Lawrence Lui Makes UFC Debut at Shanghai After Three Opponents Fall Through

By Huzaifa Zahoor

August 28, 2026

11:42 PM

3 min read

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Key Points

Lawrence Lui makes his official UFC debut on August 29 at Shanghai Oriental Sports Center.

Three previous opponents withdrew before Hector Santiago accepted the short-notice fight.

Lui enters favored at -285 odds with a grappling-heavy style versus Santiago's striking background.

Both fighters made weight on August 27 at the official weigh-ins.

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Lawrence Lui is finally stepping into the octagon for his official UFC debut on August 29 at UFC Shanghai, facing Hector Santiago in a bantamweight preliminary bout. The New Zealand fighter’s path to this moment has been unusual: three previous opponents withdrew before Santiago agreed to the matchup. Lui enters as the betting favorite at -285 odds after winning his Road to UFC tournament last year and earning a promotional contract.

The long road to Shanghai

Lui’s journey to UFC Shanghai has been marked by repeated setbacks. After winning the Road to UFC tournament in 2025 by defeating Qinghe Zhang and Van Y Nghiem, he made his official promotional debut earlier this year against Sulangrangbo, securing a split decision win. Three scheduled opponents for this Shanghai card withdrew before Santiago, a former WAKO kickboxing world champion, stepped in on short notice.

Santiago brings striking pedigree

Hector Santiago transitioned to MMA in 2024 after winning a WAKO kickboxing world title. He has compiled a 6-1 record with wins over Pedro Freitas, Pedro Sousa, Thiago Santos, Mateus Sales, Fernando Henrique, and Paulo Nogueira. Despite his striking background, analysts predict Lui’s grappling will control the fight, with Santiago vulnerable in clinches and takedown situations.

Lui favored despite opponent uncertainty

Lui enters as a clear betting favorite at -285 odds, with Santiago at +225. Both fighters made weight on August 27, with Lui at 135.5 pounds and Santiago at 135 pounds. The bantamweight bout is scheduled for the preliminary card ahead of the main event featuring Umar Nurmagomedov versus Song Yadong.

Kiwi contingent in Shanghai

Lui is not alone representing New Zealand at UFC Shanghai. Fellow Kiwi Kasib Murdoch competed in the Road to UFC Season 5 semifinal on August 28, where he lost to Nepal’s Rabindra Dhant on points. The loss ended Murdoch’s undefeated record and his bid for a UFC contract through the tournament.

Final Thoughts

Lui’s UFC debut comes after a frustrating series of opponent withdrawals, but he enters as a clear favorite with his grappling edge over Santiago. The New Zealand bantamweight’s path from Road to UFC champion to official roster member has finally reached its destination in Shanghai.

FAQs

Why did Lawrence Lui’s previous UFC Shanghai opponents withdraw?

The research context does not specify the reasons for the three withdrawals. Santiago stepped in on short notice as the fourth scheduled opponent.

What is Lawrence Lui’s record before his UFC Shanghai debut?

Lui won the Road to UFC tournament in 2025 by defeating Qinghe Zhang and Van Y Nghiem, then earned a split decision victory against Sulangrangbo in his promotional debut earlier this year.

What are the betting odds for Lui versus Santiago?

Lawrence Lui is favored at -285 odds, while Hector Santiago is the underdog at +225 odds for the August 29 bantamweight bout.

How did Hector Santiago prepare for MMA before this fight?

Santiago was a WAKO kickboxing world champion before transitioning to MMA in 2024, compiling a 6-1 professional record with five consecutive wins.

Disclaimer:
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About Author

Huzaifa Zahoor

Co Founder

Huzaifa Zahoor is the engineer who built Meyka. He has spent years writing Python, training AI models, and building data pipelines specifically for financial markets. His technical articles have reached over 30,000 readers on Medium, so he knows how to make complex things easy to follow. If this article touches on how the tools work, he is the person who actually built them.