Unfortunately, due to an injury to Xiao Long, the bantamweight finale featuring Long against Chang Ho Lee has been postponed. A new date has yet to be announced by the promotion.

In the meantime, the other three tournament finals were set to go down on Feb. 3, 2024 at the UFC Apex, following the UFC Vegas 85 Fight Night card. Those finals included one existing UFC alum, Zhu Rong, who was looking to reclaim a spot in the promotion after being released by the company in 2022 after posting a 1-2 record.

Unlike The Ultimate Fighter, all of the Road to UFC 2 fights count as professional MMA contests on the athletes’ records. The 8-man tournament has featured some of the top talents in Asia looking to break into the UFC.

Where to Watch Road to UFC 2

The tournament wraps up on Saturday, February 3, 2024 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The event streams live on UFC Fight Pass kicking off at 11:30PM ET, 8:30PM PT. Full results from the card can be found below.

Road to UFC 2 Final Results

Yi Zha def. Li Kai Wen via R1 SUB (Arm Bar), 3:03 — featherweight final
Rei Tsuruya def. Ji Niushiyue via R1 TKO, 4:59 — flyweight final
Rong Zhu def. Shin Haraguchi via R3 SUB (RNC)3:06 — lightweight final

The post Road to UFC 2 Final Full Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

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.

The post Road to UFC 2: Episode 6 Breakdown and Predictions appeared first on Cageside Press.

Let’s take a look at all five bouts on the card, which takes place on August 27, streaming live on UFC Fight Pass!

Featherweight, Li Kaiwen Vs. Kouya Kanda

Tale of the tape

Pros and Cons

Prediction: Kanada was underwhelming coming into the tournament and in his first fight he really didn’t show anything positive. He went to a decision in a very unforgettable fight.

Kaiwen on the other hand was dynamite in this first-round fight getting a quick knockout win. Kanda is low-volume and very patient in his approach. Kaiwen is the complete opposite as he will take it to Kanada fast and hard.

Kaiwen has some concerns defensively but it’s nothing I expect Kanda to exploit. Kanada doesn’t have any power to crack the chin of Kaiwen and his wrestling won’t be good enough. I feel good about picking Kaiwen for an early knockout.

The post Road to UFC 2: Episode 5 Breakdown and Predictions appeared first on Cageside Press.

Taking place in Shanghai, China, Road to UFC 2 Episode 4 once again featured five fights in total, with the four tournament bouts joined by a featured flyweight fight. That match-up saw talented Singaporean standout Sim Kai Xiong paired up with Peter Danesoe.

Xiong was a perfect 5-0 to start the night, while opponent Danesoe boasted a 5-2 record that included a win on ONE Championship’s ONE Friday Fights series earlier this year. Thailand’s Danesoe had not, in fact, lost a fight since dropping the first two bouts of his professional career.

Also in action, South Korean standout Ki Won Bin, a 25-fight veteran who had appeared as part of the inaugural Road to UFC run.

Road to UFC 2: Episode 2 is available to stream live on UFC Fight Pass kicking off at 8AM ET on Saturday, May 28, 2023. Full results from the card can be found below.

Road to UFC 2: Episode 4 Results

Lightweight Tournament Bout: Bahatebole Batebolati def. Won Bin Ki by DQ (illegal strikes), Round 2, 2:22
Bantamweight Tournament Bout: Chang Ho Lee def. Rana Rudra Pratap Singh by TKO, Round 1, 3:52
Lightweight Tournament Bout: Shin Haraguchi def. Windri Patilima by TKO, Round 2, 1:25
Bantamweight Tournament Bout: Daermisi Zhawupasi def. Eperaim Ginting by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 0:58
Flyweight Bout: Peter Danesoe def. Sim Kai Xiong by knockout (flying knee), Round 1, 4:23

The post Road to UFC 2: Episode 4 Full Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

On Saturday, episodes 1 and 2 featured flyweight and featherweight quarterfinal action, and produced some exhilarating results — including a very Matt Brown-like elbow KO by former ONE Championship tournament winner Li Kaiwen.

Would we get similar results on Sunday, with familiar names like former UFC fighter Zhu Rong in action at Road to UFC 2, along with Japanese standouts Kazuma Maruyama and Shohei Nose?

Episode 3 found Rong, still just 23, looking to win his way back into the promotion after going 1-2 inside the octagon in a three fight stint from 2021-22. Rong had bounced back with a win over Felipe Maia at UAE Warriors 34 last year.

Road to UFC 2: Episode 3 is available to stream live on UFC Fight Pass kicking off at 6AM ET on Saturday, May 28, 2023. Full results from the card can be found below.

Road to UFC 2, Episode 3 Results

Lightweight Tournament Bout: Rong Zhu def. Seong Chan Hong by TKO, Round 1, 2:17
Bantamweight Tournament Bout: Shuya Kamikubo def. Baergeng Jieleyisi by split decision  (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
Lightweight Tournament Bout: Sang Wook Kim def. Kazuma Maruyama by submission (D’arce choke), Round 1, 3:08
Bantamweight Tournament Bout: Xiao Long def. Shohei Nose by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Welterweight Bout: Sang Hoon Yoon def. Chris Hofmann by TKO (knee and punches) Round 3, 3:10

The post Road to UFC 2: Episode 3 Full Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

The return of the Road to UFC tournament was once again set to give top Asian mixed martial artists a chance at cracking the UFC roster. Eight men in each of four weight classes from flyweight to lightweight were set to compete, with a UFC contract awarded to each winner. Each five-fight episode also included a featured match-up; all fights were three-round, fifteen minute affairs.

In flyweight action, Episode 2 saw the return of South Korea’s Seung Guk Choi, who had made it to the final of the inaugural Road to UFC tournament in February, only to be eliminated by fellow countryman Hyung Sung Park. Saturday found Choi paired up with India’s Sumit Kumar, undefeated through at least four recognized fights.

Things got a little heated at Friday’s weigh-in between  featherweights Li Kaiwen and Lu Kai; whether the bad blood would continue come the fight remained to be seen.

Road to UFC 2: Episode 2 is available to stream live on UFC Fight Pass kicking off at 8AM ET on Saturday, May 27, 2023. Full results from the card can be found below.

Road to UFC 2: Episode 2 Results

Featherweight Tournament Bout: Li Kaiwen def. Lu Kai by knockout, Round 1, 1:11
Flyweight Tournament Bout: Seung Guk Choi def. Sumit Kumar by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Featherweight Tournament Bout: Kouya Kanda def. Yibugele by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Flyweight Tournament Bout: Jiniushiyue def. Billy Pasulatan by TKO, Round 1, 3:04
Welterweight Bout: Taiyilake Nueraji def. Han Seul Kim by knockout (elbow), Round 2, 1:38

The post Road to UFC 2: Episode 2 Full Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

Kicking off the new season, Road to UFC 2 Episode 1 features the returning Top Noi Kiwram in a flyweight non-tournament match-up. The Thai mixed martial artist lost to South Korea’s Hyun Sung Park last year in the series’ inaugural run, but bounced back with a stoppage win on the regional circuit this past March.

At RTU 2, he has been paired up with Nyamjargal Tumendemberel, an undefeated Mongolian fighter.

Tournament action, meanwhile, features notable names like Rei Tsuruya of Japan, Yi Zha of China, Filipino-American Mark Climaco, and Jung Hyun Lee of South Korea.

Road to UFC 2: Episode 1 is available to stream live on UFC Fight Pass kicking off at 6AM ET on Saturday, May 27, 2023. Full results from the card can be found below.

Road to UFC 2: Episode 1 Results

Featherweight Tournament Bout: Sang Won Kim def. Keisuke Sasu by TKO, Round 2, 3:18
Flyweight Tournament Bout: Mark Climaco def. Jung Hyun Lee by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Featherweight Tournament Bout: Yi Zha def Wuziazibieke Jiahefu by submission (arm-bar), Round 1, 2:32
Flyweight Tournament Bout: Rei Tsuruya def. Ronal Siahaan by submission (kimura), Round 2, 1:19
Flyweight Bout: Nyamjargal Tumendemberel def. Top Noi Kiwram by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

The post Road to UFC 2: Episode 1 Full Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

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.

The post Road to UFC 2: Episode 4 Breakdown and Predictions appeared first on Cageside Press.

Later this month, the Road to UFC tournament returns for its second instalment. Featuring top up-and-coming talents out of Asia looking to make their way to the UFC, Road to UFC 2 will once again include fighters across four weight classes, from flyweight to lightweight, competing in an eight-man tournament to secure a coveted spot in the UFC.

Episode 3 of the opening round goes down Saturday, May 28 starting at 6AM ET on UFC Fight Pass, and we’ve got a look at what to expect!

Lightweight, Zhu Rong Vs. Hong Sung Chan

Tale of the Tape

Pros and Cons

Prediction: I won’t go too much into Rong since he’s had his chance in the UFC. This is a clear striker versus grappler match-up. Rong can wrestle/grapple but has a big advantage on the feet. This fight depends on how frequently Chan can take Rong down.

In the UFC Rong had good TDD but it was poor prior to that. Also, Rong didn’t fight a wrestler in the UFC. Still, I’m more excited for Rong. He’s younger and has a better skillset to develop into the future. I can see Chan just wrestling Rong but I think the gap on the feet is too wide. I see Rong putting hands on Chan for an eventual finish.

The post Road to UFC 2: Episode 3 Breakdown and Predictions appeared first on Cageside Press.

Episode 2 of the opening round goes down Friday, May 27 starting at 8AM ET on UFC Fight Pass, and we’ve got a look at what to expect!

Featherweight, Lu Kai Vs. Li Kaiwen

Tale of the Tape

Pros and Cons

Prediction: Not sure why Kai is getting another shot on Road to UFC since he got knocked out in under a minute in the inaugural season. That was his last fight too, so he didn’t even have to get back on the board.

Kaiwen is coming off a loss too but that was to a stud in Fabricio Andrade. Prior to that, Kaiwen was on a four-fight win streak.

Every time Kai has fought anyone decent he losses. Kaiwen has been a staple in ONE Championship for the last nine years. Both these guys are dangerous offensively while defensively there are a lot of glaring holes.

I’m more confident in the battle-tested Li Kaiwen. I have more faith in his striking and chin to clip Kai first. Hard to tell how both guys are going to look after getting knocked out but Kaiwen is the pick.

The post Road to UFC 2: Episode 2 Breakdown and Predictions appeared first on Cageside Press.