Road to UFC Season 3

Last updated
Road to UFC Season 3
Information
Promotion UFC
First date airedMay 18, 2024 (2024-05-18)

Road to UFC Season 3 is the 2024 cycle of Road to UFC, a mixed martial arts (MMA) event series in which top Asian MMA prospects compete to win contracts with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). [1] [2]

Contents

Background

The event series features four divisions—flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight, and, notably, women's strawweight (replacing lightweight)—each for which eight fighters compete in a "win-and-advance" tournament format. [3] The tournament winner of each division is awarded a UFC contract. Each event within the series contains five bouts, one of which is a non-tournament match-up. [4]

The inaugural quarterfinal stage of the tournament took place over two days, May 18-19, 2024, at the UFC Performance Institute Shanghai, with two five-bout events for each day for a total of 10 bouts per day. [4] The semifinals were held at the UFC Apex facility on August 23, 2024. [5] The finals took place at UFC Fight Night: Yan vs. Figueiredo on November 23, 2024. [6]

Episode 1

Road to UFC: Episode 1
PromotionRoad to UFC
DateMay 18, 2024
Venue UFC Performance Institute Shanghai
City Shanghai, China
Main Card (UFC Fight Pass)
Weight classMethodRoundTimeNotes
FeatherweightZhu Kangjiedef.Tatsuya AndoDecision (unanimous) (30–26, 30–26, 30–25)35:00 [a]
FeatherweightShin Haraguchidef.Jun Young HongDecision (unanimous) (30–25, 30–27, 30–27)35:00 [b]
Women's StrawweightFeng Xiaocandef.Kiran SinghTKO (punches)12:03 [c]
WelterweightBahatebole Batebolatidef.Han Seul KimDecision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)35:00
  1. Road to UFC Season 3 Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
  2. Road to UFC Season 3 Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
  3. Road to UFC Season 3 Women's Strawweight Tournament Quarterfinal.

Episode 2

Road to UFC: Episode 2
PromotionRoad to UFC
DateMay 18, 2024
Venue UFC Performance Institute Shanghai
City Shanghai, China
Main Card (UFC Fight Pass)
Weight classMethodRoundTimeNotes
FeatherweightXie Bindef.YibugeleDecision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)35:00 [a]
Women's StrawweightShi Mingdef.Ye Dam SeoDecision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)35:00 [b]
FeatherweightMasuto Kawanadef.Young Jae SongDecision (unanimous) (30–26, 30–27, 30–27)35:00 [c]
Women's StrawweightDong Huaxiangdef.Priya SharmaDecision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)35:00 [d]
Women's Flyweight Wang Cong def.Paula LunaSubmission (guillotine choke)13:04
  1. Road to UFC Season 3 Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
  2. Road to UFC Season 3 Women's Strawweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
  3. Road to UFC Season 3 Featherweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
  4. Road to UFC Season 3 Women's Strawweight Tournament Quarterfinal.

Episode 3

Road to UFC: Episode 3
PromotionRoad to UFC
DateMay 19, 2024
Venue UFC Performance Institute Shanghai
City Shanghai, China
Main Card (UFC Fight Pass)
Weight classMethodRoundTimeNotes
BantamweightDaermisi Zhawupasidef.Ren OzakiDecision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)35:00 [a]
FlyweightAngad Bishtdef.John Dave AlmanzaTKO (elbows and punches)13:39 [b]
BantamweightSu Young Youdef.Shohei NoseDecision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28)35:00 [c]
FlyweightDong Hun Choidef.Ji NiushiyueDecision (split) (29–28, 29–28, 28–29)35:00 [d]
LightweightWon Bin Kidef.Tatsuya SaikaTKO (punches)20:51
  1. Road to UFC Season 3 Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
  2. Road to UFC Season 3 Flyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
  3. Road to UFC Season 3 Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
  4. Road to UFC Season 3 Flyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.

Episode 4

Road to UFC: Episode 4
PromotionRoad to UFC
DateMay 19, 2024
Venue UFC Performance Institute Shanghai
City Shanghai, China
Main Card (UFC Fight Pass)
Weight classMethodRoundTimeNotes
BantamweightBaergeng Jieleyisidef.Li YunfengTechnical Submission (rear-naked choke)24:25 [a]
FlyweightKiru Singh Sahotadef.Yin ShuaiDecision (split) (29–28, 27–30, 29–28)35:00 [b]
BantamweightTokitaka Nakanishidef.Kyu Sung KimDecision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–27)35:00 [c]
Women's FlyweightYan Qihuidef.Lisa KyriacouDecision (split) (30–27, 28–29, 30–27)35:00
  1. Road to UFC Season 3 Bantamweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
  2. Road to UFC Season 3 Flyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
  3. Road to UFC Season 3 Flyweight Tournament Quarterfinal.

Episode 5

Road to UFC: Episode 5
PromotionRoad to UFC
DateAugust 23, 2024
Venue UFC Apex
City Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Main Card (UFC Fight Pass)
Weight classMethodRoundTimeNotes
BantamweightBaergeng Jieleyisidef.Tokitaka NakanishiDecision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)35:00 [a]
FlyweightDong Hun Choidef.Angad BishtDecision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28)35:00 [b]
BantamweightSu Young Youdef.Daermisi ZhawupasiDecision (split) (30–27, 28–29, 29–28)35:00 [c]
FlyweightKiru Singh Sahotadef.Ruel PañalesDecision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28)35:00 [d]
Women's Flyweight Danni McCormack def.Yan QihuiDecision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–27)35:00
  1. Road to UFC Season 3 Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal.
  2. Road to UFC Season 3 Flyweight Tournament Semifinal.
  3. Road to UFC Season 3 Bantamweight Tournament Semifinal.
  4. Road to UFC Season 3 Flyweight Tournament Semifinal.

Episode 6

Road to UFC: Episode 6
PromotionRoad to UFC
DateAugust 23, 2024
Venue UFC Apex
City Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Main Card (UFC Fight Pass)
Weight classMethodRoundTimeNotes
FeatherweightXie Bindef.Masuto KawanaKO (punches)14:17 [a]
Women's StrawweightShi Mingvs.Dong HuaxiangDecision (split) (29–28, 27–30, 29–28)35:00 [b]
FeatherweightZhu Kangjiedef.Shin HaraguchiDecision (split) (29–28, 28–29, 29–28)35:00 [c]
Women's StrawweightFeng Xiaocandef. Miki Motono Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 29–28, 29–28)35:00 [d]
WelterweightSamandar Murodovdef.Jonathan PiersmaDecision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 30–27)35:00 [e]
  1. Road to UFC Season 3 Featherweight Tournament Semifinal.
  2. Road to UFC Season 3 Women's Strawweight Tournament Semifinal.
  3. Road to UFC Season 3 Featherweight Tournament Semifinal.
  4. Road to UFC Season 3 Women's Strawweight Tournament Semifinal.
  5. Piersma missed weight (174 lb).

Brackets

Flyweight

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Yin Shuai 3
 
 
 
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Kiru Singh SahotaSD
 
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Kiru Singh SahotaUD
 
 
 
Flag of the Philippines.svg Ruel Pañales 3
 
Flag of the Philippines.svg Ruel Pañales* BYE
 
 
 
Flag of Japan.svg Toki Matsui
 
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Kiru Singh Sahota 1
 
 
 
Flag of South Korea.svg Dong Hun ChoiKO
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Ji Niushiyue 3
 
 
 
Flag of South Korea.svg Dong Hun ChoiSD
 
Flag of South Korea.svg Dong Hun ChoiSD
 
 
 
Flag of India.svg Angad Bisht 3
 
Flag of India.svg Angad BishtTKO
 
 
Flag of the Philippines.svg John Dave Almanza 1
 

*Toki Matsui missed weight (132 lbs), therefore the bout was cancelled and Pañales proceeded to the semi-finals

Bantamweight

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
Flag of South Korea.svg Kyu Sung Kim 3
 
 
 
Flag of Japan.svg Tokitaka NakanishiUD
 
Flag of Japan.svg Tokitaka Nakanishi 3
 
 
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Baergeng JieleyisiUD
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Li Yunfeng 2
 
 
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Baergeng JieleyisiSUB
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Baergeng Jieleyisi 3
 
 
 
Flag of South Korea.svg Su Young YouUD
 
Flag of Japan.svg Ren Ozaki 3
 
 
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Daermisi ZhawupasiUD
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Daermisi Zhawupasi 3
 
 
 
Flag of South Korea.svg Su Young YouSD
 
Flag of South Korea.svg Su Young You UD
 
 
Flag of Japan.svg Shohei Nose 3
 

Featherweight

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xie BinUD
 
 
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Yibugele 3
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xie BinKO
 
 
 
Flag of Japan.svg Masuto Kawana3
 
Flag of South Korea.svg Young Jae Song 3
 
 
 
Flag of Japan.svg Masuto KawanaUD
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Xie Bin 3
 
 
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Zhu KangjieSD
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Zhu KangjieUD
 
 
 
Flag of Japan.svg Tatsuya Ando 3
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Zhu KangjieSD
 
 
 
Flag of Japan.svg Shin Haraguchi3
 
Flag of South Korea.svg Jun Young Hong 3
 
 
Flag of Japan.svg Shin HaraguchiUD
 

Women's Strawweight

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 
 
 
Flag of India.svg Priya Sharma 3
 
 
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Dong HuaxiangUD
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Dong Huaxiang 3
 
 
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Shi MingSD
 
Flag of South Korea.svg Ye Dam Seo 3
 
 
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Shi MingUD
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Shi MingKO
 
 
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Feng Xiaocan 3
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Feng XiaocanTKO
 
 
 
Flag of India.svg Kiran Singh 1
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Feng XiaocanUD
 
 
 
Flag of Japan.svg Miki Motono 3
 
Flag of Japan.svg Miki Motono * BYE
 
 
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Huang Feier
 

* Huang Feier missed weight (116.7 lbs), therefore the bout was canceled and Motono proceeded to semi-final

See also

References

  1. Nag, Anwesha (2024-04-28). "Road to UFC returns for S3 with Asia's top MMA talent: Date, venue, and contestants revealed". Sportskeeda.
  2. Olivares, Rick (2024-04-28). "Almanza, Panales see action in Road to the UFC | Rick Olivares". BusinessMirror. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  3. See single-elimination tournament.
  4. 1 2 Anderson, Jay (2024-04-23). "Road to UFC Season 3 Tournament Announced, Women's Strawweight Added". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2024-04-28.
  5. Presnell, Chris (2024-06-11). "Road to UFC semifinals head to Vegas in August". mmaecosystem.com. Retrieved 2024-11-21.
  6. Riggs, Drake (2024-08-30). "Morning Report: Michael Chandler opens up on mental struggles: My inner voice 'doesn't think I deserve Conor McGregor fight'". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2024-11-21.