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After the opening rounds last May, the second season of Road to UFC finally continues on Sunday in Singapore, as it hosts the semifinal rounds of their four Asian tournaments.
A day after Korean Zombie and Max Holloway headline UFC Singapore, prospects from all over Asia will take their turn in the spotlight as Episodes 5 and 6 of Road to UFC happens on the same venue. Below you can check out everything you’ll need to know about the UFC’s four tournaments.
Preview: Fighters to watch from the Road to UFC semifinals
Worth keeping an eye on this tournament are two young and undefeated Japanese prospects, both known for their decorated wrestling backgrounds before transitioning to MMA. 21-year-old prospect Rei Tsuruya (7-0) was the flyweight King of Pancrase prior to this tournament, while 24-year-old Shin Haraguchi (6-0, 1 NC) was the Grachan lightweight champion. Both wrestlers won with impressive finishes in the opening rounds: ground and pound for Haraguchi, and a scarfhold armlock for the younger Tsuruya.
The fighter with most mainstream popularity on these tournaments is Sangwook Kim (9-2), who became part of hit shows such as Netflix’s “Physical 100” and “The Iron Squad” for his capabilities as an MMA fighter and former Seal Team (UDT) specialist. He is a former AFC welterweight champion that dropped down to lightweight for this tournament, and won by d’arce choke on the opening round.
Other returning names on the line up include last year’s Road to UFC finalists in Yi Zha and Seung Guk Choi, along with three-fight UFC veteran Rong Zhu, who all picked up impressive wins in the opening round.
The UFC Performance Institute in Shanghai has also been developing talent in China, and will be well represented on these tournaments. A prospect to watch from that stable is 23-year-old Daermisi Zhaqupasi (7-0), but he’ll be in a tough match up against South Korean grappler Chang Ho Lee.
Also featured again on a non-tournament bout, is the return of Muay Thai fighter Peter Danasoe. The flashy striker from Thailand stole the show on the last Road to UFC event with a perfect highlight reel flying knee.
Road to UFC Season 2 tournament brackets: Finals are set!
The UFC is hosing Asian tournaments from flyweight up to lightweight, and below are the brackets.
After the semifinal rounds, the Road to UFC 2 finals are now set. Among the standouts from Sunday’s event are the two decorated Japanese wrestlers mentioned above in Rei Tsuruya and Shin Haraguchi that both remained undefeated after putting on suffocating grappling displays. They will face Chinese counterparts in Jiniushiyue and UFC veteran Rong Zhu, respectively.
Yi Zha also booked his second straight Road to UFC finals berth, as part of a very strong showing in this tournament for China, with five fighters represented, including an all-Chinese featherweight finals.
The Road to UFC Season 2 tournament finals are set to happen on December, and here are the match ups:
Flyweight Finals: Rei Tsuruya (Japan) vs. Jiniushiyue (China)
Bantamweight Finals: Xiao Long (China) vs. Chang Ho Lee (South Korea)
Featherweight Finals: Yi Zha (China) vs. Li Kaiwen (China)
Lightweight Finals: Rong Zhu (China) vs. Shin Haraguchi (Japan)
Full Road to UFC, Season 2 Episode 5-6 results, video:
Below will have the full fight card, live results, along with highlights from the match ups.
Episode 5 (4 a.m. ET):
Featherweight semifinals: Li Kaiwen (China) def. Koya Kanda (Japan) by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)
Flyweight semifinals: Jiniushiyue (China) def. Seung Guk Choi (South Korea) by Unanimous Decision (30-27 x3)
Featherweight semifinals: Yi Zha (China) def. Sang Won Kim (South Korea) by Unanimous Decision (29-28 x3)
Flyweight semifinals: Rei Tsuruya (Japan) def. Mark Climaco (Philippines) by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-27)
Non-tournament bout: Nyamjargal Tumendemberel (Mongolia) def. Peter Danasoe (Thailand) by Submission (Rear Naked Choke), R1 1:02
Episode 6 (6 a.m. ET):
Lightweight semifinals: Shin Haraguchi (Japan) def. Jae Hyun Park (South Korea) by Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Note: Park stepped in to replace Bahatebole Batebolati (China), who missed weight by 5 lbs and was removed from the tournament.
Bantamweight semifinals: Chang Ho Lee (South Korea) def. Daermisi Zhawupasi (China) by TKO (Punches), R3 (3:35)
Lightweight semifinals: Rong Zhu (China) def. Sangwook Kim (South Korea) by Unanimous Decision (30-26, 29-28 x2)
Bantamweight semifinals: Xiao Long (China) def. Shuya Kamikubo (Japan) by Majority Decision (29-28, 29-27, 28-28)
Cancelled after Park replaced Batebolati: Non-tournament bout: Jae Hyun Park (South Korea) vs. Quillan Salkilld (Australia)
How to watch Road to UFC Season 2 semifinals
The events will be broadcast live from the Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore. For Asian countries, it will be broadcasted on the typical networks and outlets that UFC events are aired. For the rest of the world, it will be available to be streamed live at UFC Fight Pass.
Join us for early morning MMA fun, with the Road to UFC Season 2 semifinal match ups. This event will be split into two, with episode 5 kicking off at 4 a.m. ET and episode 6 starting at 6 a.m. ET.
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