generated significant buzz in the MMA community. Pereira’s return to the welter‑weight division follows a successful run at middleweight, where he captured the title in 2024 before moving down to challenge new opponents.

The UFC Shanghai card, the promotion’s first major event in mainland China since 2024, will be held at the state‑of‑the‑art Shanghai International Gymnasium. The organization is positioning the fight night as a showcase of international talent, with a blend of established stars and fresh faces.

• Main Event: Alex Pereira vs. Jared Lawson (Welterweight)
• Co‑Main Event: Zhang Wei vs. Carlos Mendes (Featherweight)
• Featured Fight: Hector Santiago vs. Liu “Dragon” Chen (Welterweight debut)
• Other notable matchups include:
  • Yara Silva vs. Mei Lin (Strawweight)
  • Marcus “The Bull” Ortiz vs. Hiro Tanaka (Light Heavyweight)

Santiago’s opponent, local favorite Liu “Dragon” Chen, holds a 15‑3 record and is known for his aggressive striking. The bout will test Santiago’s ability to adapt his grappling‑heavy style against a fast‑paced Chinese striker.

Tickets for UFC Shanghai go on sale tomorrow, with early‑bird pricing available through the official UFC app. Fans worldwide can also stream the event via UFC Fight Pass, scheduled to start at 10:00 p.m. UTC.

Should Santiago’s debut prove successful, the UFC has hinted at a possible matchup against Pereira later in the year, potentially setting up a high‑profile welter‑weight showdown that could reshape the division’s rankings.