UFC Shanghai battle week is effectively underway. The ultimate version of UFC Combat Night time on the promotion’s August schedule finds Dana White’s promotion leaving the US for the primary of two consecutive worldwide playing cards.
Shanghai Indoor Stadium in China’s Xuhui District serves because the setting for this week’s occasion. Nevertheless, if you wish to observe alongside reside with UFC Shanghai from inside the US, be ready to sacrifice some shuteye on Friday night time going into Saturday morning, or not go to mattress in any respect.
Reside protection commences very early Saturday morning at 3 am ET/ 12 midnight PT with the prelims earlier than shifting onto the principle card at 6 am ET/ 3 am PT. UFC Shanghai will likely be streamed on ESPN+ inside the US, in addition to the brand new ESPN direct-to-consumer platform attributable to launch on Thursday.
All instructed, if there are not any changes to be made to the bout order, the ultimate model of this weekend’s present will characteristic a full slate of 12 fights. Highlighting the night time at UFC Shanghai is a lightweight heavyweight contest matching No. 13 contender Johnny Walker (21-9, 1 NC MMA) with No. 14 contender Zhang Mingyang (19-6 MMA, 3-0 UFC.) Extra on the principle card later.
UFC Shanghai Featured Prelim: Maheshate Hayisaer vs. Gauge Younger
On the prime of the invoice on Saturday morning’s undercard at UFC Shanghai, those that select to battle off sleep will likely be handled to a light-weight fixture between Maheshate Hayisaer (10-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC) and Gauge Younger (9-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC) because the latter continues his seek for his first win within the UFC. All fights talked about herein will likely be an marketed most of three rounds at 5 minutes per spherical.
Hayisaer enters this weekend sporting a file of 2-3 in his first 5 UFC appearances. It’s been a very long time since he’s made the stroll to the cage, although.
Final November, he appeared throughout UFC Macau and dropped a unanimous resolution to Nikolas Motta (15-6, 1 NC MMA, 3-3, 1 NC UFC). That is his first stroll to the Octagon in 2025. Will the nine-month hiatus between fights be useful or a hindrance?
Throughout the way in which, Gauge Younger comes into China having posted a 3-2 mark over the course of his previous 5 fights courting again to December of 2023. In April, he made his UFC promotional debut in Kansas Metropolis, KS, dropping unanimously to Evan Elder (10-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC.)
Younger’s UFC profession is in its early days, so he can’t afford to get behind the 8-ball so quickly after becoming a member of the promotion’s lively roster. What’s going to his sophomore look convey early Saturday morning?
UFC Shanghai Co-Featured Prelim: No. 15 Contender Charles Johnson vs. Lone’er Kavanagh
Instantly previous to the featured prelim, the flyweights take to the cage for a contest between No. 15 contender Charles Johnson (17-7 MMA, 6-5 UFC) and Lone’er Kavanagh (9-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC.) The previous touches down in Shanghai on a 4-1 clip in his 5 most-recent bouts.
Final day trip, he noticed his four-fight successful streak finish attributable to unanimous resolution towards Ramazan Temirov (19-2 MMA, 2-0 UFC) contained in the UFC Apex facility in Enterprise, NV. Whereas Johnson’s streak was stopped in March, a fighter trying to rebound from a defeat might be simply as harmful as one on a scorching streak. Can he get again within the win column Saturday?
In the meantime, Lone’er Kavanagh has but to lose up to now in his skilled MMA profession. On March 22, he bested Felipe dos Santos (8-3, 1 NC MMA, 1-3 UFC) by unanimous resolution in UFC London.
That is probably the most essential battle but for Kavanagh and his camp. A victory right here wouldn’t solely make it 10 in a row for him, however he might have a quantity subsequent to his identify as early as Monday morning if the outcomes go his manner.
UFC Shanghai: Rongzhu vs. Austin Hubbard
Additionally on the UFC Shanghai prelims, you’ll see a light-weight contest between Rongzhu (26-6 MMA, 2-3 UFC) and Austin Hubbard (16-9 MMA, 4-7 UFC.) Rongzhu has gone 3-2 over his final 5 bouts.
On Feb. 8 in Sydney, he bested Kody Steele (7-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) within the latter’s UFC promotional debut throughout UFC 312. In so doing, Rongzhu acquired a $50,000 (USD) advance for the Combat of the Night time Bonus.
He’ll be making his thirty third profession stroll to the cage over the weekend and has been on the upswing of late, having received three of his final 4 fights. Can he win his second bout in a row?
Within the different nook, Austin Hubbard has gone 2-3 in his final 5 skilled fights and is in his second stint with the UFC. Again on March 29 in Mexico Metropolis, he dropped a break up resolution to MarQuel Medeiros (11-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) after quarter-hour of motion.
Counting each stints, Saturday’s contest will likely be his twelfth underneath the UFC banner. Solely time will inform if he’s in a position to keep away from his third straight defeat.
Last Ideas
Which battle or fights are you trying ahead to on UFC Shanghai’s prelims? Tell us within the feedback.
