Taiyilake Nueraji Archives - Cageside Press

What’s Next: UFC Shanghai Winners

Mathis Desjardins — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 13:26:33 +0000

The UFC’s second trip to China in 9 months, but first to Shanghai since 2017 was headlined by a rising Chinese star in a matchup that guaranteed fireworks. Though the fight itself delivered on the fireworks, rising no more is Zhang Mingyang as he was stopped by the predictably unpredictable Johnny Walker in the UFC Shanghai main event. The co-main event saw top 10 featherweights Brian Ortega and Aljamain Sterling meet in a bout that had real stakes but didn’t offer much as a viewing experience. A clash between top 10 heavyweights and a couple of Chinese prospects rounded out the card. As we move on from China to Paris, let’s first look at what should be next for our victors.

Johnny Walker

Johnny Walker kept up with his whimsical tendencies, somehow ending up on bottom just five seconds into the fight. His opponent, Zhang Mingyang had never won a fight that went past the first round. Despite facing some adversity in the first five minutes against the clearly very dangerous Zhang, the Brazilian survived the initial onslaught and got a TKO finish in the second round after landing some heavy calf kicks. This was an important win for Walker to keep his position as a flawed, but entertaining member of this division. He tried to call out Jan Blachowicz, but I’m doubtful this victory will move him far up enough to warrant a name like that. Instead, I think the UFC probably just looks to book the Bogdan Guskov fight again. It was an intriguing matchup back when it was booked in January, but fast forward a couple of wins for each and it just got even more interesting.

Walker’s next fight: Bogdan Guskov

Aljamain Sterling

It wasn’t the most thrilling affair, but the former bantamweight champion did get back in the win column, earning a wide unanimous decision victory over Brian Ortega. In terms of name value, the win is nice for Sterling, but it won’t do much for his case in the title picture at featherweight. It was more about Ortega looking old than Sterling putting on a masterclass. At 36, he knows that if he is to go on a title run in his new division, the time is now. Even he acknowledged feeling the age a bit more in his post-fight interview. It probably explains why despite knowing he didn’t put on a show, he still tried to shoot his shot at Alexander Volkanovski. There is simply no way he will be rewarded with a title shot after this fight. The good thing for Aljo is he’s not alone in his boat floating in limbo. Yair Rodriguez also suffered a bad loss to the current champion and is coming off a pretty lacklustre win himself. This makes the matchmaking fairly straightforward, in my opinion. Let’s book the Funk Master vs El Pantera and see who of two can produce a highlight reel worthy of an exit from purgatory.

Sterling’s next fight: Yair Rodriguez

Sergei Pavlovich

Though he got back in the win column earlier this year against Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Sergei Pavlovich wasn’t a fan of his performance in that fight. Even if he went to the judges’ scorecards once again, Pavlovich looked a lot more purposeful and confident this time around. The fight mainly went the distance due to Waldo Cortes-Acosta somehow eating the big bombs that Pavlovich has folded people with, in the past. While getting back-to-back wins is important after suffering consecutive losses, that is now four fights where the Russian has failed to deliver one of his previously signature knockouts. For that reason, I expect him to have to fight backwards once more before getting the opportunity to get back into the title picture. The next card has a fight between perennial top 10 heavyweight Marcin Tybura and former PFL champion Ante Delija on it. The winner would be a fitting opponent for Pavlovich, at this point in time.

Pavlovich’s next fight: Tybura/Delija winner

Sumudaerji

Sumudaerji earned a second consecutive win as he comfortably outpointed Kevin Borjas over the course of three rounds. After overcoming a three-fight skid against veterans Matt Schnell, Tim Elliott and Charles Johnson, the Chinese fighter has now found some momentum again. I don’t think he should be headed for the rankings again just yet, but he’s probably just one fight away. Other streaking unranked flyweights like Allan Nascimento and Andre Lima could be fine options, but I went with Rafael Estevam. The undefeated Estevam has missed weight twice in three UFC bouts, so there is a chance he will be forced to move up a division. But as long as the promotion is willing to keep him at 125lbs, he’s the right opponent for Sumudaerji.

Sumudaerji’s next fight: Rafael Estevam

Taiyilake Nueraji

The 24-year-old Nueraji came into this fight with an 11-1 record, including ten first-round finishes, with nine coming by knockout. Not everyone making their short notice debut would get main card treatment, but he did, and that speaks to what the UFC believe they have in him. However, a blatant foul as he kneed Kiefer Crosbie in the head while he was down really does put an asterisk to this performance. He was dominating before the foul, but it’s still impossible to ignore its impact. Despite what looked like a promising debut, I don’t think Nueraji gets to earn an upgrade in his level of competition. He needs to pretend like he still hasn’t debuted. Someone like Preston Parsons is always a good opponent to test prospects like this.

Nueraji’s next fight: Preston Parsons

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UFC Shanghai: Taiyilake Nueraji Finishes Kiefer Crosbie, But Not Before Landing Flagrant Foul

Staff — Sat, 23 Aug 2025 10:20:26 +0000

Taiyilake Nueraji made his debut at home at UFC Shanghai on Saturday, kicking off the main card action in a welterweight fight with Ireland’s Kiefer Crosbie.

Crosbie was 0-2 in the UFC, and had previously competed for Bellator MMA.

There was no hesitation in the UFC Shanghai main-card opener as Nueraji and Crosbie went to the ground following an opening kick. Crosbie worked off his back, threatening with a triangle that wasn’t quite in place. The “Super Saiyan” Nueraji opened up with elbows, smashing some heavy blows down before Crosbie latched on to a leg and rolled. He didn’t have the submission, instead using it to try and escape, only for Nueraji to mount. Crosbie would scramble and regain guard, though he was still eating big, big elbows from Nueraji.

Calamity from there, as a brutal illegal knee was landed by Nueraji. Crosbie was split open, dripping blood everywhere. The doc was brought in to check on Crosbie, while ref Marc Goddard took not one but two points for the flagrant foul. Crosbie took very little time, and Nueraji went right back at him. He had Crosbie flattened out along the fence, raining down elbows until Goddard was forced to make the save. A debut win for Taiyilake Nueraji, marred by the foul, but still a stoppage is what will show in the record books.

Official Result: Taiyilake Nueraji def. Keifer Crosbie by TKO, Round 1, 3:33

Article updated to reflect Crosbie’s correct UFC record.

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Welcome to the UFC: Taiyilake Nueraji

Shawn Bitter — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 20:00:01 +0000

Taiyilake Nueraji makes his UFC debut as part of Saturday’s UFC Shanghai Fight Night event. The welterweight is set to take on Kiefer Crosbie on a card headlined by Johnny Walker and Zhang Mingyang.

“Super Saiyan” Taiyilake Nueraji
Standing at six-foot-two
Fighting at 170 lbs (welterweight)
24-years-old
Fighting out of Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Training out of Enbo Fight Club
A pro record of 11-1 (1 No Contest)
10 KO/TKOs, 1 Submission

Heading into his RTU feature bout in 2023, I labeled Nueraji a meme fighter. He had the wild, reckless style that made him entertaining, but not necessarily someone you’d project as a legitimate prospect. Fast forward, and while that tag still clings to him in certain ways, he’s proving hard to dismiss. There’s a raw danger to the way he fights that demands attention.

Nueraji’s game is built on chaos. He’s reckless, yes, but that’s exactly what fuels his success. He doesn’t shy away from a brawl—he embraces it. He’ll take punches just to land his own, and the difference is that he hits far harder than most of his opponents can handle. His chin and durability give him the confidence to walk through fire, and his knockout power, paired with his relentless forward pressure, makes him one of those fighters who feels like a finish is always lurking around the corner.

What makes him intriguing isn’t just the power in his hands, though. His striking may lack polish—his technique is loose and he throws wide—but he carries a wide array of dangerous weapons. Even if the mechanics aren’t textbook, the danger is very real. He’s in love with throwing elbows and it’s become a valuable weapon in his last few fights. Beyond that, his wrestling has shown to be more than serviceable. He’s not just a brawler; he can change levels, put opponents on their backs, and threaten to finish the fight on the mat as well. That added dimension makes him more unpredictable and harder to prepare for.

The most encouraging part about Nueraji is his age—he’s only 24. Fighters with his kind of power, toughness, and fearlessness are already tough outs on the regional scene, but with proper structure, coaching, and discipline, he could evolve into a genuine contender at the UFC level. Right now he’s raw, messy, and prone to taking risks that will cost him against sharper opponents. But those same qualities are what make him so exciting to watch, and why you can’t write him off.

At this stage, Nueraji is still a bit of a wild card, but he’s shown enough to shed the “meme fighter” label and replace it with something more dangerous: a young, fearless talent with knockout power, growing skills, and the potential to become a real threat in the UFC.

How he matches up against Crosbie:

Crosbie enters almost every UFC fight at a disadvantage. His signing was largely tied to his connection with Conor McGregor, and so far the results have reflected that—he’s 0-2 in the promotion and hasn’t made it out of the first round. His danger zone comes in very specific spots: when he manages to secure mount, or when the fight devolves into a messy brawl. The issue is that while he can be dangerous in those exchanges, he also absorbs a lot of punishment and tends to wilt under pressure.

That’s exactly the kind of fight where Nueraji thrives. He’s at his best in chaotic scrambles and reckless exchanges, and unlike Crosbie, he doesn’t crumble when the fire gets hot. Crosbie likes to work inside with his elbows, but Nueraji is meaner and more effective in that same range. Add in the fact that Crosbie is 35 with no UFC wins, while Nueraji is just 24 and riding real momentum, and the matchup looks lopsided.

Where Crosbie is supposed to be dangerous, Nueraji is better. Expect him to draw Crosbie into the kind of brawl that plays directly to his strengths and overwhelm him early. The pick: Nueraji by first-round TKO.

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50 Prospects The UFC Should Sign in 2025

Shawn Bitter — Sun, 05 Jan 2025 18:22:11 +0000

The end of the year has come and gone, with RIZIN Decade closing out the year for MMA in a big way, and the UFC Tampa card just a few weeks ago wrapping things up for the UFC. MMA’s biggest promotion signed plenty of talent in 2024, much of it arriving via the Contender Series (though a few big names, including Michael “Venom” Page, Kayla Harrison, and Kai Asakura, arrived directly).

On the newcomer front, what names should the UFC be looking at in 2025? Let’s take a look!

Where possible, we’ve included insight from teammates/coaches, or statements from the fighters themselves.

Lightweight, Yuji Yannick Ephoeviga
Nerima, Tokyo, Japan
25-years-old
10-0
6 KO/TKOs, 2 Submissions
Combined opponents’ record: 92-77-6

Ephoeviga was rumored to fight on the Contender Series this last season but it didn’t happen due to visa issues, reportedly. It shows the UFC is interested, as they should be. Ephoeviga is a big athletic lightweight who’s looked solid so far. He’s a product out of Tribe Tokyo MMA, a prominent gym in Japan. With Japanese MMA it’s tough to gauge how good a fighter is. Ephoeviga though has beaten Emmanuel Sanchez who is a Bellator vet (and former title challenger). Ephoeviga became the first person to stop Sanchez by KO/TKO which is super impressive.

“Yuji is a very talented MMA fighter. He is skilled in all positions, but his striking is definitely what stands out. He has a great understanding for his distance and blends footwork and feints to always manipulate the range. He is very efficient with his shot selection, and when he has someone hurt he jumps on it. A hard worker with tons of confidence. He has faced high-level competition and is ready to be on the big stage!!” – Teammate, Austin Clayton

Welterweight, Jean-Paul Lebosnoyani
Hermosa Beach, California, US
25-years-old
7-2
2 KO/TKOs, 4 Submissions
Combined opponents’ record: 21-11

Lebosnoyani is now a welterweight that’s moved up from lightweight. Naturally, I like him better at 155 but he’s undefeated at welterweight. Lebosnoyani started as just a submission specialist but he’s grown into a quality striker. Still though, he comes from a grappling background and you see it in the cage. He’s a BJJ black belt who had over 500 grappling matches and was a world champ at the age of ten. His only losses are JaCobi Jones and Spike Carlyle but I believe Lebosnoyani is finally over that hurdle.

“Being a UFC champion has been my dream as long as I can remember. I have been patiently working hard to sharpen all of my skills so that when I sign to the UFC, I will be ready to make my run to the title.”

Welterweight, Isaac Moreno
Los Fresnos, Texas, US
27-years-old
6-0
3 KO/TKOs
Combined opponents’ record: 17-10

Moreno had a big 2023 but missed the entire 2024 year with an injury. I went from not even thinking Moreno was UFC-level to thinking he’s top-25 in the UFC’s welterweight division right now. He’s easily one of my favorite welterweight prospects around. Moreno has made a name for himself in Texas as his entire pro and amateur career has been for Fury FC. Moreno has a high ceiling and the UFC should lock him up after he knocks off this ring rust coming up. Moreno gets more credit for his striking where he’s been effective with various weapons. His grappling is underrated and the last thing he did was a grappling bout last July.

“God always provides and there’s gonna be some big news soon. Don’t blink!” – Moreno

Light heavyweight, Julius Walker
Springfield, Missouri, US
25-years-old
6-0
4 KO/TKOs, 2 Submissions
Combined opponents’ record: 36-26

Walker is easily one of the better prospects at 205. In his last three fights, he beat good regional names in Nyle Bartling, Bevon Lewis, and Myron Dennis — with all being title fights. Walker will go far with his wrestling, athleticism, and jiu-jitsu especially. His last three fights have been title fights winning 205-pound gold for Peak Fighting and Synergy. Walker is a breath of fresh air at 205 we all need.

“I should be in the UFC because I am a young and exciting fighter with a high ceiling. The 205 division has been declining for years and needs new blood to spice it up and I’m that guy.” – Walker

Welterweight, Thomas Gantt
Raleigh, North Carolina, US
31-years-old
8-0, 1 NC
3 KO/TKOs
Combined opponents’ record: 51-95

Gantt may have fought some bad competition but in the year 2024 he fought twelve times. With an insane strength of schedule, there is no way the UFC doesn’t know who this guy is. Gantt was a Division 1 All-American wrestler at NC State. He was an ACC champion and won a few international tournaments on the Olympic wrestling scene. He ranked as high as fourth on the Team USA ladder. For a wrestler, it’s what you can do when you get the takedown. For Gantt, it’s been smashing who he’s fighting. The relentless pressure and damage he displays have been unstoppable.

“I’m relatively new to the sport, but I am more than ready to test myself against the best in the world. I have the physical and mental capabilities to be a problem for anyone in my division right away.”

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Five Prospects From June That Are UFC Ready

Shawn Bitter — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 01:19:02 +0000

The world’s largest mixed martial arts promotion, the UFC, is always in need of fresh faces, and luckily for them, much of the regional scene has become a feeder system of sorts. While many talents need to prove themselves and go the route of Dana White’s Contender Series, The Ultimate Fighter, or even Dana White’s Lookin’ for a Fight, there are still short-notice opportunities, and the odd fighter signed directly to the big show.

With that in mind, here are five top MMA prospects from June who are UFC ready right now.

Lightweight, Magomed “Muhammad” Magomedov (14-0):

Magomed “Muhammad” Magomedov (not to be confused with Bellator’s Magomed Magomedov) has had a strong two years. He’s been good for longer than that but has hit his stride.

The biggest knock on Magomedov not that long ago was his fighting style, and always going to the cards. However, in his last four fights this has changed, as he’s finished all of his opponents in that stretch. He’s a good wrestler, a grinder, and boasts a solid gas tank. He’s recently picked up the aggression. The KHK MMA Team product should be getting eyes from the UFC with a record like he has.

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Road to UFC 2: Episode 2 Breakdown and Predictions

Shawn Bitter — Wed, 24 May 2023 14:00:10 +0000

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 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

Lu Kai
Shanghai, China
28-years-old
5’9″
8-4, 1 NC
Combined opponents’ record: 28-29

Li Kaiwen
Hunan, China
27-years-old
5’9″
10-5
Combined opponents’ record: 37-14

Pros and Cons

Lu Kai

Pros

Good head movement
Powerful right hand
Fast starter
Heavy ground and pound
Good leg kicks
Wrestles well

Cons

Throws singles strikes
Gives up his back
Throws blind kicks
Hands kept low
Sits in the pocket too long

Li Kaiwen

Pros

Volume striker
Heavy hands
Good right hand
Dangerous pocket striker
Good leg kicks

Cons

Too willing to brawl
Fight IQ lacks
Not much off his back
Sits in the pocket too long
Lacks head movement
TDD needs work
Poor cardio

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.

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