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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While previous Road to UFC tournaments have featured four men’s divisions from flyweight to lightweight, this year, a women’s strawweight division has been added. As a result, no lightweight tournament will be held as part of Road to UFC 3.

Promotion officials recently announced the news, as well as the (mostly) full brackets for all four weight classes.

The Asia-centric series sees fighters competing for the chance to land a UFC contract. The opening round will be held across two events on May 18 and 19, 2024 at the UFC Performance Institute in Shanghai, China.

A handful of fighters are returning to the tournament from prior seasons, including Japan’s Shohei Nose, and ONE Championship alum Xie Bin. The recently announced opening round match-ups break down as follows:

Flyweight

• Jiniushiyue vs. Dong Hoon Choi
• John Almanza vs. Angao Bisht
• Ruel Panales vs. Toki Matsui
• Kiru Singh Sahota vs. Yin Shuai

Bantamweight

• Soo Young Yoo vs. Shohei Nose
• Daermisi Zhawupasi vs. Ran Ozaki
• Kyu Sung Kim vs. Tokitaka Nakanishi
• Jieleyisi Baergeng vs. TBD

Featherweight

• Shin Haraguchi vs. Jun Young Hong
• Zhu Kangie vs. Tatsuya Ando
• Masuto Kawana vs. Young Jae Song
• Xie Bin vs. Hamid Amiri

Women’s strawweight

• Feng Xiaocan vs. Kiran Singh
• Huang Feier vs. Miki Motono
• Priya Sharma vs. Dong Huaxiang
• Shi Ming vs. Ye Dam Seo

The post Road to UFC Season 3 Tournament Announced, Women’s Strawweight Added 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.

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.

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Among the semifinal contests, Japan’s Rinya Nakamura, a wrestling sensation, looked to make a statement against Shohei Nose.

In addition, a featured welterweight fight was scheduled for Road to UFC 6. That fight saw Han Seul Kim of South Korea take on Gian Siqueira.

Road to UFC 6 takes place Sunday, October 23, 2022 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The event streams live on UFC Fight Pass, getting underway at 9AM ET. Full results can be found below.

Road to UFC 6 Results

Featherweight: Lee Jeong Yeong def. Lu Kai via R1 :42 KO – Road to UFC Semifinal
Bantamweight: Rinya Nakamura def. Shohei Nose via R1 TKO – Road to UFC Semifinal
Flyweight: Topnoi Kiwram vs. Park Hyun Sung def. Topnoi Kiwram via R1 submission (RNC) – Road to UFC Semifinal
Lightweight: Anshul Jubli def. Kim Kyung Pyo via split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) – Road to UFC Semifinal
Welterweight: Samandar Murodov def. Gian Siqueira via R1 4:59 Submission (RNC)

The post Road to UFC 6 Full Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

UFC contracts are on the line! Here’s a look at what’s to come.

Featherweight: Lu Kai Vs. Lee Jung Young

Tale of the Tape

Pros and Cons

Prediction: Young is probably my favorite prospect in this entire tournament. While Kai did impress me in his last fight this is a massive step up from Angaa Hans.

Outside of maybe Kai landing something big on Young I can’t see him winning. On the feet outside of that power, Young is on a much higher level. Young also has power but is more technical, a better kickboxer, and a dangerous counter striker. He could very well make Kai pay for throwing single strikes or lazy kicks.

Young did get taken down easy his last fight so Kai has a chance to do the same. I don’t rate the grappling of Kai high at all and at least Young is pretty skilled everywhere. I’ve got Young in this and I’m pretty sure he ends this fight at some point.

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Episode four goes down on Friday, and we’ve got a look at the bouts scheduled and what you can expect to see.

Bantamweight: Shohei Nose Vs. Wuliji Buren

Tale of the Tape

Pros and Cons

Wuliji Buren

Pros

• N/A

Cons

• N/A

Prediction: I’m not doing a pros and cons for Buren since he’s not a prospect and has fought in the UFC already. He wasn’t UFC level then so I’m not sure why he’s getting another chance. He’s 4-1 since leaving the UFC, with the loss coming to another Road to UFC fighter, Keremuaili Maimaitituoheti.

With Shohei, I’m up and down with him. He’s a better grappler but has been in kickboxing fights to round out his craft. Buren is a submission grappler like Shohei so the winner could be determined by who has the better stand-up. It’s a fight Buren can win as Shohei himself isn’t UFC level either. I am picking Shohei though based on being the younger guy and having more momentum. Not confident at all though.

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