Rong Zhu
China
Outlasts Hubbard in Shanghai
Zhu defeated Austin Hubbard via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 29-28) at UFC Shanghai on Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Zhu fought to relatively even terms in the first two rounds. Both were tight in the striking department, and while Zhu allowed a takedown in each frame, he didn't allow Hubbard to control him for long. With the fight likely in the balance entering Round 3, Zhu was clearly the fresher man. He landed the bigger shots, was moving forward and ended up ahead 52-to-29 in the significant striking department, while also stuffing all six of Hubbard's takedown attempts. He was even willing to brawl it out in the center in the final moments, but his opponent did not engage. Despite losing his UFC debut after winning Road to the UFC, Rongzhu now has back-to-back decision victories, but he still has a long ways to go in a deep lightweight division.
Zhu fought to relatively even terms in the first two rounds. Both were tight in the striking department, and while Zhu allowed a takedown in each frame, he didn't allow Hubbard to control him for long. With the fight likely in the balance entering Round 3, Zhu was clearly the fresher man. He landed the bigger shots, was moving forward and ended up ahead 52-to-29 in the significant striking department, while also stuffing all six of Hubbard's takedown attempts. He was even willing to brawl it out in the center in the final moments, but his opponent did not engage. Despite losing his UFC debut after winning Road to the UFC, Rongzhu now has back-to-back decision victories, but he still has a long ways to go in a deep lightweight division.
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Looks to stack wins vs. Hubbard
Zhu will take on Austin Hubbard in a lightweight bout at UFC Shanghai on Aug. 23, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
Zhu got off to a rough 1-3 start in the UFC, but managed to make up a little ground in his last bout after beating Kody Steele via unanimous decision back in February. He'll look to even his record in the promotion with a win over Hubbard, who is much more experienced in the UFC but is also coming off two straight losses.
Zhu got off to a rough 1-3 start in the UFC, but managed to make up a little ground in his last bout after beating Kody Steele via unanimous decision back in February. He'll look to even his record in the promotion with a win over Hubbard, who is much more experienced in the UFC but is also coming off two straight losses.
Pulls upset of Kody Steele
Rong defeated Kody Steele via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) at UFC 312 on Saturday in Sydney, Australia.
ANALYSIS
Fresh off a lopsided knockout loss to Chris Padilla in September, Rong came out of nowhere to dominate a legitimate top prospect in Steele here. Rong was hopelessly overwhelmed in terms of grappling, but Steele aided the proceedings mightily by attempting just four takedowns. He was perfectly content with a back-and-forth kickboxing match, which led to Rong closing with a whopping 125-29 edge in significant strikes landed. Set to turn 25 years of age next month, Rong already has north of 30 professional fights in his career and remains solid roster depth for the company. On top of the victory, he'll walk away with an extra $50,000 after this matchup was awarded Fight of the Night honors.
Fresh off a lopsided knockout loss to Chris Padilla in September, Rong came out of nowhere to dominate a legitimate top prospect in Steele here. Rong was hopelessly overwhelmed in terms of grappling, but Steele aided the proceedings mightily by attempting just four takedowns. He was perfectly content with a back-and-forth kickboxing match, which led to Rong closing with a whopping 125-29 edge in significant strikes landed. Set to turn 25 years of age next month, Rong already has north of 30 professional fights in his career and remains solid roster depth for the company. On top of the victory, he'll walk away with an extra $50,000 after this matchup was awarded Fight of the Night honors.
Will fight vs. Kody Steele
Zhu will fight against Kody Steele at UFC 312 on Feb. 8, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Zhu was released from his UFC deal following a loss to Ignacio Bahamondes in 2022, and he also lost to Chris Padilla in his return to the promotion on Sep. 7, 2024. He's gone 25-6-0 as a pro in his career, but he's only 24 years old and has a lot of mileage in his body with more than 30 pro fights under his belt. Plus, he's gone 1-3-0 at the UFC level.
Zhu was released from his UFC deal following a loss to Ignacio Bahamondes in 2022, and he also lost to Chris Padilla in his return to the promotion on Sep. 7, 2024. He's gone 25-6-0 as a pro in his career, but he's only 24 years old and has a lot of mileage in his body with more than 30 pro fights under his belt. Plus, he's gone 1-3-0 at the UFC level.
Falls as hefty favorite
Rong lost to Chris Padilla via TKO (doctor stoppage) at 4:14 of Round 2 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
To say Rong needed this one would be a massive understatement. He was fresh off a submission loss to Ignacio Bahamondes in a fight in which he missed weight. He entered as a -260 favorite and still couldn't get the job done. Rong was plenty competitive in Round 1, but repeated massive elbows to the same eye result in referee Kerry Hatley calling in the doctor late in Round 2 and the fight being immediately stopped. Rong is just 24 years old, but has north of 30 professional fights under his belt. He has zero success of defeating better competition, and that seems unlikely to change given all the "MMA miles" on his body at such a young age.
To say Rong needed this one would be a massive understatement. He was fresh off a submission loss to Ignacio Bahamondes in a fight in which he missed weight. He entered as a -260 favorite and still couldn't get the job done. Rong was plenty competitive in Round 1, but repeated massive elbows to the same eye result in referee Kerry Hatley calling in the doctor late in Round 2 and the fight being immediately stopped. Rong is just 24 years old, but has north of 30 professional fights under his belt. He has zero success of defeating better competition, and that seems unlikely to change given all the "MMA miles" on his body at such a young age.
UFC return scheduled
Zhu is scheduled to compete against Chris Padilla in a lightweight fight at UFC Vegas 97 on Sept. 7, per Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl.
ANALYSIS
After losing to Ignacio Bahamondes in February 2022, Zhu was released by the UFC. But not long after his release, he entered Season 2 of Road to UFC, a mixed martial arts event for Asian fighters wanting to enter the promotion. Zhu won Season 2's lightweight tournament, earning another UFC contract and a scheduled return against Padilla.
After losing to Ignacio Bahamondes in February 2022, Zhu was released by the UFC. But not long after his release, he entered Season 2 of Road to UFC, a mixed martial arts event for Asian fighters wanting to enter the promotion. Zhu won Season 2's lightweight tournament, earning another UFC contract and a scheduled return against Padilla.