Before the UFC returns on Saturday for a Fight Night event, some exciting talents tried to get a step closer to earning a contract.
With the new season of Dana White's Contender Series, with five hunters who earn contracts earlier this week, there are many new additions to the selection.
Another path for UFC -Hoopful in recent years has been through the way from the promotion to the UFC series.
Zhang Mingyang, who will be confronted opposite Johnny Walker in the main event of Saturday, participated in the first event ever to take place under this banner.
For a participant in the semi -final, the goal was to just go one step further than the last time went.
Li Kaiwen is short on the road to UFC after a horrible facial damage
In 2024, the Chinese Li Kaiwen reached the final of the featherweight bracket by producing a first round KO and a unanimous decision.
He was submitted to the last obstacle by the experienced Yi Zha, who is ready to try to include his first victory in the Octagon when he faces Westin Wilson on Saturday evening.
Kaiwen bounced back in 2024 with a few unanimous decision wins that gave him a shot on the road to UFC tournament.
Photo by Zhang Lintao/Zuffa LLC
A second round finish saw him continue to the semi-final where he stood against a 26-year-old Japanese hunter behind him.
After having lost his pro-debut in 2022, Keiichiro Nakamura has since had six-in-one-row, which he spread to seven by winning the semi-final fight through a unanimous decision.
The matchup turned out to be very entertaining, with the Chinese hunter taking the first round on all three score cards before his opponent turned things in the second and third.
As can be seen in different screenshots on social media, Kaiwen wore considerable damage to the side of his face during the competition, which resulted in a filthy -looking hematoma.
You can also see the horrible injury that he has sustained on the right side of his face in the post of UFC Asia of the result that is officially made.
The opponent of Keiichiro Nakamura for the final has already been decided
Before Keiichiro Nakamura was able to expand his winning series to continue to the road to UFC final, the other side of the matchup was decided.
Sebastian Szalay put Chang Min Yoon in the opening minute of the first round to reach the final phase, causing a number of large soil and pounds to unleash strikes before finishing.
The Australian competitor has won nine fights in a row since he has lost the second attack of his professional career.
It was reportedly stated during the road to UFC broadcast that the final will take place early next year, although this has not been confirmed at the moment.