The UFC will once again provide a path for Asian prospects to enter the promotion, with Road to UFC Season 2 kicking off later this month.
May 27, 2023 will be the kick-off point for the tournament, which will once again see fighters across four weight classes looking to break into the UFC proper. Fights will be held at the UFC Performance Institute in Shanghai, China.
UFC officials announced the news on social media on Tuesday.
Fans who caught the original Road to UFC tournament should recognize some of the returning names, including Seung Guk Choi, who made it to the flyweight final in 2022 before falling to Hyun Sung Park.
Each installment of the tournament will, in addition to featuring four fights, feature a non-tournament bout. For Road to UFC Season 2 Episode 1, that will feature RIZIN Fighting Federation vet Top Noi taking on undefeated Mongolian Nyamjargal Tumenemberel.
The first two episodes of Road to UFC Season 2, taking place in Shanghai on May 27/28 (depending on your location) break down as follows:
Episode 1:
- Keisuke Sasu vs. Sang Won Kim
- Mark Climaco vs. Jung Hyun Lee
- Yi Zha vs. Wuziazibieke
- Rei Tsuruya vs. Ronal Siahaan
- Top Noi Kiwram vs. Nyamjargal Tumenemberel — non-tournament bout
Episode 2:
- Li Kaiwen vs. Lu Kai
- Sumit Kumar vs. Seung Guk Choi
- Yibugele vs. Koya Kanda
- Ji Niushiyue vs. Billy Pasulatan
- Taiylake Nueraji vs. Han Seul Kim — non-tournament bout
