For three seasons now, the Road to UFC tournament has looked to produce some top talent for the promotion, focusing on rising Asian prospects. Essentially, the series serves as Asia’s answer to Dana White’s Contender Series, and The Ultimate Fighter, sort of a hybrid of both. Tournament format, like TUF, but focused on fighting, with no being cooped up in the TUF house.

Friday night’s Road to UFC installment, episode five, featured semifinal action in the flyweight and bantamweight divisions. In addition, a featured fight would see former Invicta FC champ Danni McCormack looking to win her way into the UFC opposite Yan Qihui.

Where to Watch Road to UFC 3 Episode 5

Friday, August 23, 2024 sees the Road to UFC continue at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The full card streams live on UFC Fight Pass. Full results can be found below. The action gets underway at 9PM ET, 5PM PT.

Road to UFC 3 Episode 5 Results

Bantamweight: Baergeng Jieleyisi def. Tokitaka Nakanishi by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – bantamweight semifinal
Flyweight: DongHun Choi def. Angad Bisht by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) – flyweight semifinal
Bantamweight: SuYoung You def. Daermisi Zhawupasi by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28) – bantamweight semifinal
Flyweight: Kiru Sahota def. Ruel Panales by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) – flyweight semifinal
Women’s Flyweight: Danni McCormack def. Yan Qihui by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-27) – featured bout

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Haven’t kept up with Road to UFC 3, which has unfortunately been a bit of an afterthought for the promotion at times? We’ve got you covered with our breakdown and predictions below.

Bantamweight, Tokitaka Nakanishi (12-3) vs. Balgyn Jenisuly (17-5)

Prediction: So much was unknown about Nakanishi prior to his last fight but we got a good look at him. The takeaway is he’s not much on the feet but a strong wrestler and grappler.

Jenisuly lost last season to a wrestler and he’s getting an even better one in Nakanishi. That said, Jenisuly is the better fighter and it’s not close. He’s a strong wrestler/grappler as well but also good on the feet. As long as he doesn’t let Nakanishi control him this is his fight to win. There is still a lot unknown with Nakanishi and the guy he beat in the opening round, he really should’ve finished that level of fighter. I like Jenisuly because he’s more tested and has more ways to win.

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On Sunday, May 19, 2024 Road to UFC Season Three Episode 3 continued this year’s tournament live from the UFC Performance Institute in Shanghai, China. In action, banamweights and featherweights on the men’s side, with two fights from each division featured, plus a spotlight bout outside of the tournament.

Where to Watch Road to UFC Season 3, Episode 3

Road to UFC 3, Episode 3 takes place at the UFC Performance Institute in Shanghai, China on Sunday, May 19, 2024. The event airs live on UFC Fight Pass; full results can be found below. The action gets underway at 6AM ET, 3AM PT.

Road to UFC Season 3, Ep. 3 Results

Bantamweight: Daermisi Zhawupasi def. Ren Ozaki by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – RTU Season 3 quarterfinal
Flyweight: Angad Bisht def. John Dave Almanza by TKO, Round 1, 3:39 – RTU Season 3 quarterfinal
Bantamweight: Yoo Soo-young def. Shohei Nose by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) – RTU Season 3 quarterfinal
Flyweight: Choi Dong-hoon def. Ji Niushiyue by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) – RTU Season 3 quarterfinal
Lightweight: Ki Won-bin def. Tatsuya Saika by KO, Round 2, 0:51

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We’ve got all the talent on the upcoming season scouted — here’s a look!

Bantamweight, Daermisi Zhawupasi vs. Ren Ozaki

Tale of the Tape

Pros and Cons

Prediction: Zhawupasi is one of the many returning fighters who deserve another opportunity. I’ve also really liked what I saw of Ozaki. He’s a really good striker who has the technique, speed, and power.

On the other end, Zhawupasi is a strong wrestler. From what I’ve seen Ozaki has defended all takedown attempts but Zhawupasi is a different beast. Zhawupasi is aggressive starting fast and can chain wrestle very well. We’ll see how good the defense of Ozaki really is. Ozaki didn’t have any glaring holes when watching him but there are a lot of unknowns surrounding him. I’m siding with Zhawupasi because I know he’s a good fighter and he’s going to bring it to a less-tested Ozaki.

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Who will make the final round? Read on! Road to UFC 2 Episode 6 takes place Sunday, August 27, 2023 airing at 6PM ET on UFC Fight Pass.

Lightweight, Bahatebole Batebolati Vs. Haraguchi Shin

Tale of the Tape

Pros and Cons

Prediction: Batebolati is only in this fight because he won by DQ. I will say he did look better than I was expecting. Saying that, he’s still a low-level fighter with not much to offer.

Shin got a layup in the first round and is getting another one here. Batebolati has poor takedown defense and that’s a nightmare to have again Shin. I would be surprised if Batebolati lasted a full five minutes.

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Episode 4 of the opening round goes down Saturday, May 28 starting at 8AM ET on UFC Fight Pass, and we’ve got a look at what to expect!

Lightweight, Bahatebole Batebolati Vs. Ki Won Bin

Tale of the Tape

Pros and Cons

Prediction: Bin was on the inaugural season of Road to UFC and lost in the second round. Batebolati was unknown until last year, which saw him fighting twice for LFA. He’s coming off a win but it’s a fight I thought he clearly lost. So he should be on a two-fight skid.

Batebolati doesn’t show anything to write home about. He has a decent gas tank but that’s fine when you are barely throwing anything. Bin is better in every area and I would be surprised if he lost this fight.

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