Li Kaiwen will finally make his UFC debut in February. The Chinese featherweight has been trying to sign for the promotion for the past four years and was scheduled to compete this month.
His fight with countryman Yizha is the final of the Road to UFC featherweight tournament. It was supposed to take place last weekend but got postponed when the card was moved from Shanghai to Las Vegas.
The two men will now face off at UFC Fight Night 235 which is set for the Apex Centre on February 3rd (local time). Yizha (20-4) is two years younger than Kaiwen (12-5) but much more experienced, probably because he has been fighting regularly throughout his career.
JUST MELTED HIM WITH PRESSURE! 🔥
🇨🇳 LI KAIWEN ANNOUNCES HIMSELF ON #ROADTOUFC! pic.twitter.com/28PjTEWNEq
— UFC (@ufc) May 27, 2023
Tournament finals
Three more Road to UFC tournaments will be concluding on February 3rd. The winner of these fights will be guaranteed a long term contract and an official spot on the roster.
In the bantamweight division Long Xiao (26-7) takes on Chang Ho Lee (9-1). The Chinese fighter has been handed another opportunity after losing to Cristian Quiñonez on Dana White’s Contender Serie in 2021.
In the flyweight division undefeated Japanese star Rei Tsuruya (8-0) takes on China’s Jiniushiyue (13-2). The lightweight final has a similar theme with the unbeaten Shin Haraguchi (7-0) from Japan facing local favourite Rongzhu (24-5) .
Pouring it on for the last-minute finish! 😤
🇰🇷Chang Ho Lee with an epic comeback and advances to the #RoadToUFC finals! pic.twitter.com/a7ykGAc7oQ
— UFC_Asia (@UFC_Asia) August 27, 2023
Complete card
There are currently an incredible 17 fights on this card. As previously announced Lee Jeong Young is set to return from injury and has been booked to take on Blake Bilder.
In middleweight action Roman Dolidze (12-2) faces Nassourdine Imavov (12-4). This will serve as the main event with the Russian presumably hoping his opponent stays healthy after seeing his last two fights fall through.
At heavyweight Thomas Petersen (8-1) makes his official UFC debut. He has been matched with fellow Dana White’s Contender Series Jamal Pogues (10-4).
Aliaskhab Khizriev (14-0) owns one of the most impressive records out of any fighter on the roster. The undefeated Russian will be competing on a UFC card for the second time when he takes on Tajikistan’s Makhmud Muradov (26-8).
UFC Fight Night 235, Las Vegas, February 3rd
Roman Dolidze vs. Nassourdine Imavov (Middleweight)
William Gomis vs. Melsik Baghdasaryan (Featherweight)
Molly McCann vs. Diana Belbiţă (Strawweight)
Themba Gorimbo vs. Kiefer Crosbie (Welterweight)
Lee Jeong-Yeong vs. Blake Bilder (Featherweight)
Thomas Petersen vs Jamal Pogues (Heavyweight)
Julija Stoliarenko vs. Luana Carolina (Flyweight)
Natália Silva vs. Viviane Araújo (Flyweight)
Makhmud Muradov vs. Aliaskhab Khizriev (Middleweight)
Marquel Mederos vs. Landon Quiñones (Lightweight)
Gilbert Urbina vs. Charles Radtke (Welterweight)
Nate Maness vs. Azat Maksum (Flyweight)
Renato Moicano vs. Drew Dober (Lightweight)
Long Xiao vs. Chang Ho Lee (Bantamweight)
Rei Tsuruya vs. Jiniushiyue (Flyweight)
Kaiwen Li vs. Yizha (Featherweight)
Rongzhu vs. Shin Haraguchi (Lightweight)
