Road to UFC Season 4: Episode 2 Breakdown and Predictions

Featherweight, Yoon Chang Min (7-2-1) vs. Jin Aoi (14-5-1)

Yoon Chang Min

I really like Min as a fighter. He’s skilled, entertaining, and always brings excitement whether he wins or loses. He’s got a diverse skill set and the tools to potentially thrive in the UFC. The biggest thing holding him back, though, is his defensive liability on the feet. He’s been tagged in several fights, finished before, and even knocked out cold.

Early in his career, his grappling was the stronger area compared to his striking. While he’s not a complete grappler, he’s certainly a dangerous one—he’s got solid ground-and-pound and more submission wins than anything else. He transitions well, controls position effectively, and knows how to attack from top control.

On the feet, Min can be either the hammer or the nail. Despite having just one win by TKO, his striking still shows flashes; he’s got a clean one-two, a decent jab, and sharp leg kicks. He’s especially dangerous on the inside, where his explosiveness really shines. But that’s also where he tends to get caught most, as he’s been clipped often in the pocket during exchanges.

At range, he’s serviceable, but only when he’s initiating. When he lets his opponent go first, he’s way too hittable. If Min committed to a 70/30 grappling-heavy game plan, I think he’d be a favorite to win this whole tournament. Regardless, he’s a real threat to anyone in the bracket because of how dangerous he is everywhere.

Jin Aoi

Aoi is a seasoned veteran with nearly ten years in the game and twenty pro fights under his belt. That said, his résumé is thin; his only notable win is over Road to UFC alum Kouya Kanda, a fighter he also lost to. Most of his other losses have come against low-level competition.

Stylistically, Aoi is pretty basic across the board. He’ll flash moments where it looks like he might land something big, but most of his game is built around feints and low output. He does have solid leg kicks, but he’ll often spam them without any setup. No punches before or after, just repetitive kicks that become predictable.

One of his biggest issues is that he rarely dictates the pace. He constantly fights off the back foot, often finding himself with his back against the cage. While he’s improved his use of feints, they rarely lead to meaningful offense. It’s a lot of posturing with very little follow-through, which makes him a frustrating fighter to watch.

Prediction: This is a good matchup for Min to shine. Aoi has a number of KO/TKO wins, but it’s not due to heavy hands. He’s not a one-shot finisher, which plays into Min’s favor. On the feet, I give the edge to Min: he’s more active, throws better leg kicks, and is clearly the more explosive and powerful fighter.

I also have concerns about Aoi’s takedown defense. If Min leans into a wrestling-heavy approach, that’s the clearest and safest path to victory. He has the edge everywhere this fight could go. For Aoi, his best chance is landing something big— but that’s a long shot.

I’m picking Min by submission.