Featherweights Kaan Ofli and Yi Zha faced off on the UFC 325 prelims on Saturday, following three Road to UFC 4 tournament finals.
An Ultimate Fighter finalist in Season 32, Australia’s Ofli was looking for his second victory inside the octagon. Zha, who had made multiple Road to UFC appearances, was also looking to secure his second win in the promotion.
Ofli put the pressure on early in the fight, taking Zha to the cage and taking him down. Yi Zha reversed, but Ofli scrambled free, and soon found himself back on top. The fight wouldn’t stay grounded, and Ofli was able to pressure again, finally cracking Zha with a right hand with all of 90 seconds left on the clock. Zha was stopped in his tracks, but didn’t go down, somehow surviving the sledgehammer blow. Later in the round, Zha would let his own power show, hurting Ofli.
Round two saw Ofli on the hunt, but it was Yi Zha sitting him down with a left hook all of 30 seconds in. Zha made the mistake of engaging with Ofli on the ground, though they’d get back up, Ofli clearly compromised, on wobbly legs and taking more damage. Ofli ripped a kick to the body, but Zha caught it and dumped him; as Ofli came back up, Zha cracked him with an elbow.
Ofli did survive, but he continued to take damage as the round progressed. Kaan would shoot a takedown out of desperation in the second, buying himself some time, but he couldn’t complete it. Soon enough, Zha had broken free. A right hook smashed into Ofli’s face. But he’d make it to the horn.
Round three saw Ofli rip the body with a kick. He briefly flashed a level change, but thought better of it. Zha landed a right hand. A much more closely contested round, and one in which Ofli may or may not have needed a finish. Certainly round two was Zha’s. Round one was very possibly Ofli’s, but could the second have been a 10-8? Late in the third, Zha landed a takedown. Ofli escaped, and connected with an elbow in the clinch. Another takedown for Zha followed; he briefly took the back. They’d fight to the horn, with Ofli getting the nod on the scorecards. Something of a surprise, given Zha’s takedowns in the third.
The outcome led to immediate criticism, both from the UFC’s broadcast team, and from fans online feeling Zha had been robbed. As always, don’t leave it in the hands of the judges.
Official Result: Kaan Ofli def. Yi Zha by majority decision (29-28, 28-28, 29-28)
